Browse Forums Building A New House 1 May 30, 2015 3:26 pm We're at the start process of doing a knock down rebuild in Sydney and have been talking to a large project builder whose name starts with M. Already have committed money to get a site survey and soil test and are now talking through a few structural changes that we want included. The builder's salesman is very hard to pin down on final costs with them stating we need to sign the contract and then they'll allow us to select types of bricks, taps, tiles, door handles etc. which is a huge unknown, they seem very keen on un upselling everything with a "don't worry about that" attitude. Basically we need a firm price on the tender to get finance as will be going for a construction loan. When we told the salesman we need firm prices and we weren't going to sign anything until they had all parts of the build costed it was "but this is the way we do things, everybody else seems happy" As this is the first time we have done anything like this are all builders like this, we realise there are will be variations due to site conditions but to sign a contract "blind" to the final easily quantifiable costs seems stupid. Re: Sign the contract then we'll tell you how much it costs 2May 30, 2015 5:11 pm Of course it's stupid. They are idiots to think you are an idiot that will blindly sign up with an open cheque book. This is what I hated about looking for a builder. They were mostly too lazy to cost up exactly what I wanted. Said: "you can work that out at selections." Well, no I couldn't because I want to know what it costs NOW before I lock myself into you, you moron When we finally came to the sales guy at Simonds, he was the complete opposite. He priced up every single crumb and nothing was too hard for him. Best sales person I've ever dealt with for anything in my life. Shame you're in Sydney because this guy would knock your socks off. We went to about 20 builders before meeting him and he showed them all up. Just move on to someone who will. Don't let them pressure you like that. Like you know, it's dumb but more it's also unethical. Good luck Doc! Re: Sign the contract then we'll tell you how much it costs 3May 30, 2015 5:17 pm That sounds pretty poor response to your request for information, but I think most builders cant give you a final cost because the nature of the industry is that the owner is the money source, and the builder must hit a certain predefined profit margin regardless of what circumstances might be thrown at them. If he literally said "but this is the way we do things, everybody else seems happy" in those exact words, I would have turned my back straight away and not dealt with them one more time! What if he had said to you, "to be honest we are unable to commence the selection process until such time that we know you are a serious committed buyer" ... would he have had you wrapped around his finger? If you are going with a loan, perhaps the best thing to do is ask if you can sign the contract with a disclaimer, outlining the absolute build budget? They probably wouldn't allow this (and if they do hey great), but it will force them into giving you some better idea of cost, as they will see that you have made a decision to walk away unless you are given more information. and stick to that too, its your money, your builder should be able to give you some idea of what you need to borrow! Re: Sign the contract then we'll tell you how much it costs 4May 31, 2015 11:53 pm Make sure anything that is signed is written up subject to finance we pretty much had everything priced up and just chose colours at prestart, sounds like this guy is being lazy and cheeky Re: Sign the contract then we'll tell you how much it costs 5Aug 26, 2015 8:52 pm I had a similar experience recently and requested a more transparent tender. It was a very different experience to my previous builder. They are supposed to be presenting the revised tender tomorrow so we will see what happens! Best of luck. Re: Sign the contract then we'll tell you how much it costs 6Aug 27, 2015 12:06 am Ha, ha, Hand over your deposit and don't worry about anything It will all be sorted out in the office latter.... Let me remind you in the trusted professions stakes where big commission earning salesman rank! http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/6188- ... 1504280343 Down the Bottom... Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Sign the contract then we'll tell you how much it costs 7Aug 29, 2015 10:38 pm That's very strange. Usually you do the selection then sign the contract. There is some sort of building contract that main builders follow that they are meant to follow. We are building with simonds also Re: Sign the contract then we'll tell you how much it costs 8Aug 30, 2015 8:44 am kyliebsmith That's very strange. Usually you do the selection then sign the contract. There is some sort of building contract that main builders follow that they are meant to follow. We are building with simonds also Hi Kyliebsmith LOL, That was the old way, what use to happen was the clients would get 'Sticker Shock" after the final selection and generally the client walked away from the contract and everyone's time was wasted..Sadly, now its more or less sign the contract... this is what you can afford and move on The contracts are the same variations (selections) are dealt with as post contract variations. Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Sign the contract then we'll tell you how much it costs 9Aug 30, 2015 11:52 am I paid a deposit and then they wanted me to sign the contract which I would not. I was very up front and said I do not want to leave anything to chance and wanted to know the price of every variation before I signed. I outlined by expectation and the selections (all were not within the builders standard range) They did remind me repeatedly that this is not how they normally do these things. Correct on the sticker shock, even now certain things I was charged were eye watering. Not a good way to be honest but because people drift out of their budget I guess this practice had to emerge. Re: Sign the contract then we'll tell you how much it costs 10Aug 30, 2015 12:14 pm Can I add there are builders out there like ours, no deposit taken, contract not signed till all correct and only paid any money on first invoice. We are with a custom builder not volume so I do understand both sides. In the end only you can decide what you're comfortable with. Custom build Northern NSW viewtopic.php?f=31&t=72217 Re: Sign the contract then we'll tell you how much it costs 11Sep 05, 2015 8:24 pm Old way? I did this like two weeks before I wrote that Re: Sign the contract then we'll tell you how much it costs 12Sep 06, 2015 7:07 pm TraceyWayne Can I add there are builders out there like ours, no deposit taken, contract not signed till all correct and only paid any money on first invoice. We are with a custom builder not volume so I do understand both sides. In the end only you can decide what you're comfortable with. Yes we have custom plans which we put out to tender. We got a very detailed initial costing, yes there are choices we will make along the way before deciding on the builder and signing the contract. We paid not a cent until deposit. Can someone please offer some advice? Im DESPERATE. Because I'm completely and utterly exhausted. How long are variations taking with other companies at the moment? We… 0 19456 1 3468 You talk about deletions, are they variations or PS and PC adjustments? pleas list them 1 17201 |