Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Feb 15, 2015 8:13 pm In the final stage of amendments to our plans and with every change comes price increases. Am I in fantasy land thinking that I am able to negotiate price? Or are most of them simply "that's the price like it or not" . Cheers, Paul (& Lisa) Parkhill 36 by ClarendonHomes in Coomera Retreat H1 Build Thread And Blog Building Blogs List - Go Ahead And Add Yours!! Re: Project / custom builder prices. 2Feb 15, 2015 8:46 pm Hi, This is déjà vu. We were doing the same thing you're doing right now in regards to amendments with the same project builder you're looking to build with. We came to the same conclusion you're heading for as all we got was "that's the price like it or not". To P'homes credit they did allow us to modify their plan extensively but racked up the prices to suit. We ended up not building with them when we had a falling out over contract issues. We ended up building with a small custom builder. The final cost ($/m2) from this builder was quite close to where the project builder finished up after amendments/alterations. Good Luck! ----------------------------------------------- http://pab34newdigs.blogspot.com.au/ ----------------------------------------------- Re: Project / custom builder prices. 3Feb 15, 2015 8:53 pm So the prices ended up pretty close? If that's the case, would you have stayed with PH if you didn't have issues? Cheers, Paul (& Lisa) Parkhill 36 by ClarendonHomes in Coomera Retreat H1 Build Thread And Blog Building Blogs List - Go Ahead And Add Yours!! Re: Project / custom builder prices. 4Feb 15, 2015 9:00 pm We found the builder wasn't willing to negotiate. It was basically "thats the price" and no leeway. Upon the discussion with the 2nd builder, exact plans and extras, there was a 2% difference. Id say the estimators have done their homework. But no harm in trying Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience. George Carlin Re: Project / custom builder prices. 5Feb 15, 2015 9:19 pm Roomeat So the prices ended up pretty close? If that's the case, would you have stayed with PH if you didn't have issues? Probably. The re-designed version of their plan was good but still had compromises. PH wouldn't have been building our 'forever' home, just somewhere more comfortable that what we had (we did a knock-down/rebuild). We would have been planing on selling within 3-5 years to move/build exactly what we wanted. Generally, I think if PH (or any project builder) have a plan and finished product that you like, it suits your block of land and budget then the project builders do provide a good value for money product. Personally, if you have the budget to re-arrange one of their plans, up-spec equipment and features so it becomes a 'bespoke' project home, then the value for money argument swings over to the custom builder. For close the the same investment a custom built home will be exactly what you want and the design will be tailored to suit your block of land and prevailing conditions. ----------------------------------------------- http://pab34newdigs.blogspot.com.au/ ----------------------------------------------- Re: Project / custom builder prices. 6Feb 15, 2015 10:20 pm Prices kept rising for me to stupid levels, so I went the Owner Builder route to save money. So far it's saved me a lot of money, as I believe by the time we've moved in it would've saved me over $60 000. Mind you, I've been cautious at every step, so it's been taking me ages to get it finished. Owner Building at Jimboomba Woods in Logan City Qld. Blog : http://bandlnewhomebuild.blogspot.com H1 thread : viewtopic.php?f=38&t=68283 . Re: Project / custom builder prices. 7Feb 16, 2015 11:58 pm We are also waiting for the final contract price on a heavily modified own plan design with a local builder. We have ended up at the $1375/Sqm price after all the alterations. And like most things I have asked if we can haggle on the price, or at least the builder absorb the cost of a few of the changes. Which I got the strange look and shake of the head. No harm in trying. But we haven't got anything of the contract price as yet. Damo's ******* boat building repair shop. Re: Project / custom builder prices. 8Feb 23, 2015 3:11 pm Rip it up We are also waiting for the final contract price on a heavily modified own plan design with a local builder. We have ended up at the $1375/Sqm price after all the alterations. And like most things I have asked if we can haggle on the price, or at least the builder absorb the cost of a few of the changes. Which I got the strange look and shake of the head. No harm in trying. But we haven't got anything of the contract price as yet. Damo's ******* boat building repair shop. When you consider sq/m average, do you include the outdoor area and garage? I know they don't cost us much to construct (well the outdoor area doesn't, surely) but wondering if you do include it for comparison. Re: Project / custom builder prices. 9Feb 23, 2015 5:47 pm Yes this is all areas under roof. The cost of my outdoor areas is similar to interior sections. As I have plumbing and gas supplied to the alfresco. Insulation to both areas roof cavitys. Tiled alfresco and raised ceilings in both. So while it might be a few dollars cheaper per sqm. But not much. Damo's ******* boat building repair centre. Re: Project / custom builder prices. 10Feb 24, 2015 8:24 am Rip it up Yes this is all areas under roof. The cost of my outdoor areas is similar to interior sections. As I have plumbing and gas supplied to the alfresco. Insulation to both areas roof cavitys. Tiled alfresco and raised ceilings in both. So while it might be a few dollars cheaper per sqm. But not much. Damo's ******* boat building repair centre. Ok, with that in mind the first quote for our build including all areas comes out at 1472 sq/m (without kitchen and carpets). Bear in mind op that we have outlayed significantly for soil and contour testing, reports for DA and architectural plans. Re: Project / custom builder prices. 11Feb 25, 2015 2:38 pm Quote: Bear in mind op that we have outlayed significantly for soil and contour testing, reports for DA and architectural plans. Those costs should always be given separately to the cost of building the actual house. I see a lot of people on this forum that give those costs plus landscaping etc all inclusive of the total to build their house per sq m which gives a wrong indication. Stewie Re: Project / custom builder prices. 12Feb 26, 2015 9:38 am Stewie D Quote: Bear in mind op that we have outlayed significantly for soil and contour testing, reports for DA and architectural plans. Those costs should always be given separately to the cost of building the actual house. I see a lot of people on this forum that give those costs plus landscaping etc all inclusive of the total to build their house per sq m which gives a wrong indication. Stewie Definitely, agreed. I think its important to have those as a consideration in deciding if you can afford the whole process, though. It is important to recognise that cost is greater if you decide to use an independent builder, well maybe not necessarily but it isn't rolled up into the cost of the build as they tend to do. In any case now that we have all of those items we can use them now or later, if we didn't choose to go right ahead for whatever reason. In any case we have all our documents done (including SEE) and should be able to lodge the DA next week Re: Project / custom builder prices. 13Feb 27, 2015 11:34 am Quote: Definitely, agreed. I think its important to have those as a consideration in deciding if you can afford the whole process, though. For sure. The more info you have the better prepared you are and the more builders will see that you are organised unlike a lot of people. What I've seen though is someone build a relatively cheap house on a difficult site that has cost them $100k in site works, retaining walls and landscaping then add that to the cost of their actual house and come up with a very expensive cost per sq m. Stewie Yep, very good point. I’ll do more research and see what figures I get. Thank you! 8 2480 As a tradesmen get a private inspector although I don't think there worth it in their profession themselves the reminder they serve to the tradesmen doing the work is… 3 22404 I think the proposal that a supply and demand curve are a natural law are well exaggerated. Wages never seem to follow this curve, and also prices for supply are sticky… 18 20207 |