Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Mar 10, 2015 10:11 am For those who have built. What were your 'hidden' costs and what company did you build with? Re: Your Hidden Costs After Building 2Mar 10, 2015 4:04 pm This link gives some ideas about extra costs over the builders initial price for a fairly flat site and minimal upgrades from the builders standards. If you want to duplicate the builders disply home extect to pay +50% or more. http://www.anewhouse.com.au/2012/01/what-will-it-cost/ The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Your Hidden Costs After Building 3May 08, 2015 3:38 pm What is & isn't included varies between builders no doubt. Here are some of the extra things that came up for us that I wasn't expecting & didn't include in our initial budget: Temporary power supply $880 (had another quote that was double or triple!) - this included disconnecting power before demolition of old house and setting up box with power points on telegraph pole for builders to use during build. Storm water design (required by council) $1265 private building inspection (to check standard of frame work for our peace of mind not CC) $595 The landscaping is going to be more than I anticipated; while I expected the front yard to be ruined, I naively thought the back lawn would be left intact. The back lawn near the house was ruined by site works and the rest of the back yard was ruined by large storm-water drainage system. We didn't just loose the turf either, but much of the top soil has been replaced or covered with the horrible clay stuff that belongs beneath, and it's no longer level. Re: Your Hidden Costs After Building 4May 10, 2015 5:13 pm Not included in our build but needed post handover... things such as light globes, letterbox, clothes lines, TV aerial, security door screens, garden shed, side gates (the small stuff)..... landscaping, window coverings, floor coverings etc. (the big $) Re: Your Hidden Costs After Building 6May 10, 2015 7:23 pm It's worth finding a builder that can do a "turnkey" package that includes landscaping, driveway, clothesline, floor coverings, etc, etc. It will save you lots of time and hassle. It may even save you money in the long run. Build thread: here Land Nov 12, Contract 6/07/13, Consent 15/08/13, Start 20/09/13, Slab 25/09/13, Frame 4/10/13, Brick 21/10/13, Roof 2/11/13, Lock-up 17/12/13, Handover 3/3/14 Re: Your Hidden Costs After Building 7May 10, 2015 11:24 pm Turnkey packages are pretty rare and cant see it saving money as builder cant possibility be cheaper in all areas and all these add ons are time consuming thus meaning more money needed by builder. Re: Your Hidden Costs After Building 8May 10, 2015 11:52 pm Joker Turnkey packages are pretty rare and cant see it saving money as builder cant possibility be cheaper in all areas and all these add ons are time consuming thus meaning more money needed by builder. They aren't that rare. Plenty of builders are doing them, perhaps more if you take the trouble to ask. https://www.google.com.au/search?q=turnkey+package+builder&rlz=1C9BKJA_enUS602US603&oq=turnkey+package+builder ( and that doesn't necessarily mean a house and land package, you can approach them with your own block ) When I had my build priced up my build back in early 2013, the price came in at a fixed contract price of $318k - for a 35sq double-story house with ducted air, landscaping, driveway, floor coverings, blinds. A couple of mainstream Sydney builder estimates for a house at 29sq came in at well over this price - without floor coverings, driveway, floor coverings, blinds. It's worth the effort to do your research, shop around and look beyond the big display estates. Build thread: here Land Nov 12, Contract 6/07/13, Consent 15/08/13, Start 20/09/13, Slab 25/09/13, Frame 4/10/13, Brick 21/10/13, Roof 2/11/13, Lock-up 17/12/13, Handover 3/3/14 Re: Your Hidden Costs After Building 9May 11, 2015 10:25 am Turnkey packages are not that rare. It just depends on who you build with. You will probably find or negotiate these kind of packages with boutique and custom builders rather than project builders. At the end of the day you still have to pay for those, just not as mush nasty surprises before you move in. Re: Your Hidden Costs After Building 10May 11, 2015 11:38 pm Not true turnkey means exactly that; absolute everything is done, clothes line , ,landscaping, curtains; garden, etc , , nothing left at all, ,thus just get the key; well I.ve almost never seen a true turn key by todays standards. Re: Your Hidden Costs After Building 11May 12, 2015 10:40 am Well, the true turn key comes with a cost. I have chatted with and got quoted for a true turnkey package before where I just get the key and everything is in apart from my furniture. But the price really scares me away. Re: Your Hidden Costs After Building 12May 13, 2015 9:39 am snowing Well, the true turn key comes with a cost. I have chatted with and got quoted for a true turnkey package before where I just get the key and everything is in apart from my furniture. But the price really scares me away. Yes, they lure you in with the 'single level houses from $145,000', which ends up been basically a shell until they add their $50,000 of add-ons. And, most of these are essential items like floors! Re: Your Hidden Costs After Building 13May 13, 2015 9:55 am 1st-timers snowing Well, the true turn key comes with a cost. I have chatted with and got quoted for a true turnkey package before where I just get the key and everything is in apart from my furniture. But the price really scares me away. Yes, they lure you in with the 'single level houses from $145,000', which ends up been basically a shell until they add their $50,000 of add-ons. And, most of these are essential items like floors! If the turnkey solution is less than 50% of the house.. I will gladly absorb the cost. So far true turn key solutions that I had quote with were more than double the cost of building and mostly above the 600k mark which is a fair bit for a house. The quotes were back in 2012 thou, so they probably went up a bit now. Re: Your Hidden Costs After Building 14May 16, 2015 11:36 pm Mostly everything was included as standard. This included 5k landscaping allowance for the front (came with the land), carpet, vinyl, blinds etc. with options to upgrade.
The things not included: Paved crossover, washing line, mailbox. Air conditioning was not included as standard. Paint to internal walls. Wardrobe doors. I think that's about it! Re: Your Hidden Costs After Building 15May 17, 2015 3:55 pm I was very naive when I first started looking at houses. These are the things I just assumed came with a house, and didn't think you had to pay extra for: - Fly screens - Eaves - Brick infills above windows - Flooring - Driveway Re: Your Hidden Costs After Building 16May 18, 2015 4:34 pm aloenyx I was very naive when I first started looking at houses. These are the things I just assumed came with a house, and didn't think you had to pay extra for: - Fly screens - Eaves - Brick infills above windows - Flooring - Driveway We were too. In NZ you hired a builder and built your house, there are very few companies doing Turnkey. We thought thats what we would do here as my husband is in the trade and theres so much he can do himself. We basically wanted a shell built and to hire a plumber and electrician. Unfortunatly the bank has insisted on a turnkey package and we are quite staggered at just how many absolute basic things don't come in that package. you need to understand the breakdown of warranties. 90 warranty is considered as minor defects rectification period where as the longer ones are more major/structural… 1 5327 multiple occ properties are always billed by trades at a premium, rarely per sqm for the lot. You either have trades you know whoe will do by sqm or youre going to get… 1 2186 You have mandatory building inspections and privately engaged building inspections. The difference between the two comes down to inspecting the building so it's safe and… 3 18058 |