Browse Forums General Discussion Re: How much did you pay for variation? 2Jul 31, 2017 9:56 pm Do you mean the builders margin applied to the variation? Regards James Mason www.renovationjunkies.com.au Re: How much did you pay for variation? 3Jul 31, 2017 10:12 pm No, what I'm asking is the admin fee that occur when you request variation. A non refundable fee to calculate the pricing for variation. The reason why I'm asking is because I was charged an admin fee for my request related to floor plan changes after I sign the contract. And I am wondering how much other builder charged for the variation. Re: How much did you pay for variation? 4Jul 31, 2017 10:33 pm depends on the builder. I made a change to my floorplan and increased the size of my garage 1 week after receiving my master plans and 2 days after i had my selections appointment. I was given a price of the change plus the listed $500 fee to redraw plans. I knew the full price of the change before i decided to agree to it - aside them the footings cost increase that then occurred to accommodate it that i didn't think of at that time They did not charge just to quote on a proposed change How much did you pay for variation? 8Aug 01, 2017 9:55 am After contract signing any structural changes with my builder attract a $1500 admin fee for redrawing the plans, at their discretion. However its $250 if it's due to council/developer requirements. There were no fees for variations before contract signing or for just cosmetic changes after contracts. Non-structural variations during construction are $1000, if the item in variation hasn't already been ordered. Building Monte Carlo 40- Wisdom homes Building Monte Carlo 40- Wisdom homes Re: How much did you pay for variation? 10Aug 01, 2017 12:53 pm While builders should charge something , the administration fees are highway robbery, I know of friends requesting a garage remote, which cost them 500 administration fee plus 200 for the remote, total 700,i organised my own at a cost OF $70, AND my remote was a upgraded version, this area is volume boys cream, their biggest margin areas by a long way. Re: How much did you pay for variation? 11Aug 02, 2017 3:59 pm Variations are made after a contract has been signed and the charge is at the builder's discretion. If you have a good relationship with the builder that cost might be waived or low. Or it might just cost you your arm, your leg, your health and livelihood. That is how they make their money. Warning to all hiring a project builder or signing a contract! ( My builder made up a variation before the contract was even signed. It signalled his intent to make changes to the amount agreed upon. We questioned that and was assured by the rep that no changes to the contract amount would be made and that all the variation charges would be waived. The variation layout was arranged so that the variation cost was inserted above the total balance which matched the contract amount. It's a deceptive tactic used by the industry to trick you into signing the variation when your sales rep tells you that you are not being charged for the variation. When it came to signing the variation this came to our attention when my partner accidently put his signature to the document. Immediately I recognized the error and refused to sign and the rep was ordered by us to scrap that variation immediately which had not been dated. The rep said that he would have a new variation drawn up with the charge for the variation waived. There was no reason to suggest this nice family sales man would rip us off. He sent us an email but in that message quoted costs for other potential variations and left a response to the non charge for that particular variation "as we discussed" leading us to believe that the change would be amended "as discussed" We have since learned not to trust any discussions with the people you are giving lots of your money to or their contractors on commission even if they appear to be genuine without a solicitor or witness present. The rep only needed one signature as per the contract and held on to the document we disputed inserting the date in his own bloody hand writing after the fact. Then buck passed by blaming the builder and wiping his hands of it. The despicable nature of that act proof that this industry needs to be investigated. When it comes to contracts and variations always speak to a solicitor first) Good luck! Re: How much did you pay for variation? 12Aug 02, 2017 6:52 pm distressed Caveat Emptor You are absolutely correct they need to clean up the new home sales industry, unfortunately that's what happens when large commissions are paid to desperate salesman by some unscrupulous builders. The battlers & Punters get taken for a ride Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: How much did you pay for variation? 13Aug 02, 2017 7:13 pm All builders loooove variations. The best thing you can do is take the time to work out exactly what you want before you sign anything, and get it all included on the contract documents. In my experience you can expect to pay 50% to 100% more for something as a variation compared to before you sign a contract. Building Services Engineer Renovating our 1960's modernist home in Brisbane https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=82091 Re: How much did you pay for variation? 14Aug 06, 2017 10:17 am 200$ per post contract variation is what's in my contract. Mine is a medium custom builder, prices is on the higher end but seems more relaxed and honest than major builders. Re: How much did you pay for variation? 15Aug 06, 2017 2:09 pm There is a lot of misconception as to what builder should charge for a variation and what is a rip-off. Firstly, as a builder myself, I can tell you there is no rip-off, if you don't like the price, don't do it. Secondly, when you sign a contract, that is what you get and under a standard building contract, a builder can refuse a variation. So, it is up to you to know what you want before you sign. The reason why variations are expensive is that they can disrupt production and work flow. Looking after and managing variations in the office and on a building site can consume more of builder's resources, for less profit, than taking on another house. It is for this reason that many project builder won't entertain variations, they just want to get your job done and move on and get more houses to build. If your requirements are not crystal clear and you will need variations as you go then you need to select a custom builder that will entertain them, you will pay more for a custom builder and for your variations than a project builder but you will get flexibility and probably a better job. Why should a builder be pricing a variation for free when it may not go ahead? Many do but others charge admin fee for doing it. Not happy about it? Find a shoulder to cry on. After spending a lifetime in building contract administration I believe that a builder is far better off in going for volume than stuffing around with variations. Want proof? Metricon, Henley, Simmonds Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: How much did you pay for variation? 16Apr 25, 2018 4:19 pm MandM+4 After contract signing any structural changes with my builder attract a $1500 admin fee for redrawing the plans, at their discretion. However its $250 if it's due to council/developer requirements. There were no fees for variations before contract signing or for just cosmetic changes after contracts. Non-structural variations during construction are $1000, if the item in variation hasn't already been ordered. Building Monte Carlo 40- Wisdom homes Hi! Just wondering if the $1,500 admin fee applies to any structural change. (I.e. Facade) or that fee is meant for non structural change? Asked my builder (wisdom) through the customer service consultant if I can change the facade but was declined. What could be my options? Did you have to go theough structural change as well post signing contract? Thanks! I work with owner, he/she is my man on the ground and I instruct them when to visit the site and take photos and I have other tools in the bag. 4 15278 Looking for advice on whether this variation in tile colour is acceptable. The large tile on the left was used in my main bathroom renovation 1 year ago. My ensuite… 0 8492 yes it does, you've just not understood it. theres a difference. 4 5325 |