Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Apr 22, 2010 8:21 pm Guys, What does fixed site costs typically not include? Am thinking whether to go for a variable non-fixed option and what may be the risk with this one? Would love to hear from your experiences? ------------------------------------------------------- http://homeinkalina.blogspot.com Enjoying our new Concerto with Allworth Homes in Kalina, The Ponds Handover - 28/06/2011 Re: Fixed or variable site costs 2Apr 24, 2010 12:29 am Really interesting question. Site Costs are an old chestnut that many consumers get caught on - ie: the builder 'discovers' a revised soil classification after you have signed a contract and then ...surprise, surprise puts the hard word on you to fork out significant extra funds to get started. Be very clear about this, at least in Victoria, a proper foundation investigation is considered under the Act to have been completed by the builder BEFORE they have signed your contract and as per the Building Act you will read in Part 30: Before entering into the contract, the builder must obtain foundations data in relation to the building site on which the work is to be carried out. Penalty: 50 penalty units. (3) In this section foundations data means— (a) the information concerning the building site that a builder exercising reasonable care and skill would need to prepare— (i) a proper footings design for the site; and (ii) an adequate estimate of the cost of constructing those footings; and (b) any reports, surveys, test results, plans, specifications, computations or other information required by the regulations for the purposes of this section. (4) In deciding whether he, she or it has obtained all the information required by subsection (2), a builder must have regard to— s. 30 (a) the relevant standards published by Standards Australia ; and (b) the need for a drainage plan or engineer's drawings and computations; and (c) the need for information on the fall of the land on the site. (5) It is not necessary for a builder to commission the preparation of foundations data under this section to the extent that such data already exists and it is reasonable for the builder to rely on that data. (6) A builder must give a copy of any foundations data obtained by the builder to the building owner (unless the building owner supplied the data to the builder) on payment by the building owner of the amount owing in relation to the obtaining of that data by the builder. Penalty: 10 penalty units. (7) After entering into a major domestic building contract, a builder cannot seek from the building owner an amount of money not already provided for in the contract if the additional amount could reasonably have been ascertained had the builder obtained all the foundations data required by this section. (8) Nothing in this section prevents a builder from exercising any right given by this Act to the builder to claim an amount of money not already provided for in the contract if the need for the additional amount could not reasonably have been ascertained from the foundations data required by this section. My point is that 'variable' site works costs can often be in breach of the Building Act - be very careful and my advice is to seek specific legal advice from someone experienced in Building Law. Hope this helps! Builders are people too.... Re: Fixed or variable site costs 3Apr 24, 2010 8:16 am Wow, this seemingly boring topic is quickly turning in a very interesting one with that first reply!! I'm hooked I wonder, do these same rules apply in NSW? What is a "drainage plan" and who is "qualified" to provide it? I mean, does this refer to the stormwater piping plans and similar, or is this post-build when you want to improve the drainage around the house? My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Fixed or variable site costs 4Apr 24, 2010 9:07 am Drainage plans and the like are always available from the relevant authorities that own the pipes under the ground - the same ones that you pay your rates to. You can find who it is from the documentation when you bought the land. It will be much the same in NSW but you may need to query Fair Trading or see if you can google a copy of the Home Building Act - not exactly sure where the clauses would live. If you have an easement on your property (that is a piece of land that has one of the main pipes in it) then you need to investigate where the pipe is and how deep it is as it can dramatically increase your 'variable' site costs! To find what we call the 'Depth and Offset' of these pipes then you usually need to purchase that from the relevant authority. A Drainage plan or Property Sewerage plan tends to only show where the pipes are on your block from the house to the main - again important information to have up front so that those 'variables' can be pinned down at the start. Also, keep in mind that there are two types of drainage - Sewer AND Stormwater. Stormwater is the rainwater and this is often also refered to a Drainage and usually the local council has that information for purchase. All of this information is typical of a 'Pre-Design' report that should always be undertaken. In terms of the previous post regarding the foundation data (soil tests), I know of people who have been railroaded into spending addtional 10's of thousands of dollars because of the results of a 'new' soil test being undertaken after the Building Contract was signed. Beware and ask the right questions! Builders are people too.... Is anyone building with Mojo and have a recent site cost tender 0 16236 Henley should give you some indication of site costs. Too many variable to give you any reasonable accuracy 1 2210 Thank you so much everyone. This all makes a lot of sense. I guess when you talk to a builder who butters up everything to look very polished, you get to start believing… 7 19601 |