Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Sep 15, 2021 2:56 pm We've got our land and had it site surveyed to assure us there would be least problems in building. It's not problematic. We're down the line with two builders whose designs and customer reviews we like. We gave an idea of what design we want. Both gave us a ballpark quote; which is OK, but one features an over-engineered solutions for the slab and site prep. They say they cant/wont use our independent site report. They want us to give $3k for them to do a site survey and finalise home layout plans. IS this all common practice and what should we be vigilant to? Ta Re: Builder's drawings, costs and contracts 2Sep 15, 2021 3:42 pm If you have site survey done by a qualified surveyor and soil test done by a geo technician, no builders should refuse to use those reports. If they want to use their own contacts, it will be the same things anyway. Builders might request some specific locations of soil samples. In my opinion, you should have the full ownership of those reports. Builders should be able to provide you with a quote upon you presenting those reports. The risk of paying them $$ to do those is that if you are not happy about the quote/design and decide to walk away, you won't own those reports. When you approach a next builder, you'll have to spend money on survey and soil test again. I understand some volume builders might refuse it. I guess it's part of their process. $3k would be more of a "deposit" for them to produce an actual house plan. You might not get $3k or the reports back if you decide to walk. Re: Builder's drawings, costs and contracts 3Sep 15, 2021 3:54 pm When I purchased land earlier in the year the seller gave us their site survey and soil test report afterwards which were done about 6months previously when the engaged their own builder. Handed these to our custom builder and they had no issues using either of them and proceeded forward. Guess it's ultimately up to the builder at the end of the day unfortunately. Re: Builder's drawings, costs and contracts 4Sep 15, 2021 6:08 pm Jason526 If you have site survey done by a qualified surveyor and soil test done by a geo technician, no builders should refuse to use those reports. If they want to use their own contacts, it will be the same things anyway. Builders might request some specific locations of soil samples. In my opinion, you should have the full ownership of those reports. Builders should be able to provide you with a quote upon you presenting those reports. The risk of paying them $$ to do those is that if you are not happy about the quote/design and decide to walk away, you won't own those reports. When you approach a next builder, you'll have to spend money on survey and soil test again. I understand some volume builders might refuse it. I guess it's part of their process. $3k would be more of a "deposit" for them to produce an actual house plan. You might not get $3k or the reports back if you decide to walk. Thanks Jason; yeh, we didn't know the qualified surveyor who did our site and soil test before he did it; he was completely independent to us, so I'm surprised that one builder is insisting we pay a second time. I agree I should 'own' any new ones and use them to check against the original so we don't get an over-engineered/over costly slab done on the block. And ta for confirming the 3k is a standard cost of design tho I think the other wants $5k for drawings and site investigations. Re: Builder's drawings, costs and contracts 5Sep 15, 2021 6:11 pm Buds When I purchased land earlier in the year the seller gave us their site survey and soil test report afterwards which were done about 6months previously when the engaged their own builder. Handed these to our custom builder and they had no issues using either of them and proceeded forward. Guess it's ultimately up to the builder at the end of the day unfortunately. Thanks Buds; yep it just seems like a doubled-up price gouge on the survey front. I get that the fees for home design are not cheap either. Re: Builder's drawings, costs and contracts 6Sep 16, 2021 4:21 am Gee Mack Jason526 If you have site survey done by a qualified surveyor and soil test done by a geo technician, no builders should refuse to use those reports. If they want to use their own contacts, it will be the same things anyway. Builders might request some specific locations of soil samples. In my opinion, you should have the full ownership of those reports. Builders should be able to provide you with a quote upon you presenting those reports. The risk of paying them $$ to do those is that if you are not happy about the quote/design and decide to walk away, you won't own those reports. When you approach a next builder, you'll have to spend money on survey and soil test again. I understand some volume builders might refuse it. I guess it's part of their process. $3k would be more of a "deposit" for them to produce an actual house plan. You might not get $3k or the reports back if you decide to walk. Thanks Jason; yeh, we didn't know the qualified surveyor who did our site and soil test before he did it; he was completely independent to us, so I'm surprised that one builder is insisting we pay a second time. I agree I should 'own' any new ones and use them to check against the original so we don't get an over-engineered/over costly slab done on the block. And ta for confirming the 3k is a standard cost of design tho I think the other wants $5k for drawings and site investigations. Hi Gee If you have the survey in DWG format and it's recent then your new builder should be fine to use it. We often have clients come to us with PDF surveys which are basically useless for our designers. A new survey in Sydney costs between $1,100-2,000 depending on the size of the site and any difficult issues that may need further investigation or mapping by the surveyor. Anyway, good luck with your build Simeon Architectural Homes & Duplexes - specialising in custom designing homes to your budget Get a Free Onsite Consultation Today or send a PM for information, questions or advice. Re: Builder's drawings, costs and contracts 7Sep 16, 2021 8:57 am Thanks Simeon; the survey was done very recently. Though we got the report in PDF form, I didn't ask if it could be provided in another format (what's DWG btw), but there was a firm resistance to using what, to us, was a completely independent work by an independent professional with no vested interest. Seems inflexible imo. Re: Builder's drawings, costs and contracts 8Sep 16, 2021 10:43 am There is nothing wrong with PDF ( 2D or 3D), in fact dwg is out dated, lacks data and is often used by those firms that are resisting change and don't want to share data and info. ie, Mushroom Syndrome The mistake is getting the builder to organise the geotech, survey, design and engineering, as they will claim copyright and ownership. Even when you pay for flexibility and info you still don't get it, it's in a format that's difficult to interrupt, use, analyse, etc,etc . If you keep going to different salesman and builders, you'll soon get tired of forking out $$$'s. When the penny drops you'll organise the design and engineering yourself, own copyright and then get 3 builders to quote. Using the data, proofs and apps you can scrutinise some of the nonsense that's dished up by others, eg Siteworks and engineering $100K? At the first sign that you are being taken for a ride, walk out Cheers Chris . Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Builder's drawings, costs and contracts 10Sep 16, 2021 11:22 am Gee Mack Hey Chris; thanks for that info - some pretty valuable insights too thanks When time permits I'll dig around and put up an example of GIS, 3D Engineering Bim Data/proofs and a comparison of DWG (Flat earth 2D Bullsh!t) and engineering Bim 3D Data/proofs... no contest! Cheers Chris Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Thanks very much! And would the landscaper/contractor generally involve the engineer or is that something the client would do? Thanks for your help 2 10005 Peter In NSW your Certifier will have a copy, and the Certifier works for you not the builder. They are your representative so just contact them and ask for a… 6 2752 MBA and HIA both have sub contract agreements, check them out 2 7301 |