Hi All.
I am just about to sign a build contract with M, however am having some difficulties with site costs. Fall of our land is approx 1.5m, and a cut is required for the design of the house. In addition, soil report has come back with P grade soil, 3.1m of fill at the max, but generally about 1.5 - 2m of fill across the house plan. Compaction report has been obtained and the fill has been compacted to government regulations.
When we did our own assessment, we figured that with the cut of the land would remove part of this fill, and to build we would need a slab upgrade with piering.
M has come back to us with a total site cost of $40k +, quoting 43 screw piles at a length of 3.75m each. To me this seems extraordinarily excessive, however they are unwilling to write in a credit to our contract if we do not need to use screw piles.
Can anyone please advise a) if they think that this site cost estimate is excessive, b) has anyone had a similar experience, and c) are we being had?
Would apprecaite any feedback.
Thanks,
Brendan