Browse Forums Building A New House 1 May 18, 2009 5:26 pm We are building with a well known volume builder and have been told that our contract is ready to be signed. We've had our colour appoinment and electrical plan is complete. At the colour appointment we upgraded quite a few items but no set prices were given and for some items no price was known at all. We haven't been given an estimate of our total costs. I have requested an estimate to be emailed to me from both our CSO and our salesperson but the only reply we have had is "your salesperson will be in touch shortly to discuss". As this is the first time we have built we have no idea about contracts and what we should look out for before signing. I don't want to go to the contract signing appointment before seeing an estimate and be forced into signing. Could you please help us out with what we should do before signing and what we need to be careful of? Thanks in advance, Fiona & Sam Re: Questions about contract signing 2May 18, 2009 5:33 pm Hi Fiona & Sam, where abouts in Aus are you? If you're in VIC, and you're a first home buyer, you may be better off waiting until after July 1st to sign - higher FHOG. Hubby and I haven't signed our contracts yet. We're building with Henley, and have received our tender (itemised prices) via email a week or so ago, we've checked all the prices we were origninally quoted and have gone back to them with a few queries. Even though our tender has an expiry date, Henley are happy to hold off on contract singing under after July 1st with no penalties. Re: Questions about contract signing 3May 18, 2009 6:25 pm Don't be fooled by the tender. We got our tender and thought the pricing was pretty good. Now we got the contract and the price is about $10,000 more expensive. So just be prepared that all builders will be taking advantage of first home buyers around this grant time. So stand your ground Re: Questions about contract signing 4May 18, 2009 6:27 pm Focus06 Don't be fooled by the tender. We got our tender and thought the pricing was pretty good. Now we got the contract and the price is about $10,000 more expensive. What was the extra $10k for? That seems a bit wrong for them to sting you with that. Re: Questions about contract signing 5May 18, 2009 6:39 pm Hi Erin & Aaron, we're building in Vic but don't qualify for the first home buyer grant as we owned our first home previously. When we paid our inital deposit and signed up, we ticked the straight to contract box. The salesman told us that we only needed to go through the tender stage if we intended on doing major changes to the construction of the house, which we didn't. What is the difference between the tender stage and the straight to contract step? Fiona & Sam Re: Questions about contract signing 6May 18, 2009 7:00 pm With Henley we've been 'fast-tracked' (whatever that means, as I dont think anything has really been fast...) We paid our deposit end Feb, had our two colour appointments, then received the tender and drawings via email and were meant to sign contracts last week. The tender basically outlines all our colour choices, and the costs for upgrading items such as tiles, the facade, the kitchen design... anything that is an upgrage from the base price of the house. Our tender had a few errors, as did the drawings, so they delayed our contract signing until these are corrected. At the contract signing, we're due to pay the 3% deposit. We can make as many changes now as we like without being charged any fees. However after we sign the contract, if we want to make changes, they can sting us for $500 a pop, and refer to the changes as a post contract variation. So, we're dragging out this stage until we know the drawings are 100% correct. Re: Questions about contract signing 7May 18, 2009 7:23 pm aaron4erin Focus06 Don't be fooled by the tender. We got our tender and thought the pricing was pretty good. Now we got the contract and the price is about $10,000 more expensive. What was the extra $10k for? That seems a bit wrong for them to sting you with that. Our tender was done prior to soil test. We had a soil test done through a previous builder. But when our builder went out and did their own soil testing they claimed that the other wasn't very accurate and we needed extra foundations. Re: Questions about contract signing 8May 18, 2009 9:06 pm I would say that they should let you know the estimate price before the contract, so that you can decide if you want to go ahead or not. if they don't and just add the price into the contract, then better not to sign until you satisfy with the price Blog - http://clageonewhouse.blogspot.com/ Building Thread - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=10886&hilit=milan I am in, with my husband and my beautiful bunny Re: Questions about contract signing 9May 18, 2009 10:11 pm Don't sign the contract the day they give it you either. Take it home and have a good read through it to make sure everything that is meant to be included is included. 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