Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Aug 01, 2009 2:00 pm Hi all Was wondering what your builder is or is not charging you for any variations as you build. If its not mentioned in your contract can they still charge you for a variation addmin fee say $150 then the cost + builder margin 20%. I was told some builders dont worry about it so much, unless its major. Like adding a few more down lights should not cause any major plan change. Has anyone been charged a fee for the variation itself ? Cheers KW........... “It's just as unpleasant to get more than you bargain for as to get less” George Bernard Shaw. Re: Post contract variations, how much? 2Aug 01, 2009 2:15 pm We have one variation thats was done after we went to site and they charged us a $182.00 FEE. Building Thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=13002 Site start: 8th July 2009 Handover: 11/12/2009! 5 months total build time. 40 sqs of luxuary...Bliss! Re: Post contract variations, how much? 3Aug 01, 2009 3:44 pm we're onto about our fourth variation during the build and we havent been given any admin fee charges that are specified. every builder will be different i guess Blog - http://snakedr.blogspot.com/ Build Thread - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=12084&p=307406#p307406 Status - PCI 15/10. Things nearly done. Re: Post contract variations, how much? 4Aug 01, 2009 3:51 pm We have managed to get out of a few of them with some sweet talking...but I think we have paid a $200 variation fee once. If making changes, I tried to go to the supplier instead and make the change, then the supplier just sent a variation to the builder which didn't seem to incur the fee. Re: Post contract variations, how much? 5Aug 01, 2009 4:23 pm pinkfairymagic We have one variation thats was done after we went to site and they charged us a $182.00 FEE. Wow PFM, each GJG builder must be different. I have made a million post contract variations and have only ever been charged for the actual variation, no admin fee. Re: Post contract variations, how much? 6Aug 01, 2009 5:54 pm My builder charges $200 when you change anything. But its amazing they can change anything they like but they dont give me $200. Re: Post contract variations, how much? 8Aug 01, 2009 8:27 pm The big H is that Hen@#$. I feel the big players are getting sick of owners going on site with cash and goods to grease the boys/girls for a few extras. I saw told H, if its the same, dont let you make any changes. KW......... “It's just as unpleasant to get more than you bargain for as to get less” George Bernard Shaw. Re: Post contract variations, how much? 9Aug 01, 2009 9:02 pm Our builder has in contract that they charge $50 for any post contract variations - we didnt make any so not sure if sweet talking our way out of fee would of been possible However we were verbally told that they dont always enforce it, its just in there to discourage people from chopping and changing their minds umpteen times. Re: Post contract variations, how much? 10Aug 02, 2009 3:53 pm In our contract if any cost variations are needed we will have to pay the cost plus 20%, so fingers crossed that no big ones pop up. I also read in HIA new homes contract: "If there are additional charges charges with sub-clause 12.1 which when added to the contract price increases the contract price by 15% or more the owner may bring this contract to an end by giving the builder a written notice...." Would this prevent the builder charging the variations to high as the fear of the owner cancelling the contract all together??? Re: Post contract variations, how much? 11Aug 03, 2009 8:09 pm Our builder charges $400 and they enforce it. We have had to pay it twice (not even for structural changes, they were for tiling size change, colour change and cornice upgrade ... very early on in our build) Were advised a lot of paperwork is involved when changes are made. Re: Post contract variations, how much? 12Aug 03, 2009 8:16 pm This is nothing short of criminal in my book. It's like all the fees Banks charge. No different. The builder I am with charge $500 post contract variation. Total joke. I've said this before, this industry needs real oversight. Franco Re: Post contract variations, how much? 14Aug 03, 2009 8:50 pm No charges for us - our builder has also encouraged us to meet with sparky to discuss what we want on site. We also get to discuss our kitchen design on site with cabinet maker, likewise vanities , laundry etc. after lockup so we can get a real picture of what we want. We haven't even decided what finish we want for the pavilion and driveway - we discuss that with the concreter also. I love my builder! JL Re: Post contract variations, how much? 15Aug 03, 2009 11:06 pm We received a variation out of the blue for $65 for an extra connection for the sewer or something, because it was only $65 we just paid it, we also had to pay a $65 extra fee (on top of the $450 odd for the upgrade) for making an alteration to powerpoints and switches, we weren't able to make this selection at our builders interview but they still treat it like we've changed our mind. We also had a large ($15k) variation for footings but we knew about this beforehand, large footing variations seem to be quite common! Re: Post contract variations, how much? 16Aug 03, 2009 11:45 pm [quote="King willy"]The big H is that Hen@#$. I feel the big players are getting sick of owners going on site with cash and goods to grease the boys/girls for a few extras. Hi, I reckon the big 'H' must be Hickies. I'm passed the stage of no return (yet still no slab,no nothing) If i want to change anything (even a something piddly like a doorknob) they want a mere(NOT!) $500. yet they can still hit me with a variation but I cant charge them for my admin fee. I guess thats why they're a million dollar company and i'm still living in a shed.......... waiting..........waiting. I'm living on-site so i better get my grease can ready, if it ever gets to that stage,that is. HoHum!!!!! Re: Post contract variations, how much? 17Aug 03, 2009 11:53 pm PS-can anyone tell me how i get that box in my post when i reply to someone (re-see my above post - KingWillys' quote wasnt in a box) Please take note that i'm a blonde (NO OFFENCE to any blondites!!) and on my computer L's so if anyone can explain in SIMPLE terms that would be muchly appreciated! Cheers, Issy Re: Post contract variations, how much? 18Aug 04, 2009 1:03 am Vid Was the footings revealed on the soil test. Via a bore log. Was it recommended in the soil test report? What footings where recommended by the experts? Where you charged for it (or any similar sum) in your quote? I feel this is a difficult one as the owner is not at fault. They get a soil test, they are the experts, so why not get the price right the first time. Not hit you up for 15k down the track. "Unforeseen to them at the time". Or something like that is how its worded. What the ground changed over night. But as you said it is a common one. Did you ask them about it? KW............. “It's just as unpleasant to get more than you bargain for as to get less” George Bernard Shaw. Re: Post contract variations, how much? 19Aug 04, 2009 7:42 am Issy Jo, 2 ways to do this - either press the quote button (right hand corner) of the person you wish to quote - their entire post comes up in a box on your reply but you can go inside the box and take parts out so you are only qouting the sentence you need. OR copy the section of their post you wish to quote and then press quote button above blank page before you start writing your reply - up will come 2 quote words - you have to separate them with the space bar and then paste your copied bit between them. You must do this before you write anything else that is going in your reply. Hope this helps PS: I always press preview to check it is going to come out right. that will show your post exactly as it will appear when submitted. Re: Post contract variations, how much? 20Aug 04, 2009 8:45 am King willy Vid Was the footings revealed on the soil test. Via a bore log. Was it recommended in the soil test report? What footings where recommended by the experts? Where you charged for it (or any similar sum) in your quote? I feel this is a difficult one as the owner is not at fault. They get a soil test, they are the experts, so why not get the price right the first time. Not hit you up for 15k down the track. "Unforeseen to them at the time". Or something like that is how its worded. What the ground changed over night. But as you said it is a common one. Did you ask them about it? KW............. Hi KW, We were told that the contingency that was put into our contract was just that (a contingency, dictionary meaning: possibility conditional on something uncertain) but if we added another $5000 we should be on the safe side, after the bore logs/engineers report it came back at $15k more, I had a meeting with the builder who explained why but it didn't make me better! Good luck, Vid It seems very clear to me that your contract states that a security account does NOT need to be established so the answer to the builder is NO. If in doubt find a contract… 1 8543 So AFAIk the outcomes of the BAL ratings form part of a clause that allows them to pass these costs on to you. However the more relevant detail is how did it go from 19… 1 9512 The fastest thing a builder will do is bank your cheque, those systems work perfectly with lightning speed, everything else is slow burn. Just the way it is. 1 8746 |