Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 21Oct 12, 2009 10:03 am Yeah Mike, I am definately of that opinion now that we have come out the other side of this process.... I would definately not use a project builder next build and go through a smaller non advertised builder with good feedback for sure. The fact that our budget has blown out $40k means if we had of gone to a boutique builder we probably would have come out only $25k more...... because of things like having to pay a small mint on lights in our downstairs area......and we have to supply the lights This alone would have been a saving with a boutique builder. When I say boutique I mean someone who only builds a few homes a year and is prepared to spend the time on your home. I am hoping this will be available to us within a budget next time......I have a new take on it all and I would have to say if I had paid an extra $40k with a boutique I would have got alot more for my money...put it that way. We did get scared off by 1 boutique builder but I have learnt my lesson there also and realise now you can shop around and not to be scared if they don't have advertising behind them. In all honesty you have to sign the same HIA contracts no matter who you go through from what I can now tell. So to answer your question....sorry.....I do ramble.....apparently its about $1500-$1700sqm but could be as low as $1200 depending on what you are taking on your self and what finishes you are having you know, weather you do normal ceilings or ceadr lined in alfrescos...that sort of thing...which you can not do with a project builder (they have to do it)....that is another saving you can't get. Does that make sense? Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 22Oct 12, 2009 10:33 am I so agree with what gweluphome has just written. Our first build was with a small builder, and was such a positive experience. This build, with a major 2 storey project builder has been a terrible experience for us, and still continues to be. Please take in to account extortionate costs for so called upgrades and changes, they soon add up. Also 365 WORKING days to build a home, which we were assured verbally would not take that long, but now looks like it's going to take every bit of that time So if they verbally give you a different time frame, please get it in writing. It's all so rosy at the beginning when they want you to sign, but once you sign ... different story. Also their inflexability, it's a very one way streak .. you're a job number ........ (I am not speaking for all project builders, but this has been the case for us) If I could turn back time, I would DEFINATELY go with a smaller builder and have our home custom designed too. If you can find a project home that needs very minimal changes, then that may be a different story. I wish you the best of luck. My advice, spend time on the design, get it right and be happy .. don't rush. Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 23Oct 12, 2009 10:49 am gweluphome Yeah Mike, I am definately of that opinion now that we have come out the other side of this process.... I would definately not use a project builder next build and go through a smaller non advertised builder with good feedback for sure. The fact that our budget has blown out $40k means if we had of gone to a boutique builder we probably would have come out only $25k more...... because of things like having to pay a small mint on lights in our downstairs area......and we have to supply the lights This alone would have been a saving with a boutique builder. When I say boutique I mean someone who only builds a few homes a year and is prepared to spend the time on your home. I am hoping this will be available to us within a budget next time......I have a new take on it all and I would have to say if I had paid an extra $40k with a boutique I would have got alot more for my money...put it that way. We did get scared off by 1 boutique builder but I have learnt my lesson there also and realise now you can shop around and not to be scared if they don't have advertising behind them. In all honesty you have to sign the same HIA contracts no matter who you go through from what I can now tell. So to answer your question....sorry.....I do ramble.....apparently its about $1500-$1700sqm but could be as low as $1200 depending on what you are taking on your self and what finishes you are having you know, weather you do normal ceilings or ceadr lined in alfrescos...that sort of thing...which you can not do with a project builder (they have to do it)....that is another saving you can't get. Does that make sense? $1500-$1700 seems to me it is on the high side. Even thought I went through with project builder it's only around $1100/sqm. Guess it is still more cost effetive to go with project builder at this stage. The price you quoted is that finished product (include flooring, fixtures and fittings, etc)? Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 24Oct 12, 2009 11:44 am Mike, its probably more along the lines of $1700 finished with extras, the problem being that with the project builders it seems to be $1100-$1200 not finished and then there are so many extras on top...consider it to be the lower price without the added things like for example... being able to do the tiles you want in your wet areas not the tiles they allow you to use. If the finish is able to be done within their allowances you may be able to keep the cost per sqm down otherwise you end up adding it all on anyway. Add nice doors and handles and light fixtures and better cabinets or more cabinets at all adds on top of the project builders cost and you end up having to pay it at the backend anyway. We got a different builder to tell us about their cost per squm and he said yeah I can tell you it will be no more than $1200 but thats for the basci design without site costs and no changes I really think its worth looking into the others.... Mike this also boils down to the fact we have now built 3 homes and we have now learnt our lesson...its time to look outside the box. We are not new at this and we have got alot of design experience so its a lesson we have learnt for the better. Jaelee.....I wonder if we are building with the same company Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 25Oct 16, 2009 10:53 am Wow, I have learnt alot just by reading this post. We have been investigating companys to build a 2 storey on a narrow lot in Maylands. Before I came across homeone.com I had come to the conclusion that a project builder was not nearly flexible enough without charging the earth for what we wanted. I do not want a big house but i do want luxury fittings/fixtures. I also have a specific floor plan in mind. We had our first meeting with a "boutique" or small scale building company yesterday, very positive! What I had been told by project builders would cost about $500,000 will be maximum $400,000 with the smaller company. As previously mentioned in this post all builders require the same qualifications, insurances etc. so don't be put off by the lack of flash, someone has to pay for that. I will continue to post for what could be a very long process as we are still waiting for our block to be titled. Stressed 'N Confused Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder 26Mar 07, 2010 1:59 pm Maylands_is_cool Wow, I have learnt alot just by reading this post. We have been investigating companys to build a 2 storey on a narrow lot in Maylands. Before I came across homeone.com I had come to the conclusion that a project builder was not nearly flexible enough without charging the earth for what we wanted. I do not want a big house but i do want luxury fittings/fixtures. I also have a specific floor plan in mind. We had our first meeting with a "boutique" or small scale building company yesterday, very positive! What I had been told by project builders would cost about $500,000 will be maximum $400,000 with the smaller company. As previously mentioned in this post all builders require the same qualifications, insurances etc. so don't be put off by the lack of flash, someone has to pay for that. I will continue to post for what could be a very long process as we are still waiting for our block to be titled. Are you able to tell me the name of the boutique builder you are dealing with. Cheers Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder 27Jun 16, 2010 12:21 am Hi Davcaff11, although I have already contacted you via pm this is for the benefit of others on this forum. We have signed to build with Kerdels, a smallish company based in Balcatta. We have been able to design our dream home and come in on budget! I know you have also decided to sign with Kerdels and are also happy with them. I have pre-start on Thursday with Suzie so will post on Thursday night to let you know of my experience. Stressed 'N Confused Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder 28Jun 24, 2010 9:15 pm Well we finally completed pre start. The colour scheme for the house is charcoal and white, inside and out. We have had so long to prepare that it only took about three hours to complete. I havn't got final pricing back yet but I know we spent over $9000 just on electrical changes alone! A lot of this price is downlights in the concrete ceiling though... I can't wait for things to start now as I can almost envision it. We upgraded most items prior to pre start though so that cost is built into our contract. Now I need to organise flooring and a boundary wall, any suggestions? Stressed 'N Confused Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder 29Sep 13, 2010 1:24 pm Hi Mikeptl, I'm a new member to the forum for the past 1-2 weeks and going through the same pain as you. We plan to spend around $450K for our home plus another $100+ for finishing. We have looked at APG, Lorimer Homes, Novus Home, and Averna based on the layout and little feedback (Some people informed us to avoid BGC affiliated companies for example); we're also looking into contacting an independent builder (no-brand name builder who built our friend's place). The task is very challenging and it's hard to compare apple to apple between the builders. Different display home, different finishing, different area and design, and the task becoming cumbersome. We have a design that we like from one of those builders above but need to do few modifications. In terms of $/sqm, you can get any of those builders above to build around $1300-$1400 and we're not prepared to spend more than $1500/sqm as it will exceed our budget. Hi All, I have been dealing with icare for insurance in completing our house after our original builder went bust. We have gotten to tender stage and one of the companies… 0 20795 Thank you so much. This has been very helpful. We definitely wish to settle and get these people out of our life. They are trying to charge us interest on late… 7 14278 It is in lake macquarie area and dimensions are width 14 m and depth 8 m and the slope is 1/5 going down from the road. 1 7090 |