Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Sep 14, 2009 11:05 pm My builder has recently added a steep site surcharge for my block after the developer did the site cut. The actual cut is about half a metre as is the fill on the other side. There was no talk about a steep site surcharge before the developer did the site cut(with the builders permission). When I questioned the builder they told me it had to do with special protective fencing but they also thought the site fall was more than 2 metres, it's 1.57 metres. The actual fixed site costs are $3500 for 0-300mm(after developers site cut) and they include, batten trim for a retaining wall(justified I'll admit), steep site surcharge and a re-survey. Outside of this under site costs is the retaining wall w/ag drain($1502), H class slab($3470), and a second site survey($595) Does anyone know what qualifies as a steep site. Is this just the builder trying to charge something for site costs when they have no right to charge anything(base house price includes site costs for 0 to 300mm)? How can they charge for a site survey twice? The site costs they have listed are acceptable to me but the explanations for them are not. I'd be happier knowing what I'm being charged for. Can anyone help me out here? Gravity. Its the law. At lock-up stage(lock-up stage) https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25438 Re: Steep site surcharge 2Sep 14, 2009 11:13 pm the fixed site costs says it includes "waffle pod slabs up to and including P class" - I had thought this meant it included all class slabs... guess not? Re: Steep site surcharge 3Sep 14, 2009 11:16 pm Your contract is newer than mine. Mine included M class, no mention of P. You might be fine as is Gravity. Its the law. At lock-up stage(lock-up stage) https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25438 Re: Steep site surcharge 4Sep 14, 2009 11:20 pm Steep They must need Oxy at those dizzy heigts Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: Steep site surcharge 5Sep 15, 2009 1:35 am onc_artisan Steep They must need Oxy at those dizzy heigts It's steep from the perspective of a gnat Re: Steep site surcharge 6Sep 15, 2009 11:33 am I've spoken to the builder. They tell me the steep site surcharge is when they can't access the rear of the house to bring materials in, has nothing to do with gradient. There is three metres on one side to allow a truck to back in and unload. The developer was kind enough to level that area, they didn't have to. This 3m wide path is on the same side as the crossover(driveway) so it should be a straight back-in to the property. I'm going to send them a photo showing the site cut and see what they say. I asked if they charge this on all homes since most suburban builds take up most of the frontage, they couldn't answer that one. PS Things are a little tense with the builder. A sense of humour helps, thanks guys. Gravity. Its the law. At lock-up stage(lock-up stage) https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25438 Re: Steep site surcharge 7Sep 15, 2009 11:42 am Sounds similar to a mate at work who said when he built a few years ago they added a few hundred dollars for a "material handling charge" due to them "sometimes having problems getting access to the back of the property" He queried them on it and they just scratched it out. Probably just make it clear the property does'nt need it, with photos, and they should remove it I guess. Re: Steep site surcharge 8Sep 15, 2009 12:06 pm I sent them the photo. This is the final hurdle, so once this is clear I sign the contracts. I'll accept the re-survey bit. The charge for the site costs is good, great even. I just don't like the feeling of getting ripped off. Gravity. Its the law. At lock-up stage(lock-up stage) https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25438 Hi All It has been a few weeks since my last update. The build has been progressing well. No major issues to report. The scaffolding was dropped today, gyprock will be… 96 356756 I am not sure whether Perth has its own way of doing things in regards to this. Most of Perth has class A (sandy soil), except for some areas near rivers or hills. 2 13053 |