Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Oct 22, 2009 12:13 pm I need to vent and get some help before I go mental! We've decided on a builder who we were really happy with until we got to Council, now it's all gone to hell. Council first said our house would not be approved as the garage is at the front of the house and too close to the corner and round-a-bout. Shortly after that, Council then told us that due to some drainage strategy recently implemented and specific to our area, the ground floor level had to be raised 500ml above street level which is then going to add roughly another $9,000 to the cost of our house. After being completely devastated for a few days, I decided to have a look at the builders website for another floorplan that might work. I found one where I could move the garage to the back and also shave a significant area off the side to save us some money. After speaking to our builder about this possibility, they said it should work but had to send it back to our original sales consultant to get pricing for the changes. I thought this was pretty ridiculous as we were already dealing with head office and this seemed like a step backwards, especially as he's just had the last two days off as he works on the weekend. Anyway, he came back to us with a new tender on Monday night but the expiry date hasn't changed from our old tender, which is next week!! This new tender has also left out the cost of raising the ground floor level which is just crazy. Here is the old layout for the house http://s991.photobucket.com/albums/af31 ... Layout.jpg and our new layout http://s991.photobucket.com/albums/af31 ... Layout.jpg I hope it's easy to see the changes I've made. I've moved the garage to the rear of the house, moved the alfresco area to where the great room was, moved the laundry and powder room to where the old alfresco area was, and cut off the whole right hand side in line with the family room, so it's now the same width as upstairs. They've told us we get a credit of $2,450 for taking off this whole area which I find absolutely ridiculous. I've removed a whole bedroom and I'm sure if I wanted to add another bedroom, they'd charge us a lot more than $2,450. Does this seem right to anybody!?! Sorry for rambling on, I'm just close to having a breakdown and would love to know what everyone things. Re: I need HELP!!! 2Oct 22, 2009 4:30 pm Hi Hallie, It must be very frustrating for you to find out at this late stage Council requirements.... But personally, I think the cost/credit for making a large number of changes to a floorplan is probably quite reasonable and I was actually expecting you to quote a high cost for the changes. There are many builders who won't allow such major modifications to their plans - as yours has now become essentially a custom job. I agree that they would charge you alot more than $2500 to add another bedroom but you have changed the whole shape of the house. Are there any other costs to you if the tender expires? Will they allow an extension or new tender period? Good luck in getting this all resolved. Never argue with an idiot they drag you down to their level & then beat you with experience - Dilbert View Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=19733 Contract signed 14Sept Slab 30Sept Bricks laid 1Dec Lock up 26Feb Keys 10Jun Re: I need HELP!!! 3Oct 22, 2009 4:46 pm Sorry I have no answers for you but just sympathy. I feel like I am going insane sometimes with plans not working and delays. I thought I would have moved in my place by now but still looks like another four weeks away. I hope it works out for you. Re: I need HELP!!! 4Oct 22, 2009 7:18 pm Hi, firstly, 9k for about 0.5 metre extra height of slab - woooow, I'd like that! I was worried about asking just for 10cm extra, so now I'm worried my house would be in a large "dinnerplate"!! Anyway, secondly, I think you could try to talk to the builder and ask to "restart" the tender period from the day you contacted the "sales" guy for the second time, ie. with the new house design. I would also ask them to re-issue the tender (based on the new design), and that it includes those 9k for the 1/2 metre (just to lock it in, as this sounds really good to me). If they don't agree with the tender period proposal, tell them that it makes no difference to you at this stage to go with somebody else (it certainly seems so to me!). Good luck and keep us posted!! My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: I need HELP!!! 5Oct 23, 2009 7:37 am I think it is excellent council is suggesting you raise your slab. Mine was build slightly lower than the road level which is rubbish. Now I need to spend $$$ on stormwater drainage and a sump and pump. If council allowed me to raise my house 500mm I would not have this problem. My first storwwater quote was $12,000 so a extra $9000 for the slab is cheaper than paying for drainage. But saying that, $9000 seems excessive. Hi there, I'm a conplete newbie to this, but I'm looking to put a floor down in my 6x9m shed. It's currently sitting on a 100mm thick concrete perimeter (dirt floor… 0 6432 Hi VK, I am now retired however I have stood beside over 300 owner builders in the past 18 years that have successfully built their own homes. First of all a building… 10 22561 Thank you @. Tried to play with the facade models but the exact colour is not matching up. 2 3212 |