Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Oct 04, 2010 10:08 pm Hi all, Im a new user to this forum, so Im not sure how it works!! I've just purchased some acreage land at Teviot Downs stage 30, (subject to the sale of my existing property). My builder 'Plantation Homes' have just completed their soil and contour tests and I was really shocked at the results!! They did 3 'bore hole tests' across the house siting area and hit weathered rock at 900mm and 1100mm down. Plantation say they need to do a cut and fill of 1000mm and this will almost certainly hit the httrock! They also inform me that the soil test has come back 'M' & 'P' (P for problem site). They also inform me that they need to incorporate slab perimeter piers all around the slab. They also mention that I may hit problems sinking the HSTP and water tanks into the ground due to the rock. (these costs they cannot give me at present) They have added a provisional cost of $28,000 to my contract and say that this figure may even increase!! As I am still at my proposal stage with the builder and haven't yet fully signed with them, Im really unsure as to whether or not I should proceed with them! I love the land and the house (Retreat 20M Q1), but these 'extra' costs are beyond my budget, so it looks like I will have to sacrifice my facade option and a few other upgrades to bring the whole cost down within my budget.... Anyone else had a similar story??? Re: Building a Retreat house with Plantation homes Teviot Do 2Oct 05, 2010 11:50 am Pl@nt@tion are (in)famous for their abiguity in siteworks costing. Especially when rock is involved. Teviot, New Beith and Spring Mountain all have a certain amount of rock so they should have informed you and made allowance for it earlier as I'm sure they've built in that area before. This, in alot of respects, is how project builders make their money. They may come across 7 or 8 S class sites that are a dream to build on and don't require any additional works but for those 7 or 8 you always get your 4 or 5 "problem" sites where I find from past experience they belt you with additional costs which are usually unexplained or vague or can't be justified. Rock work doesn't cost in excess of $28,000. Maybe an extra $3000 or $4000 to dig your tanks but I can't see where the rest of the cost is. Another trick is obviously making the base price seem fantastic and affordable and then hitting you up once final tender comes in for $50k to $60k more. Sorry about the rant. I guess I've just sat long enough on these forums hearing good and bad experiences not to share. Re: Building a Retreat house with Plantation homes Teviot Do 3Oct 05, 2010 12:14 pm Hi, I replied to you in my thread as well. We are building in Teviot and while our builder found some rock they said that no where in the area has been excessive and it won't be too much. They did accross the road for no extra and neither neighbour either side of us had any extra cost either. I'm in H3y*** road. Emma Building on an acre at Teviot Downs, Brisbane Building through Hallmark - Flair 253 with a few changes Mother of two gorgeous girls Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37178 I think I know the answer but just checking to see if anyone has had experience with it. I want to build a small 20 square metre retreat in my backyard, it will have a… 0 13880 Ask for references and speak to them. If they are defensive or try to avoid the request, walk. 1 74688 I would never build with Fowler homes. I built with them in 2021 and till date maintenance issues are pending. All their existing trades and businesses don't work with… 14 105494 |