Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Dec 19, 2013 10:38 pm When does the builder start to add on the variation fee for a late change? We did our prestart 2 weeks ago and like most people we wanted the waterfall ends to the island bench! But after getting back the costings of all the changes and upgrades we had to cut back on the things we don't need. A few days late we asked our prestart person if we could make the end panels of the bench to be as wide as the bench top, so there is no overhang. We got a email today say that it's $530 to do, but there is a variation fee for a late change of $500 We are disappointed that the prestart person didn't give us options at prestart on what to do instead of the stone waterfall edge. By the time prestart had finish I had the BIGGEST headache and a babysitter who was in a bad mood due to us being very late home (2:30hrs late) We have not paid the prestart bill nor have we received any plans. So should we be paying the late fee? Re: variation fee for a late change 3Dec 19, 2013 11:00 pm Yep sounds rough to me and a bit harsh...... speak to the higher ups. Zero cost at this stage I think as they would not have ordered the stone yet. Re: variation fee for a late change 4Dec 19, 2013 11:12 pm With Christmas shut down starting tomorrow I don't think they have done anything since prestart, sent the bill! Re: variation fee for a late change 5Dec 19, 2013 11:38 pm That does seem a little premature. I had no problems doing that sort of thing for a few weeks after Prestart until the plans had been finalised. Variation fee should only be if plans go back to drafting surely? Re: variation fee for a late change 6Dec 19, 2013 11:49 pm That's what thought! We are going to call them tomorrow before we pay them for prestart. We wish there was a pre prestart and then prestart because there are so many questions and choices! Re: variation fee for a late change 7Dec 19, 2013 11:54 pm Agree with others! We made changes a few times after prestart but before we signed final plans. We weren't charged a variation just the cost of the change. We only got stung by a variation fee once we signed final plans. Good luck!! Re: variation fee for a late change 8Dec 20, 2013 1:12 am 2-cupcakes-pls We wish there was a pre prestart and then prestart because there are so many questions and choices! This! Many times over. Even with this forum and visiting places every weekend leading up, I still came out feeling so unprepared. The variation fees are partly to cover the admin costs but I think mostly they are meant as a deterrent to stop people changing their mind endlessly throughout the build. If you only just finished pre-start, I'd definitely push for a bit of flexibility - perhaps request time for one more review where you would like to confirm and lock in your changes in a single hit. With agreement that changes in future will have variation fees. Then spend the break going through your selections and decisions, reviewing everything and then make a single request for any items you want changed. Make sure you have covered as much off as possible - walk through this entire list if necessary. And the same in future, even if you spot individual things you want changed, try to bundle them up into as few requests as possible - you might still have to pay a variation fee but at least it would cover almost everything off. For reference, we have paid variation fees twice out of four requests for physical changes to our plan after pre-start. One of the waived fees was because I piggy-backed our request on a change they were recommending, and the other was an overlooked item that I had requested originally but never checked before signing off the plans. But yeah - as per others, talk to the builder. Demo + Build in Rivervale, Western Australia Moved in June 2014 http://rivervale.tumblr.com/ Building Thread Re: variation fee for a late change 9Dec 20, 2013 9:47 am We are going to pay the fee, but we want to go in and speak to our prestart person and add more lights and powerpoints. We also want to check all the changes we have made as we don't remember what we did! We are in no hurry to get the build started and are ok with the delay Re: variation fee for a late change 10Dec 20, 2013 9:54 am Add as much as you can to that variation if youre going to pay the fee. I thought once final plans had been done, so long ago now Re: variation fee for a late change 11Dec 20, 2013 2:39 pm After the new year we are going in to see them and over the break we will be going over the plans and make sure that we are 100%. Prestart was much a rushed day, I am happy to pay $500 to get a mini prestart in the new year! 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