Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Oct 31, 2011 12:41 pm Hi All, Has anyone used, heard or have any experience with builder/building brokers? I haven't been able to find much about them. I would like to know which one is better and can save me some money. Builder/building broker or a project builder(metricon, porter Davis, Henley etc..) Thanks in advance. Re: Builder/building broker 2Nov 07, 2011 8:26 pm curious to this as well. they give your plans to a 'number' of builders. and the best price comes back. costs nothing. im not sure if you can see other quotes, or the best quote only not sure if i like the idea of having my plans go to 20+ builders i dont even know good to know if anyone has had any experience? ___________ Started design Aug 2011 Plans submitted to council Dec 2011 Re: Builder/building broker 3Nov 07, 2011 9:29 pm We used a builder broker in SA & to be honest it was a total PITA. He organised quotes from 4 custom builders that he dealt with & we also arranged one of our own with a builder I used to work for. I found the most annoying part was just having the "Middle man" My DH & I would have preferred to sit down with each of the builders & meet them ourselves & see what the vibe was like. I look forward to seeing other's experience with building brokers as I've not met anyone else who'd delt with one. I don't think it helped that we personally didn't like the broker we were dealing with, he was very "spacey" & difficult to deal with! Building our custom design "Dream Home" Follow my Build - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=46820 Contract Signed - 28/04/11 Siteworks Commenced - 20/06/11 Re: Builder/building broker 4Nov 07, 2011 11:59 pm There is no such thing as a service "costing nothing" You will find that you are actually paying more by going through a building broker. The builder has to pay the broker, and they need to recoup that money somewhere, it will be built into the cost of the home. If you went directly to the builder with the same plan and same spec, it would be cheaper than going through the broker. The downsides that Broom mentions are quite common comments made by clients that go through a broker. You end up stuck with a builder that gives the best price, but may not necessarily have the best customer service or workmanship. The bonus of a broker is when you are in the situation where you don't have the time/energy to shop around yourself, because they do the leg work for you. As with anything, if you can't be bothered doing something there is always someone willing to do it for you and make a buck out of it. Re: Builder/building broker 5Oct 25, 2012 8:07 pm We had an initial interview with a Broker in SA but found that we were so far down the path of our own research and discussions with Builders that we did not want to start the process again. If interested in using a broker all I can say is engage them early as like Broom we agreed on the PITA factor and the feel that they were unlikely to any better in pricing. After all the build cost must cover overheads of a salesman or a broker one way or another. The benefit of a broker from my novice experience is a) you can use their 'associates' (for what was in this case an Architect at Draftsman fees) to take care of your design drawings which will get you the custom build you want and b) you can get some Independant advice on your plans that some Builders may not openly volunteer unless prompted so a Broker does put an extra set of eyes over the plan. If you find a project builder with a plan that suits I dare say their volumes may make their price more competitive /sqm than a broker doing a custom build. We were told by the broker that there was no way our plans could be built for x/sqm despite not one but two builders indicating otherwise when we did our own research. All I can comment is engage one early and DYOR. Apparently brokers are well represented through UK and apparently are a well utilised resource in WA.......perhaps someone from that neck of the woods may be able to add further informed feedback than my two bobs. Deposit Paid 31/10/12 Selections 25/1/13 NHC 28/2 DCA 20/3 Siteworks 2/5 Slabbed 20/5 Wall Frames 3/6 Brickwork Finished 2/7 Lock Up 19/7 viewtopic.php?f=31&t=58864 Re: Builder/building broker 6Nov 06, 2012 6:46 pm Building broker's are a blight on the industry. They are sales rep without any builder' accountability. They spend more time negotiating their commission than dealing with the clients concern's. At least sales reps who work with the builder are more accountable. If your goal is soley about getting the cheapest build then there is some merit in using a broker. But if design and quality has any meaning to you, then you are better off going to a designer direct and shopping those drawings yourself. Most repuatable designer's have good working relationships with a select group of builder's Re: Builder/building broker 7Nov 06, 2012 7:08 pm I have it on authority that some building brokers just try and cut a deal with builders who are desperate for work. Why else would the builder pay them the dollars that are being asked? For information on how much that might be, PM me. I have some information. Advice? Go direct to a builder. Re: Builder/building broker 8Nov 07, 2012 3:28 pm imo Go through a designer. builder's are concerned with getting slabs on ground as a quickly as possible, designer's build reputations on good design. The best outcome for you is also the best outcome for them. Broker here - legislation says that every true broker must put the clients best interests before theirs so in theory they must offer you the best options for you on their… 2 46013 Hi Mofflepop, I would recommend finding a building designer to prepare plans, they should design to your specified budget. The benefit is you can tender the project out… 9 20413 |