Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jan 22, 2012 9:52 pm About to start the whole Tender process and want to get some extra stuff included into the price of my place if possible, when is the best time to get this happening? Not sure if I should do it during the Tender write up, when I get it back with costs or ask now? So what did others do, or didn't anyone else ask? Re: When is the best time to ask a builder to include stuff 3Jan 22, 2012 11:34 pm So, let's say you ignored Akiva's cynicism and were young and naive like me Ask for free stuff before they know you're in. Ask them when you're really undecided and just can't choose between 3 different builders and none of them are quite there yet. If you're beyond that, and they know you're "in", then.... Before you sign anything. Wait, before you sign or pay anything. You wanna leave your options open and be able to walk away. That's my advice, 'cause I have the cynical view like Akiva that there is no such thing as "free" with builders because they knew I was "in" all along. I'm too honest and told my builder I was just speaking to another builder for a comparison. Said that to the other rep and neither of them tried too hard to get my business. So yeah.... Don't sign up or pay for anything, 'cause they won't work too hard to keep you happy after that. And why should they?! Oh, wait, that's not to say I'm not happy with my rep or my builder!! I'm just not happy with my naivete!! Re: When is the best time to ask a builder to include stuff 4Jan 23, 2012 1:12 pm We're in exactly the same boat! Our plan is to discuss at tender, we're just trying to work out what we can reasonably ask for. If i get any useful info I'll let you know, and if I don't, I suppose I'll let you know how it goes asking for things for free at our meeting this week! Our biggest concern is making unreasonable requests and demonstrating that we have no idea what we're doing Re: When is the best time to ask a builder to include stuff 5Jan 23, 2012 1:45 pm I figure if I don't even ask then I wont get....... I've got cost for most things I want in the house so just thinking of asking if they can throw in a few of the cheaper things or say but builder X includes blah, blah..... I figure when I bought a new car I asked for Accessories to be added, I did this when we were talking final figures. With the builder I want to build with I have to pay $500 for them to prepare the Tender. Not sure if I ask before I know the price or once I have all the figures in front of me? I'm getting Tenders done by one other builder for a similar house but they don't charge to do their one but also don't do soil tests Re: When is the best time to ask a builder to include stuff 6Jan 24, 2012 10:39 am I'm also young and naive, but It is a BIG debt we are getting into and they are making lots and lots of money from us anyway. I worked through the plans with my rep lots of times, I asked for the quote initially and then once that was in realised I wanted extra stuff and wanted to change the size etc. After 6 times of him coming back and forth I said I was ready to sign. But when I went down to Adelaide to sign I asked for other changes, like noise cancelling insulation, rain water plumbed through out the house etc, in the end a few of the "extras" I asked for he added as bonuses. This was also because I advised after about the third quote which came in at $162,800 that I wanted to get as close to $155,000 as possible and asked them for opinions on what they could do for me or remove or reduce in cost etc... In the end I added an extra 15M2 to the plan, included a linin press, rainwater loop, and a few other things at no extra cost... I didn't get down to the $155 but I worked out I was WAY better off. I again added a few extra things at my final builders interview and changed sizes of doors etc which should be extra charges but the bloke I had did it for nothing . Might help I'm a young female, but I did go with my folks to the final interview so no funny business BB Barossa Bubbles Building own design Fairmont Homes viewtopic.php?f=31&t=51265&hilit=Barossa+Bubbles Roof on-bricks next Re: When is the best time to ask a builder to include stuff 7Jan 24, 2012 10:48 am Hahaha might have to send the Mrs in with a short skirt and revealing top then..... Re: When is the best time to ask a builder to include stuff 8Jan 24, 2012 10:52 am Yeah, many of the sales reps are good looking young men..... Who keep bringing up their wives and family in conversation. What's that about?! So yeah, being young and lovely doesn't always work I work with owner, he/she is my man on the ground and I instruct them when to visit the site and take photos and I have other tools in the bag. 4 15265 Ardo That is so funny! I wonder how many people know who Larry Haun is these days. I have a couple of young guys we call Mo 1 & Mo 2 who run a crew of 6 boys and… 9 15511 |