What does site costs involve?

su ann · Feb 29, 2008 3:43 pm

Hi
We are considering removing our current house (currently occupying) and rebuilding.

What does site costs involve and at what stage of the whole design building process is it done?

I was told that in order to get the site surveyed for contours, soil testing etc. for site costs, I need to have the house removed. Is this correct?

Trouble is am not prepared to commit to removing the house until I have apretty good estimate of the cost of rebuilding and most importantly all the approvals and permits in place.

haywgl · Feb 29, 2008 3:55 pm

Hi Sue
I am in almost the same position as you. I want to buy an old house and demolish it to use the land to build on. The problem I have is that I can't get a proper estimate of the site costs until the house has been demolished. Also I can't get approval for plans etc from council until I own the house, problem is I don't want to buy a houe/land where I am not 100% sure I can afford/am allowed to build the house I want on the block.

As far as I know the site costs is one of the first stages in the building process. Some peoples site costs can be as little as $8k and I have heard of some up to $50k, I want to build with M'con and they have told me for a relatively flat block of land in an established area the site costs would be around $25k, I am budgeting $30k.

Good luck
Belinda

Shady · Mar 02, 2008 1:02 pm

Site costs are extra costs required for site preparation and footings. This includes costs of machine hire, steel, concrete supply & pumping, extra earthworks, extra tie down/bracing due to wind rating etc. These amounts may arise due to excess cut and fill, modifications of slab design due to soil classification or alterations to house design etc.

Site costs are calculated for each individual building project and are based on the information obtained from the initial Contour Survey, Soil Test and Engineers Footing design. On rare occasions, a variation in soil conditions or the presence of rock may become apparent only after earthworks have commenced, on these occasions the footing design will be revised and any necessary alterations to the footing design determined. If additional earthworks or modification to the footing design is required at this late stage, additional site costs may be incurred.