Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Oct 04, 2012 8:46 am We've just received 2 quotes back from project home builders for a KDR. Due to the slope of our block we require drop edge beams in the garage and at the front of the house. Both quotes are from major project builders, however there is a ridiculous $18,000 difference between them. Unfortunately our first choice is the more expensive one, however we refuse to pay $30,000 for what someone can do for $12,000. Just wondering if anyone has ever been able to negotiate down the site costs using an alternate company's quote. Thank you. Re: Negotiating Site costs, any success? 2Oct 04, 2012 10:19 am You may also want to compare what difference exists in what the builder *includes* in the base price. Ie allowance of H class slab, fall of x mm , etc as that will effect how much extra they quote for site costs for your individual site. With 18 grand difference, either the slope is so much over what the builder ideally wants to build on that they use it as a way to make up for increased build time over their ideal timeline OR that builder has included very little of site costs in the base price of the house, while the other has included something closer to real than ideal. So before you go to the builder, you may want to check that you're comparing apples with apples in terms of the what the builders include in the base price. In our experience with building with a large project builder, there were only some things they would say a flat out NO to, outside of that anything they didn't want to do as it was outside of their standard , the price they quote would make it undesirable to proceed unless you really, really wanted it. Our Build - Places Fairhaven 23+ - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=28045 Our Landscaping - Belial's Backyard - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=45375 Re: Negotiating Site costs, any success? 3Oct 04, 2012 1:14 pm Before contract I had two options for site cut. The first option meant cutting the ground in order to ensure the building height didn't exceed a certain point. This meant removing heaps of soil from the site. The second option, much cheaper, would mean a requirement to submit a Report & Consent, but had less dirt needing to be removed. As a result the house will sit on higher land, with more slope to the driveway. Have they given you a figure that indicates how much soil would need to be removed from the site? Building a Delta 21 at Craigieburn - http://homeofzero.blogspot.com.au/ Deposit: 26/02. Contract: 22/05. Settlement: 29/05. Site start: 18/10. Re: Negotiating Site costs, any success? 4Oct 04, 2012 3:35 pm Project builders make their money/profit on site costs and extras, this is why the base cost of the homes are quite cheap compared to non-project builders My Hamptons build (completed): viewtopic.php?f=31&t=63370 Moved in Wednesday 11th Dec 2013 Front landscaping completed June 2016 Re: Negotiating Site costs, any success? 5Oct 04, 2012 4:06 pm akashra Before contract I had two options for site cut. Have they given you a figure that indicates how much soil would need to be removed from the site? They are both doing the maximum, which is 1m cut and 600mm fill. Both quotes are to do exactly the same thing, which is why I can't understand the huge difference. Re: Negotiating Site costs, any success? 6Oct 05, 2012 1:45 pm Gumbette88 akashra Before contract I had two options for site cut. Have they given you a figure that indicates how much soil would need to be removed from the site? They are both doing the maximum, which is 1m cut and 600mm fill. Both quotes are to do exactly the same thing, which is why I can't understand the huge difference. But did both of them allow for the same amount of site works in their base price? Its obviously not just the cost of a cut and fill, slab upgrades and i'm assuming a retaining wall will all be part of what they're quoting. If one builder allows in the base price for flat land only, no clay, no rock, no retaining but the other allows for say 500mm of fall, has a stronger slab design etc in their base price then that is probably where a lot of the difference comes from. Additionally some of the larger project builders (in vic at least) just don't want to build on some sites as the amount of extra time and effort to tailor their base house to suit your land unless you are willing to pay a premium to do so. Project builders work on turnaround and the number of houses they finish as quickly as possible. Anything out of the ordinary takes more time, in planning, approvals, construction than if you land is perfectly flat and all they have to do is rubber stamp everything and the tradies build it exactly as they did the last one and the one before that. Compare what is included in the base, type of slab, fill allowed etc to see why there is such a difference. if you're not sure post some of the details here or a link to inclusions lists. Our Build - Places Fairhaven 23+ - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=28045 Our Landscaping - Belial's Backyard - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=45375 I am not sure whether Perth has its own way of doing things in regards to this. Most of Perth has class A (sandy soil), except for some areas near rivers or hills. 2 13098 Is anyone building with Mojo and have a recent site cost tender 0 15952 Henley should give you some indication of site costs. Too many variable to give you any reasonable accuracy 1 1883 |