Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Mar 12, 2013 10:41 pm I am trying to do a knockdown and rebuild on my place in Sydney. I have taken some quotes on knockdowns, so far it is ok. The real issue I am facing is where to start in selecting the right builder and how to find the real cost of putting up the new structure. Speaking to builders in the Sydney Homeworld 5 and display homes (AllCastle, EdenBrae, Masterton, Wincrest, Wisdom, etc. etc), they all are telling to sign up before they can come up with some kind of costing and that too 90% tentative. I am pretty clear on my requirements (double story, floor plans, etc) but the real issue I am facing is the tender quote. Reading this forum, it seems some of you have got 4 to 6 tender quotes before selecting the best out of them. My query is "how to get that many quotes with out spending approx 2k on each of them", which I think is money gone in drain. Also, is it better to get the basic design created by hiring a Draftsman and then asking the builders to quote on the design. By the initial discussions, none seems to be too exited about quoting on a conceived design. It looks pretty long journey, anyhow started with this post. Please help with ideas, suggestions. Apologies for my naive post. Re: KDRB (KnockDownRebuild) On My Exiting Place 2Mar 12, 2013 11:00 pm I think you need to look at designs and see which one suits you and your family's lifestyle. Which design is going to suit your block best? Where does the sun come in for the morning and afternoon? Take advantage of this. In terms of getting lots of tenders... We were attracted to one other builder initially and liked their design, and as we were getting prepared to start a tender with them, out came the hidden costs. I was getting worried about how much the costs were going to be... We pulled out on the day they were to present their tender. I haven't looked back. When you find the right house, you will know! Good luck! Built a Hawthorne 31 with EB nessjeffdreamhouse.blogspot.com.au Building an investment now with New Living homes... We are at nearly finished... Just landscaping and driveway to go! Re: KDRB (KnockDownRebuild) On My Exiting Place 4Mar 13, 2013 9:02 pm Each builder has there own tender process, some ask you to pay $0-$3000. We paid $750 to start the process with EB, it comes off the overall price if you go with them. This covers soil testing and preparing a document which will be fixed site costs for the contract, you get to see other costs associated with the build. You are not locked in with a builder until you sign a contract and pay 5% of the total build price. As for how to decide which is best, only you can decide, do you like single or double storey, go look at display homes, find out inclusions. That was what also won us over with EB. Value for money. Built a Hawthorne 31 with EB nessjeffdreamhouse.blogspot.com.au Building an investment now with New Living homes... We are at nearly finished... Just landscaping and driveway to go! Re: KDRB (KnockDownRebuild) On My Exiting Place 5Mar 13, 2013 9:21 pm You will find that some builders like masterton give you free quotes,while others will give you a tender for a reduced fee if you already have a survey and bore hole test..so you might pay the full $1k for one builder (make sure they give you the survey if you don't proceed) and others will do it for $500 or less.. Re: KDRB (KnockDownRebuild) On My Exiting Place 6Mar 13, 2013 9:23 pm beechwood gives free Tender and they are very competitive too, not sure how they will be in their two storey, but do visit few display homes to get an idea Re: KDRB (KnockDownRebuild) On My Exiting Place 7Mar 14, 2013 1:24 pm Got the first quote on demolishing my exiting place and it is pretty much. Almost $20K and that does not include gas & electricity disconnection costs. Any references for knock down job that is under 15K ?? (Mine is old 2 story with brick veneer construction). Re: KDRB (KnockDownRebuild) On My Exiting Place 8Mar 15, 2013 9:27 pm akhilshri Got the first quote on demolishing my exiting place and it is pretty much. Almost $20K and that does not include gas & electricity disconnection costs. Any references for knock down job that is under 15K ?? (Mine is old 2 story with brick veneer construction). Try http://www.statedemolition.com.au/ and http://www.anademolitions.com.au who are recommended by some of the volume builders. We've received quotes from both of these companies and they are both <15K to knock down a single story double brick home in Sydney. Re: KDRB (KnockDownRebuild) On My Exiting Place 9Mar 15, 2013 11:17 pm There is also extra where there is asbestos in the home to be demolished. Ours was $12k for single story brick with asbestos. My Hamptons build (completed): viewtopic.php?f=31&t=63370 Moved in Wednesday 11th Dec 2013 Front landscaping completed June 2016 Re: KDRB (KnockDownRebuild) On My Exiting Place 11Mar 16, 2013 9:21 am Thanks for the links and advice. I am trying to get 3 more quotes to get an average of the cost to be incurred. Mine has asbestos walls in the house so definitely will cost a bit more. Re: KDRB (KnockDownRebuild) On My Exiting Place 12Mar 16, 2013 10:06 am Hi akhilshri, Which part of Sydney are you in?As our demo guy only services some parts and so far I would highly recommend him. Re: KDRB (KnockDownRebuild) On My Exiting Place 14Mar 16, 2013 10:40 am Aheron Hi akhilshri, Which part of Sydney are you in?As our demo guy only services some parts and so far I would highly recommend him. I am in the West Pennant Hills area. The council is Hornsby. Re: KDRB (KnockDownRebuild) On My Exiting Place 16Apr 14, 2013 12:20 am Finally after spending last 5 weekends in display homes, have narrowed down to 4 builders. Have decided for a 40sq house and asked them to provide initial quote. Hopefully should get by end of next week. With the demolition cost around 20k, I am expecting that my end budget will hit 400k. Any suggestions on reducing the costs, even though it is pretty high level. Builders decided are Clarendon, Kurmnd, AllCastle and Hotondo. Any inputs on these builders. Re: KDRB (KnockDownRebuild) On My Exiting Place 17Apr 14, 2013 9:45 am Well done akhilshri! Our of your final 4,I have only dealt with Clarendon and they were pretty good.Also-Neighbours of my parents built with them and they are happy.Only negative they mentioned was that a lot of the upgrades were expensive..but that's the same with all project builders.. Good luck! Re: KDRB (KnockDownRebuild) On My Exiting Place 18Apr 17, 2013 1:23 pm Akhilshri. Sorry i just read your post, please do not build with Kurmond Homes we started dealing with them and they are hopeless and wouldnt touch them with a 10 ft pole. We are building with Clarendon Pddington 31 which is a knock down however we are doing our own knock down as Clarendon will charge a fortune. at the end of the day it is your choice but please dont chose Kurmond. Re: KDRB (KnockDownRebuild) On My Exiting Place 19Apr 29, 2013 3:52 pm Dude.. check with Beechwood and they are bit pain the A (but who else isnt') they are very good in tendering and cheap to build as well. Some of their staff are really good people (in their HO). I'd recommend you check them as well. Re: KDRB (KnockDownRebuild) On My Exiting Place 20Apr 29, 2013 4:18 pm nervousdude, just read your thread. We are also doing a knockdown rebuild (single level, with asbestos) in the Hornsby Council area and we have three quotes the best quote we found was from Matt at AAAGS Demolition and Excavation - 0401 938 771, very professional quote, everything covered and very, very reasonable price. Chilly, sorry to hear you had problems with Kurmond, we have a tender (haven't signed anything yet) from them and have found them absolutely wonderful. We were a bit concerned at first to contact them because we had heard bad reports but after contacting them we have been very, very happy. They have been fast, efficient, helpful and supportive. Some of the other builders that we have dealt with over the last 12 months, well lets just say I wouldn't even mention their names. It is a very, very stressful time building a house, you have to make so many decisions the biggest being the builder. I personally think you will not find one builder anywhere that does not have a few 'bad comments/reports/reviews' about them. You have to go with your gut feeling. The best thing to do is talk to the builder - talk and ask questions and then talk and ask more questions. If your gut feeling says there is something wrong walk away because in the end you will not be able to work with the builder. Building a home is a joint effort between you and the builder, you have to work as a team. No builder goes out there to build a bad house to get bad reviews but I have been reading many bad reviews lately about builders, not just Kurmond and these reviews/comments are from people who have not even got to the tender stage of building with a company. Your best bet might be to go visit the display homes and walk around in them, and take photos. Get a feel for it in person instead of deciding from the floor plan. There… 1 21410 Keen to hear from people in the area who have got KDRB done on whom they got the build from? Looking for recommendations. Thanks 0 21092 |