Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jun 19, 2013 12:16 pm Hi everyone I'm new to this forum. We are building with Statesman at Balhannah, Adelaide Hills. Our design is the Myrtle Alfresco with slight changes. We have our colour appointment next week, we are lodged with council for approval and the other night we got our footings report with a variation to contract. Footings were originally quoted as $25k, then they put them up to $30k, now they have come back with $34k. An extra $1,500 for additional electricity/sewer run. Then $5k to remove excess soil. This seems crazy to us. Our block is flat, 743sqm. Has anyone had this issue? Are there any alternatives such as second opinions, finding out how much it actually costs to remove the soil? Is it for cartage cost? Can we get rid of it ourselves? I can live with the extra footings and sewer/electricity run but the soil removal is what is going to kill us. We haven't budgeted for that and I don't want to miss out on upgrading my kitchen etc. Would appreciate any advice or experience that you have had that may help me, thank you! Re: Excess soil removal Adelaide Hills - Statesman/Hickinbot 2Jun 19, 2013 12:40 pm I'm sorry to hear of your Footings issues. I built with Hickies back in 2005 (a 1500sqm flat block in Kapunda). My footings and site works were quoted at $7000 initially (gross underquote but I was 20 years old and had no idea) and ended up at $29,500 in the end. They just told me the soil was highly reactive. I wore it at the time, but from the feedback I have heard in the years following and from other builders (who do things differently) the damage was alot less. The neighbours I had next door built with Fairmont and their bill was around $15,000. Now, I know that soil can vary from block to block, but a near $15,000 difference for blocks side by side and with houses of virtually the same square meterage and constructuion type was ridiculous... but by the type that discussion was had, it was all too late! You can get an independent soil report done, they are between $500 - $1000. I would definitely raise it with Statesm@n, you need to know why and how these costs have been calculated. Having had my time again, I definitely would have turned over more stones before I just paid it based on their report... But I know how hard it is, just wanting your house and having to deal with an issue such as this! We have a block in Bluestone, Mt Barker a flat 560sqm plot. We arent going with Hickies again this time.... Initially we considered it, based on being told "things have changed from 8 years ago etc" but as we started the process, we realised they hadn't... and didnt go any further. As for soil removal, you can do this yourself... You'd need an estimate (ask Statesm@n how much soil they've based their $5k removal costs on) and go from there with your quotes... All the best, Balhannah is a lovely spot in the hills Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=66299 Slab: 16/6/14 Frame: 4/7/14 Roof: 22/7/14 Lock Up: 20/8/14 Fixing: 26/8/14 PCI: 9/10/14 Handover: 20/10/14 Re: Excess soil removal Adelaide Hills - Statesman/Hickinbot 3Jun 19, 2013 1:31 pm We had a similar issue. We built with Homestead at Blakeview. 800sqm pretty much flat. The initial footing quote was $30,000 and then it jumped to $34,000. Homestead use Just Bobcats for the Site Prep etc for their homes. We told Homestead that we will pay Just Bobcats directly to cut and fill the block. Went and saw them got a quote. We then received two variations. One of $2,500 to remove the excess soil (Homestead estimated 361 tonnes) and $1,000 variation if site prep wasnt completed IAW Engineers report. As we used Just Bobcats that was never an issue. Consequently our footings dropped back to $26,450. We then paid Just Bobcats to cut and fill the block, lay rubble and then remove the soil. (191 tonnes) Once the trenches were done by ' builder ' then Just Bobcats came back and moved that soil aswell (104 tonnes). Total cost to us $8,765. So we will get back the $2500 because the soil was gone upon first meeting with SS and $1000 because the site prep was done IAW engineers report. Note: Our variation of $2,500 to remove the soil was primarily a ' if you dont get it moved we will charge you $2,500 ' Then send you a bill for how much it actually cost to move and dump it. So we came out of it with money in our pocket. It might pay to get a quote from someone else or find out who they use and pay them directly if you can Good Luck Settled Land 28/04/11 Siteworks 04/12/12 Footings 16/03/13 Slab Poured 27/03/13 Frame 22/04/13 Roof 29/04/13 Bricks 07/06/13 1st Fix 02/07/13 2nd Fix 26/07/13 Handover 18/09/13 Re: Excess soil removal Adelaide Hills - Statesman/Hickinbot 4Jun 19, 2013 11:02 pm we were lucky with footings and ours were fixed. 5k on soil removal does seem very expensive, is it soil from them digging trenches to do slab or is it including them removing at the end of the build once pavers are done? ours is costing $1500 through hickies our land is 663m2 so a bit smaller than yours. pretty sure ours does not include soil from doing the driveway and perimeter paving. Re: Excess soil removal Adelaide Hills - Statesman/Hickinbot 5Jun 20, 2013 12:42 pm Deluxes - thank you and yes I agree with you - I know each block can be different but a massive difference you had with your neighbours being $15,00 and you on $29,500 with your first build. I've spoken to my neighbour and his was $25k with nothing that went over. I've contacted Statesman so will wait to hear, want to ask them how they have calculated it all and you are also correct, just want to get it all moving and build my house! Bluestone at Mt Barker is really nice, we also looked there. Hope your experience is a better one this time with the different builders. Bkhouse - Thanks for your reply. Sounds like you had the right idea to use Just Bobcats independently. Might look into them or getting another quote. Not sure how many tonnes they have to remove but will hopefully find out soon. I've also contacted a guy that was referred to me that does retaining walls etc and he said he would try to work it out for me and offer some advice. Hachy - Yes that would have been great to have your footings fixed, no nasty surprises then! I think it is just soil from digging the trenches, it says pavers and driveways not included on the variation. They quoted us $1,500 but $2,500 extra seems a lot more - your block is smaller but not a huge difference. Thanks for your help! Re: Excess soil removal Adelaide Hills - Statesman/Hickinbot 6Jun 21, 2013 9:43 am I have my fingers crossed that you get a decent reply from St@tesman, and maybe they can adjust or rework a few things for you.... its not a nice feeling to be in limbo with such a big variation and no real answers You do get to a point where you even consider lopping off one of your own limbs if it meant you could get the damn thing finished!! I hope so too, I guess experience and learning from the last time will help greatly and maybe wont land me in as deeper water as the first time, one can only hope I guess Thanks, we really like it. We were considering Seaford before we took a trip up to see the display homes at Mount Barker, then we looked around and fell in love. Funny how things work out, we couldnt imagine it any other way now! Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=66299 Slab: 16/6/14 Frame: 4/7/14 Roof: 22/7/14 Lock Up: 20/8/14 Fixing: 26/8/14 PCI: 9/10/14 Handover: 20/10/14 Re: Excess soil removal Adelaide Hills - Statesman/Hickinbot 7Jun 22, 2013 5:26 pm hills_lisa81 - I am in EXACTLY the same boat as you. I had a quote for footings for $25000 (which I was told was an overestimate) - it is now up to 31000 My electrical connections have gone up by $1500 My excess soil removal has gone up by $4000 I was told my soil is highly reactive. I haven't signed anything yet - have been brooding on it. I am very much looking for advice as to what to do. An independent soil report might be the go, but I have a feeling that it wouldn't say any different than what they have - I am more concerned that the prices they are increasing are just profits for them. Oh, and my block is a TINY 302sqm Land settled: 13th April 2013 Master Plans: 6th May 2013 Footings Report: 14th June 2013 Colour Selections: 8th July 2013 Council Approval: 4th July 2013 Re: Excess soil removal Adelaide Hills - Statesman/Hickinbot 8Jun 24, 2013 1:09 pm Thanks so much deluxes, yeah it really sucks because you think of that extra money and what it could pay for - furniture, landscaping, paving etc! Think you definitely made the right choice, the Adelaide Hills are beautiful. Got a few answers on the weekend. Spoke to Statesman and they said that I have 230 tonnes of soil to be removed (crazy!!) and that the rate they charge is $22 per tonne so that works out just over $5k. I've been told that is a very reasonable price. She said the soil removal is not so much from the cut and fill but from the footings because they have to go down deeper. I have highly reactive soil too angeepants. The retaining wall guy got back to me and said that Statesman are doing the right thing and all the amounts are correct so they aren't doing wrong by us basically. We also got a friend of a friend who is in the building industry to have a look at our engineers report and he said the same thing, that it is all correct. Statesman have to cover themselves with the footings so the house is structually guaranteed. Unfortunately we also need retaining walls now (more money!!) just on the right boundary, 400mm high. I've called Statesman again today because this guy told us we have to get retaining walls in before the slab so I need to ask them about it. Just thought I would do one more ring around for a few more retaining walls (maybe companies up in the hills) and also if there is anywhere that does soil removal, that way I feel a bit surer about things before we sign. It's all so much money - very stressful! We've had moments this last week where we have thought if retaining walls were going to come back at some massive amount we would have just pulled out of the whole thing. Hope that has been some help angeepants, you might be worthwhile getting another soil report or if I find out anyone that can get rid of soil cheaper I will let you know. Re: Excess soil removal Adelaide Hills - Statesman/Hickinbot 9Jul 17, 2013 9:01 pm Hi, We are building the Myrtle Alfresco with Statesman on a 1000sqm block. Our footings was estimated at about 24k, got our footings report back and its 45k!!! OMG! Original soil removal was $1500 and its gone up to $6700! Siteworks and footings were estimated at 22k but are 29,968k And a couple of other bits and pieces! Am glad to hear that you got some other opinions and they agreed that Statesman was doing the right thing by you. We signed and everything as we just want our house built but its been on my mind for weeks! Re: Excess soil removal Adelaide Hills - Statesman/Hickinbot 10Jul 17, 2013 11:01 pm Hi, We got our soil removed on our own. Was over 200 tonnes not sure of the exact amount as we had a set price arranged with the guy. We paid $1430. Think he gave it to us that cheap because he wanted our retaining wall business too (we didn't go with him though) but also because he was able to dump the soil back on the developers property in another area being prepared which eliminated hi dumping costs. But even still there are people out there who will do it for less than the $5,000 you had quoted. With retaining, ensure you have spoken to your neighbours and know what they are doing. On just our plans we thought we would have a 1.6m high wall going down to a 400mm high wall but when we retained with our neighbours this jumped to 2m high because of their fill. All of a sudden we had a 2m wall that we never imagined when we first signed on. All of our walls cost us $23,000 wasn't prepared for that cost! It was not what the builder informed us of in the beginning. Re: Excess soil removal Adelaide Hills - Statesman/Hickinbot 11Jul 17, 2013 11:04 pm Your builder may be right with the amount and what is needed footing wise, doesn't mean it is the best price for removal. A lot of soil does come out of those trenches. Soil expands when it is excavated too so can double in size. Re: Excess soil removal Adelaide Hills - Statesman/Hickinbot 12Jul 18, 2013 10:08 am Thanks for that info Amancharmar, really helpful to know. I have found a local guy up there but he is very casual and says to just call him when they've dug the trenches and he will come have a look. I need to be able to lock him in because if I don't go with the builders then they want to know his name, vehicle details etc. 200 tonnes at $1430 is a very good price though and a huge difference to $5k! I might call this guy back and see if I can lock him in or see if I can find someone else, thanks again - good to know that it can be done cheaper, which I was sure it could! Wow Ten88, that is a huge variation! Sorry to hear, I know how that feels but your situation is more extreme than mine. Where are you building? Do you have highly reactive soil? Totally understand what you mean about just signing because you want it built, I am very much to that point too - over it and want to get it happening already! I did email builders this week and asked that we have the documentation of how much soil was removed if we do get them to do it just so we know how many tonnes was actually removed from site. It is still a PC item and they say they cannot be sure of how many tonnes it is until they actually do the footings. Re: Excess soil removal Adelaide Hills - Statesman/Hickinbot 13Jul 24, 2013 1:27 pm Hi, I had the same experience where I cancelled a contract with Statesman because of higher costs every time and then in the end much over allowance for both footing and soil removal. Before I ended it I did a lot of phone calls and research and found a great website where you post what you need to remove and someone who wants to get filling can offer to come and get it off you, for free. http://www.needdirt.com.au I called the company of the website and the guy I spoke to was very helpful and it all seemed like a super service. I hope this can help someone Good luck everyone with your builds! We have stated all over and hope to sign with a new builder next week and have learned so much during the process and will actually save a lot of money for a better house this time. So, I am still hopeful PM me your email. I have a build excavation calculator you can use based on your plans to double check what your builder is telling you. Cheers Simeon 1 10256 Even if it's not being sub-divided and you want to keep it as Torrens title, you will still need to talk to a town planner or Council themselves, to see if they will allow… 1 11039 Thanks again Simeon for being so elaborate. Appreciate it. Its gives us a very idea. Kind Regards 4 3691 |