Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Aug 16, 2014 10:49 pm So we went down to the Blueprint office to meet with a sales consultant to see if they had any home plans which could fit into our lot. We were also ready to discuss aspects of the home which we wanted to include e.g. kitchen with scullery, 3rd car garage etc. We were advised that before any sketching could be done (i.e. placing a home plan on our lot or providing any sketches of changes in room locations, sizes, layout etc), we had to pay a $2,000 deposit. We wanted to check if anyone who dealt with blueprint had such an experience? All of the other builders we are speaking with (Dale Alcock, Ross North, Plunkett, Ventura) were very happy and willing to make these initial sketches for us and even discuss changes to rooms and layout without any charge. If any one has any experiences or comments, please share. Thank you Our Build Thread: The "Extended" Marina by Visionone Homes Our Inspirations: Frank Lloyd Wright | Houzz Re: Blueprint Homes - wanted $2000 deposit before sketching 2Aug 16, 2014 10:55 pm That doesn't sound right to me Hootie - my guess is you've found yourself a lazy salesrep who doesn't want to put in the hard yards first. I know that I would not put down a deposit on a plan that is obviously going to have changes done to it and have no idea what the final cost would be?? Re: Blueprint Homes - wanted $2000 deposit before sketching 3Aug 16, 2014 10:57 pm $2000 is for your site survey and soil testing Re: Blueprint Homes - wanted $2000 deposit before sketching 4Aug 16, 2014 10:59 pm It would be the same as them pushing u to sign a contract? Did they mention signing up? Re: Blueprint Homes - wanted $2000 deposit before sketching 5Aug 16, 2014 11:00 pm Hopeful78, My wife and I were made to understand that the $2000 deposit is for sketching only. We have not signed with Blueprint yet, so I don't think they would want to conduct a site survey or testing at this point? No mention of signing up at the meeting today. We were not prepared to sign up without even any sketches done to see how the home plan would fit on our lot. Asha - point taken and our thoughts exactly.... Our Build Thread: The "Extended" Marina by Visionone Homes Our Inspirations: Frank Lloyd Wright | Houzz Re: Blueprint Homes - wanted $2000 deposit before sketching 6Aug 16, 2014 11:04 pm To clarify generally the $2000 is for site survey, soil testing AND preparation of plans. You don't get to this stage until you are happy with the "concept" plans and of course the associated costings. Re: Blueprint Homes - wanted $2000 deposit before sketching 7Aug 16, 2014 11:07 pm The sales reps usually do the sketch for free and then you decide if you want to sign up with them. I have never heard of a company charging for the sketch... Doesn't seem right to me. You might not even like their sketch and if you make any changes (moving walls, adding storage etc) it could get really expensive. Re: Blueprint Homes - wanted $2000 deposit before sketching 8Aug 16, 2014 11:41 pm I had the same thing too with Blueprint (SOR). The sales guy I had was young and full of cr@p. He wouldn't do anything until we paid $2000. My husband refused to go with him, but I loved the house plan, so when I went to the display home (NOR) I got talking to a new sales man and he knew exactly which employee I was talking about without even mentioning a name! This new guy was so helpful and drew plans up promptly for us without charge. We didn't end up going with Blueprint in the end though. Funnily enough, the original Blueprint guy was an ex employee of the company we did sign for!! Re: Blueprint Homes - wanted $2000 deposit before sketching 9Aug 16, 2014 11:47 pm asha - This morning was out first meeting with Blueprint...can't imagine why they would want to slap on such charges when other builders' sales rep have been happy to do sketches and discuss back and forth with us to get the layout right for us! Even with a custom home designer we spoke to said they charge $500 for a sketch by a designer. xxj - I must admit that the alarm bells did start to ring during the meeting. We were hoping to discuss layout etc but it seems nothing would be done till the $2,000 deposit was paid! TheTurleys - Thanks for the comments....we could have done the same I think, but we were slightly disappointed and disheartened when we found out that we couldn't even get a sketch done today without first coming out with the deposit... Our Build Thread: The "Extended" Marina by Visionone Homes Our Inspirations: Frank Lloyd Wright | Houzz Re: Blueprint Homes - wanted $2000 deposit before sketching 10Aug 17, 2014 2:30 am Hi Hootie, I don't think it is the normal practice from Blueprint. Probably you ran into an idiot sales consultant who just deals with FHBs building small houses. The 2000 is for site survey and drafting, he must be dreaming if he asks 2k for sketching I would suggest to contact any other sales consultant or give a call to Paul (Client Relationship Advisor) (9440 1800) and ask him to arrange one. Re: Blueprint Homes - wanted $2000 deposit before sketching 11Aug 17, 2014 2:45 am Thanks Ozlizz, the funny thing is that Paul had arranged this meeting with a senior staff member from the company. We asked to see what one of their plans would look like on our land and were told that we needed to place the $2,000 deposit before any sketching could be done. Sales consultants from other builders have done sketchings for us free of charge so this is very strange is Blueprint can't do it without some form of deposit... Re: Blueprint Homes - wanted $2000 deposit before sketching 12Aug 17, 2014 2:55 am The consultant sure is an idiot. I would suggest to meet another one, tell him directly that you have already seen some of the plans online and interested in A & B. You want a few modifications and want to know how much roughly it would cost. Also tell him that you are now in a comparison mode and if he can give you the best deal, you'll make the deposit within 2 weeks. . Re: Blueprint Homes - wanted $2000 deposit before sketching 13Aug 17, 2014 3:04 am BTW, Newgeneration offers a good plan with skillion roof as well. The feedback about the company is normally good and they are fast with building as well. Check out 'the residence' .. it might interest you. http://www.newgenerationhomes.com.au/ne ... -residence Re: Blueprint Homes - wanted $2000 deposit before sketching 14Aug 17, 2014 3:13 am Cool will check them out. All I can say is what an experience with Blueprint this morning. Most of the time was spent explaining about their company and values and nothing about the layout plan or addressing the modifications/features we wanted. I had detailed what we wanted in terms of layout and features in an email to them a could of days ago and they knew we would be comparing quotes but sounds like they might have thought we were naive first time builders.... Our Build Thread: The "Extended" Marina by Visionone Homes Our Inspirations: Frank Lloyd Wright | Houzz Re: Blueprint Homes - wanted $2000 deposit before sketching 15Aug 17, 2014 7:29 am Its been so long since we started our build im having trouble remembering the first order of things but our sales rep was in contact with us for about 6 months before we signed. We paid the $2000 to have survey and soil testing before we signed because I was worried about our soil class and expensive site works but pretty sure we had basic sketches and a lot of info out of our sales rep before we committed he was very helpful and not pushy at all. Dont know much about blueprint but maybe do some searches on this forum under their name to get some info. Goodluck with your build. Re: Blueprint Homes - wanted $2000 deposit before sketching 16Aug 18, 2014 11:03 pm Did actually make the decision to go with blue print over the weekend. My sales/consultant seems really good. I have been looking for established houses for ages - then decided to look for land and a builder for a first house after talking with a few mates/friends of friends. I had been looking for land in landsdale - trying to see if i could find a nicebigblock - and the people from blue print made the effort to contact around for bigger blocks, drove me around to help show me a couple- found me one in one of the more established areas (only vacant block on the street) and met me up there to look at it. Put a deposit on the block with the seller over the weekend, and then met back at blue print and paid the said 2k. Already had basic sketches etc & talked about a rough price, approx cost of few options (moving walls, third garage, changed cabling etc, looked at std inclusions and some of the bonus ones (on demo) Wasn't that keen on the 2k deposit/payment, but was told its fully refundable. And its by CCA (ie, filling out the credit card autho form) which hasn't actually been charged. Full costings & formal (as opposed to ones we have drawn all over) sketches are to completed this week hopefully. Wouldn't say the 2k fee is normal, bit would'nt say its out of place - have to look at it from their perspective as well. -rob Cheers! My Thread : viewtopic.php?f=31&t=72885 Location: Landsdale Builder: Blueprint Re: Blueprint Homes - wanted $2000 deposit before sketching 17Aug 20, 2014 1:37 pm My partner and I are building through blueprint and we paid the $2000 also. Our sales guy has been amazing and we have had no problems. When we went in we talked to him about what we want to change with the design of the house, he told me that can be done no problems at all and went ahead and made those changes on the plan (though ours are only small changes). I don't think we really put much thought into them being the only place asking for the $2000 up front as they ticked all the boxes in regards to the price, design, standard features etc. Whilst sure some other places may not charge I am by no means unhappy with blueprint thus far as everything has been going great Re: Blueprint Homes - wanted $2000 deposit before sketching 18Sep 05, 2014 3:34 pm Thanks everyone for their comments, I guess that's how Blueprint homes operate. All the best with your builds, I know I can't wait to start mine Our Build Thread: The "Extended" Marina by Visionone Homes Our Inspirations: Frank Lloyd Wright | Houzz In NSW the maximum deposit for building work is 5% until the builder provides HBCF insurance 1 4831 I am in the same situation, would you be able to give some insights in to this? I am in SA 8 17062 |