Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jun 10, 2015 8:20 pm We are first time home builders and had our first meeting with the Fairmont Homes sales rep today. We are looking at a small block in Seaford Meadows. We understand there are certain to a that are not included in the advertised pricing but the rep was very vague about what they are. What extra expenses did people encounter in top of their initial package? Re: Hidden costs in House & land packages 2Jun 10, 2015 10:00 pm Check out this link http://www.anewhouse.com.au/2012/01/what-will-it-cost/ The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Hidden costs in House & land packages 3Jun 10, 2015 11:24 pm With regards to the above URL, a house and land package will include many of them. Main things to be aware of are: - Settlement Fees ('Legal Fees') - Stamp Duty (if not First Home Buyer exempted) - Items specifically not included in the House&Land package (may include: painting, floor coverings, landscaping/gardening, window coverings, skirting boards, washing line) - Cost of utility connections (Gas, Electricity, Telephone will generally charge $50-$300 on the first bill) Additionally the contract will include provisional sums for some items that may go over, however, USUALLY they don't.. but that's no guarantee.. this can be for things like site works where say $10k is budgeted but it might go over. Re: Hidden costs in House & land packages 4Jun 11, 2015 7:48 am Also - at the first meeting he might be vague as he does not know you or really - what you want. People have wide ranging needs and demands. They start off low and just grow ... Re: Hidden costs in House & land packages 5Jun 11, 2015 9:07 am Thanks guys, From what i can gather the only major thing which are not included are storm water, paths/driveways and floor covering. Most of which we would rather arrange privately anyway. Guess I will have to wait and see what he has for us on Sunday Re: Hidden costs in House & land packages 6Jun 11, 2015 10:14 am - Rainwater tank - Blinds / Curtains - Check what insulation is included you may want to include internal insulation? - Aircon (you may not have mentioned due to Fairmont promo?) - Upgrades, you will likely increase the number of powerpoints, high ceilings? colourbond gutters? gloss kitchen cabinets, drawers, upgrade bench, wall oven? Change front windows to awning? Change any doors to cavity sliders? Upgrade skirtings & architraves? Upgrade from flush doors? Upgrade to lever handles? The list can be endless! - Do Fairmont do the soil removal - I have a feeling they may not - Fencing - Do you need any retaining? - Antenna (not included in ours through Hickinbotham) - Letterbox, Clothesline Do make sure a decent site works allowance is put in your quote for your footings etc. they should do this anyway as they will be familiar with the area. Re: Hidden costs in House & land packages 7Jun 11, 2015 10:53 am Saint Mike Also - at the first meeting he might be vague as he does not know you or really - what you want. People have wide ranging needs and demands. They start off low and just grow ... Maybe the salesperson doesnt know his job.... and he expects you to trust him! BTW,Vague doesent help you when you get stuck with extra hidden costs after you have handed over a depost and the banks refuse to give you extra funding. Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Hidden costs in House & land packages 8Jun 11, 2015 11:06 am StructuralBIMGuy Saint Mike Also - at the first meeting he might be vague as he does not know you or really - what you want. People have wide ranging needs and demands. They start off low and just grow ... Maybe the salesperson doesnt know his job.... and he expects you to trust him! BTW,Vague doesent help you when you get stuck with extra hidden costs after you have handed over a depost and the banks refuse to give you extra funding. This is exactly our concern! As our budget will be tight we wan to be fully aware what we are up for before we start signing contracts Re: Hidden costs in House & land packages 9Jun 11, 2015 11:43 am As someone else has mentioned there will be stamp duty on your land, there may be a fee as contribution towards the preparation of your land contract, $500 on ours (didn't find that out until we got the contract!), if your estate has encumbrances (like what colour fence you can put etc._ you may pay for those, another $400, only found out when I asked the conveyancer - who you will also likely pay another $500 or so. Re: Hidden costs in House & land packages 10Jun 11, 2015 12:58 pm Allowances for the slab type and the amount of piering can blow out. If possible try get them to do the soil tests before you sign the contract... Also is the driveway included, what about landscaping (look into what the developers requirements are if applicable)? Both of these can add up if they aren't already included. Building the Cordova One with McDonald Jones at Calderwood Valley, NSW: http://calderwoodvalley.blogspot.com.au/ Re: Hidden costs in House & land packages 11Jun 11, 2015 1:32 pm Unfortunately in order to firm up site costs and engineering builders expect you to pay a deposit, so its catch22. So a rough sketch and prelim cost is what you get for free attached are PSs which are firmed up later on. Please dont get suckered in by what's free, and a vague promise to fix things up in the office later on, Salesman are only messengers and later you will be told they are not the experts. My2c Find an expert and firm up all costs up front and know exactly what you are getting beforehand. Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Hidden costs in House & land packages 12Jun 11, 2015 1:37 pm Stuart05 Allowances for the slab type and the amount of piering can blow out. If possible try get them to do the soil tests before you sign the contract... Also is the driveway included, what about landscaping (look into what the developers requirements are if applicable)? Both of these can add up if they aren't already included. No driveway or paths but we are happy to do that part anyway. Re: Hidden costs in House & land packages 13Jun 11, 2015 3:29 pm Skye91 StructuralBIMGuy Saint Mike Also - at the first meeting he might be vague as he does not know you or really - what you want. People have wide ranging needs and demands. They start off low and just grow ... Maybe the salesperson doesnt know his job.... and he expects you to trust him! BTW,Vague doesent help you when you get stuck with extra hidden costs after you have handed over a depost and the banks refuse to give you extra funding. This is exactly our concern! As our budget will be tight we wan to be fully aware what we are up for before we start signing contracts I wasn't at the meeting - but I've been to many where people ask vague questions and expect a definite answer - which is impossible. My point being that he may have wanted to hear more from you before being specific. Often the first meeting is where ideas are tossed about - without a defining meaning - and which can't get definite answers. I'd suggest any decent "salesman" could provide definite answers to definite questions. Many would be hesitant to provide a "set" answer to "what-ifs" and hypotheticals - as there may be 100 answers. There are loads of lists you can peruse to see what might happen. None of these my happen. Generally the contract should cover them. There will always b those it does not (ie those that can be set down in back and white). If it is really your first meeting he may be trying to get a feel for you - what you want - and if you are genuine. He will not commit to precise detail at such a meeting - who would ? Re: Hidden costs in House & land packages 14Jun 11, 2015 3:29 pm Skye91 StructuralBIMGuy Saint Mike Also - at the first meeting he might be vague as he does not know you or really - what you want. People have wide ranging needs and demands. They start off low and just grow ... Maybe the salesperson doesnt know his job.... and he expects you to trust him! BTW,Vague doesent help you when you get stuck with extra hidden costs after you have handed over a depost and the banks refuse to give you extra funding. This is exactly our concern! As our budget will be tight we wan to be fully aware what we are up for before we start signing contracts I wasn't at the meeting - but I've been to many where people ask vague questions and expect a definite answer - which is impossible. My point being that he may have wanted to hear more from you before being specific. Often the first meeting is where ideas are tossed about - without a defining meaning - and which can't get definite answers. I'd suggest any decent "salesman" could provide definite answers to definite questions. Many would be hesitant to provide a "set" answer to "what-ifs" and hypotheticals - as there may be 100 answers. There are loads of lists you can peruse to see what might happen. None of these my happen. Generally the contract should cover them. There will always b those it does not (ie those that can be set down in back and white). If it is really your first meeting he may be trying to get a feel for you - what you want - and if you are genuine. He will not commit to precise detail at such a meeting - who would ? Re: Hidden costs in House & land packages 15Jun 11, 2015 3:30 pm Skye91 StructuralBIMGuy Saint Mike Also - at the first meeting he might be vague as he does not know you or really - what you want. People have wide ranging needs and demands. They start off low and just grow ... Maybe the salesperson doesnt know his job.... and he expects you to trust him! BTW,Vague doesent help you when you get stuck with extra hidden costs after you have handed over a depost and the banks refuse to give you extra funding. This is exactly our concern! As our budget will be tight we wan to be fully aware what we are up for before we start signing contracts I wasn't at the meeting - but I've been to many where people ask vague questions and expect a definite answer - which is impossible. My point being that he may have wanted to hear more from you before being specific. Often the first meeting is where ideas are tossed about - without a defining meaning - and which can't get definite answers. I'd suggest any decent "salesman" could provide definite answers to definite questions. Many would be hesitant to provide a "set" answer to "what-ifs" and hypotheticals - as there may be 100 answers. There are loads of lists you can peruse to see what might happen. None of these my happen. Generally the contract should cover them. There will always b those it does not (ie those that can be set down in back and white). If it is really your first meeting he may be trying to get a feel for you - what you want - and if you are genuine. He will not commit to precise detail (eg the cost of a driveway on land he hasn't seen) at such a meeting - who would ? He can however give you a ballpark figure. Re: Hidden costs in House & land packages 16Jun 11, 2015 3:32 pm Not sure what happened then - it kept saying the post wasn't accepted. Re: Hidden costs in House & land packages 17Jun 11, 2015 5:46 pm Saint Mike Not sure what happened then - it kept saying the post wasn't accepted. Just Edit the post, and click on the option to delete the unwanted ones... simples ! Owner Building at Jimboomba Woods in Logan City Qld. Blog : http://bandlnewhomebuild.blogspot.com H1 thread : viewtopic.php?f=38&t=68283 . Re: Hidden costs in House & land packages 18Jun 11, 2015 5:51 pm I had a number of things I just expected came with the house..that don't. They were: - Eaves (the roof things) - Sarking (roof insulation) - Light globes (yup..) - Zoned heating (got ducted heating, didn't know you had to request an upgrade to zone it/have control) - Split system air con - Flooring - Driveway - Fencing - Window dressings - Bulkhead to kitchen over heads...and kitchen over head cupboards - Light fittings above and beyond the standard batten (ugly!) - Tiled shower bases - Awning windows - Double glazing - Colorbond rather than painted gutters - Site costs Pretty much, if you didn't ask for it.. you won't get it and don't assume anything is included. Sometimes I think rather than ask what's not included it might be better to start a thread about things people added/upgraded, because every builder has different things they'll add in and everyone has different wants. Re: Hidden costs in House & land packages 19Jun 11, 2015 6:46 pm bpratt Saint Mike Not sure what happened then - it kept saying the post wasn't accepted. Just Edit the post, and click on the option to delete the unwanted ones... simples ! where does it say delete ... Re: Hidden costs in House & land packages 20Jun 12, 2015 9:00 am Saint Mike bpratt Saint Mike Not sure what happened then - it kept saying the post wasn't accepted. Just Edit the post, and click on the option to delete the unwanted ones... simples ! where does it say delete ... Aha, good point.... it is there for a period of time after you make the post, then it appears to no longer be available. Something that only the forum admins can change to give it a longer timeframe to allow multi posts to be deleted. In the mean time you need to report your extra posts so an admin can delete it. Edit: Just went to edit the post as I originally suggested and the option to delete this post is there Delete post: [ Once deleted the post cannot be recovered ] There's also a delete post button visible when you first see your post appear in the forum too. Edit2: looks like at least 10 minutes, if not longer, the delete option is there... plenty of time for people to delete their own multi-posts. I understand why the admins don't allow people to delete their own posts after a period of time, as I've seen it on other forums, a person has a dummy spit and deletes all their own posts throwing a forum in to a bit of a disarray. Whilst a person can still go in and edit their posts removing the content manually, the posts show when it was done, and by whom. Owner Building at Jimboomba Woods in Logan City Qld. Blog : http://bandlnewhomebuild.blogspot.com H1 thread : viewtopic.php?f=38&t=68283 . 13 6636 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 13121 Looking to tile the facade pillars rather than rendering. Builder is quoting 2500$ laying cost for upto 10msq. The 2 pillars come to be 16msq. So laying costs are 5000$… 0 7561 |