Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jan 01, 2016 11:23 am Hi...we are currently having plans drawn up by a designer who was recommended by a builder (they seem to work together). The builder said we will own the plans, although the fee discussed for having the plans drawn up is very low. My thoughts are that the designer will probably get some sort of kickback from the builder if we go ahead. Anyway, my dilemma now is whether it's necessary to put the plans out to tender and receive quotes from other builders?! We have already been down the quote path with a volume builder, plus I have an idea of cost per square metre we are looking for. Is it essential to get more than one quote? The builder lives in my area and is building homes nearby (I have asked for references which we are following up, but to be honest he wouldn't give out a referee's number if it wasn't going to be a good reference) so I feel very comfortable we'll get the finish we are after. Any thoughts? Also, if we were going to get further quotes do we need a builders' addenda? And I also think a quote is just a quote....I have a feeling they'd all come back around the same mark for the actual build....but maybe I'm completely wrong... Re: Getting build quotes 2Jan 01, 2016 12:10 pm We engaged a independent architect to draw up our plans. I did not want a builder to influence the design process. Once we received our working drawing I got 7 quotes. Two quotes from a volume builder that does custom and the others were small to medium sized builder. For a 45 square home we found a difference of +/- $80,000 in quotes. We found that with each quote we received, we also became good at gauging a builders interest in building our home. Our knowledge base also benefitted from multiple quotes. Above all, make sure you feel a good connection with your builder in terms of communication, Accessibility and ability to work through problems. It' an exciting process. Best of luck. Re: Getting build quotes 3Jan 01, 2016 5:28 pm thanks, that's about the size of our house. 7 quotes sounds like a lot! Did your architect provide an 'addenda'? We will just have drawings - they'll be full drawings as we'll use they will be for planning permission. Re: Getting build quotes 5Jan 01, 2016 6:04 pm braddy_ How much did it cost to have a house drawn up? Did you go in with a rough drawn out plan yourself? Did you decide to go this way because you couldnt find a plan you liked at a volume builder? Around $5k is what we've agreed for the drawings/design. I know that's very cheap as quotes I received from a few designers were a percentage of our build cost and ranged from $15k to $40k. That's why I think the builder will be giving the designer a fee if we go ahead. Yes, I had more than a rough plan. I pretty much drew up exactly what we wanted and the designer modified it and added some of his own ideas to make it all work. We went down the volume builder route and when we got the final cost it was top of our budget for a house that was a compromise. We had tried to make a display home fit our needs without changing too much but the end result was a big house with cheaper kitchens and bathrooms (that's how the salesman had made it fit the budget we'd given him.) [So, yes, we went with a designer because we couldn't find a display home we liked - we have looked at EVERYTHING!] Re: Getting build quotes 6Jan 01, 2016 8:50 pm lazandjohn braddy_ How much did it cost to have a house drawn up? Did you go in with a rough drawn out plan yourself? Did you decide to go this way because you couldnt find a plan you liked at a volume builder? Around $5k is what we've agreed for the drawings/design. I know that's very cheap as quotes I received from a few designers were a percentage of our build cost and ranged from $15k to $40k. That's why I think the builder will be giving the designer a fee if we go ahead. Yes, I had more than a rough plan. I pretty much drew up exactly what we wanted and the designer modified it and added some of his own ideas to make it all work. We went down the volume builder route and when we got the final cost it was top of our budget for a house that was a compromise. We had tried to make a display home fit our needs without changing too much but the end result was a big house with cheaper kitchens and bathrooms (that's how the salesman had made it fit the budget we'd given him.) [So, yes, we went with a designer because we couldn't find a display home we liked - we have looked at EVERYTHING!] $5k sounds good What is the difference in cost at the end of the day? I'm guessing "inclusions" would be left out of the builder one, which might save some coin? We are only after a 30'ish sqm place.. but not many floor plans meet our exact desire really.. :\ some are close.. but still need to modify it a bit... Re: Getting build quotes 7Jan 01, 2016 9:32 pm Our architect provided us with floor plans and elevations, engineering and computations, energy report, soil test. site survey, developer approval and cup lick approval for increase in building envelope and reduction in private open space. Re: Getting build quotes 8Jan 06, 2016 8:53 am braddy_ lazandjohn braddy_ How much did it cost to have a house drawn up? Did you go in with a rough drawn out plan yourself? Did you decide to go this way because you couldnt find a plan you liked at a volume builder? Around $5k is what we've agreed for the drawings/design. I know that's very cheap as quotes I received from a few designers were a percentage of our build cost and ranged from $15k to $40k. That's why I think the builder will be giving the designer a fee if we go ahead. Yes, I had more than a rough plan. I pretty much drew up exactly what we wanted and the designer modified it and added some of his own ideas to make it all work. We went down the volume builder route and when we got the final cost it was top of our budget for a house that was a compromise. We had tried to make a display home fit our needs without changing too much but the end result was a big house with cheaper kitchens and bathrooms (that's how the salesman had made it fit the budget we'd given him.) [So, yes, we went with a designer because we couldn't find a display home we liked - we have looked at EVERYTHING!] $5k sounds good What is the difference in cost at the end of the day? I'm guessing "inclusions" would be left out of the builder one, which might save some coin? We are only after a 30'ish sqm place.. but not many floor plans meet our exact desire really.. :\ some are close.. but still need to modify it a bit... I suppose with a project builder you know the finished price. With custom builder there's the build cost....and on top of that all the finishing (driveway, paving.......all the rest). I have just read that with a project builder they'll sell you a project home with a lot of floor space that you don't need/didn't ask for. Whereas custom you can get a smaller space, and exactly what you want. I know that's obvious but it's exactly the experience we had. The project home we got a quote for was about 50 sq m larger than the one we are having designed and will probably end up same price as our custom build....but def not same quality! Use a product like Equisol's Vitalise to clean the deck then coat with a penetrating timber oil. It will look 10 years younger and add value to your home. Visit for… 1 15813 How much are you ahead in payments compared to where the build is at? Have you fully drawn down the loan? 5 11934 Mofflepop, Are you building around Qld Manly? Building & Legal is a partnership between a construction guy and a construction Lawyer. Construction: we have… 9 25596 |