Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Aug 01, 2008 9:12 am I'm about to request a refund from our first builder, I've been trying to compromise with them but each attempt I make is met with less and less!!
I did accept a tender about a year ago, and paid a deposit, but I have a receipt for that deposit that says "This tender acceptance is subject to acceptance of amended tender. If owner chooses not to proceed their deposit will be fully refunded". I expect them to fight this but I'll take it as far as I need to. We actually offered to stay with them but change houses (as extensions to the first house have made it poor value for money), but in response they want to keep our first deposit for "administration". I guess they just really don't want our business. So I'm wondering if anyone knows how much contour surveys actually cost? I will pay for it as they had to pay an extrernal company to do it, but I doubt it costs the $1100 they have charged me on the tender. Re: How much do builders actually pay for a contour survey? 4Aug 01, 2008 10:00 am Assumed Datum
A reference point from which other points in a survey are measured from. A datum may be a known point within an existing survey grid or it may be any arbitrary point. For a more detailed explanation of datums revise AHD : Australian Height Datum Established in 1971 as a national level datum based on the average mean sea level around the Australian coast line. Determined by a national levelling survey and continuous tide gauge readings over a period of 3 years at 30 locations. Basically just 2 different types of reference points. An assumed datum is when to surveyers just pick a point, usually on a kerb on your land that all heights relate too in the survey. And a contour to AHD is basically the same thing but they have to work it out from the AHD. Re: How much do builders actually pay for a contour survey? 5Aug 01, 2008 10:16 am I'm an Owner Builder and I paid $792 in the Perth Metro, about a year ago. Survey was based on the AHD Datum.
Chris My father rode a camel, I drive a car, my son flies in a jetliner, his son will ride a camel.Saudi saying Re: How much do builders actually pay for a contour survey? 6Aug 01, 2008 10:17 am Hi Rachelle
I guess it depends on what the builder told you. If it says "full refund" on the receipt then you should be in a much stronger position to fight for it. When we did ours in late 2006, both Clarendon and Domain charge us $600 -- even if they belong to the same company and use the same surveyor, but they did clearly mention that the $600 is not refundable regardless of whether we go ahead or not. In the end we didn't go with either of them, and have to pay another $600 for our builder to do another survey... Good luck! Re: How much do builders actually pay for a contour survey? 7Aug 01, 2008 10:27 am Thanks everyone.
Allan the receipt says: This tender acceptance is subject to acceptance of amended tender. If owner chooses not to proceed their deposit will be fully refunded So rightfully I could fight for my whole deposit but that wouldn't feel right. Re: How much do builders actually pay for a contour survey? 8Aug 01, 2008 11:43 am We paid $1200!!! thru our builder , we had asked various builders and were all told a similar price so we accepted it!!!
It is a large block sloped and terraced but sounds like we were overcharged!! Mike 2/3 of the way thru the build Re: How much do builders actually pay for a contour survey? 9Aug 01, 2008 11:49 am MJAB We paid $1200!!! thru our builder , we had asked various builders and were all told a similar price so we accepted it!!! It is a large block sloped and terraced but sounds like we were overcharged!! Ours was in 2006, may be due to inflation they increase the price in past 2 years? Or may be because your land is quite big and in a more expensive suburb... Don't worry, for your nice suburb, you can easily get extra $12000 back when you sell your house X years later Re: How much do builders actually pay for a contour survey? 10Aug 01, 2008 12:32 pm Its hard to know what the builder actually pays for the survey cos they must get a highly discounted price as they so many.
Try these two, but I think that the price you will get quoted will be around the $1100 mark. Barrie Green surveyors 9651 2921 Aspect 9554 8388 Clarendon -survey and bore hole test for $600 (Westminster Homes said that they would give me $600 credit if I suplied the bore hole test to them- this just shows you that builder pay far less .) Raz If you think you can, you can. Re: How much do builders actually pay for a contour survey? 11Aug 01, 2008 5:10 pm Thanks
Well I did it. I sent the email at about 11, haven't heard anything, I don't expect them to give me any money without a major fight. On Monday I'll have to do some research about how I go about chasing it down. Thanks for the info re the small claims tribunal Peter, do you think this is the place to start or is it the last resort (eg do I go to accc or consumer affairs first?) Re: How much do builders actually pay for a contour survey? 12Aug 01, 2008 10:03 pm I think that it will take a couple of days before management decides.
I think that its pretty clear... your tender states they will refund your money. They may fight you but once they realise that they dont have a legal leg to stand on will send you a refund. Its good that you actually have that notation... they normally dont have that. I think in NSW your first port of call would be Fair Trading and the Consumer tenancy tribunal in here in NSW? Not sure what is small claims? Good luck Raz Hope you found a better builder. If you think you can, you can. Re: How much do builders actually pay for a contour survey? 14Aug 03, 2008 7:11 pm Remember the builder will always get a discounted rate from that surveyor if they use them soley,,,,,,I have seen accounts for approx $300.00,,,,,big difference, and also builders asking you to pay $6000 for a water tank, when in fact it cost them $2850 (includes install) do the math I understand people are generally in business to make a profit, but ultimatley it is the comsumer that gives them that profit, but unfortunatley the consumer is not treated accordingly. contour survey 15Aug 04, 2008 2:12 pm We had a very similar situation to you, though it was in late 2006. We signed a prelim contract but included condition "Deposit Fully refundable until Cost estimate is obtained and accepted by clients". We then pulled out as we got sick of being jerked around. At that time, when we pulled out, we agreed (in good faith) to pay for the contour survey subject to getting a copy of the invoice and provision of the survey report, hard copy and survey model. The invoice was $385 - late 06 dollars. This was one of the big builders here in Qld so may have included a "bulk buying" gain. Even if use 10% escalation for 2 years this still comes to only $460.
For info our soil test through the same builder was $357. Give "Holt Surveying" they are based around Eight Mile Plains 3 8744 A survey must’ve completed by a certified surveyor. This form part of every DA requirement 3 223621 ask the surveyor for clarification would be the logical approach 1 20141 |