Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jul 07, 2009 4:25 pm Just wondering what your experience has been with the costs associated with variations *after* a contract has been signed. Looking over ours, DH was just a little surprised (!!) to read if we want to change something, the fee is $1000.00 plus the cost of the change. It's clearly there to act as a disincentive to alter things, but $1000 seems on the high side. Our solicitor is looking over the contract (a std HIA contract + builder's additional clauses) to check it. Pix Built a (highly) modified Allcastle Maxworth 38.7 in Sydney. Re: Variations and Fees Post Contract Signing 3Jul 07, 2009 5:54 pm There is no variation fee with our builder, only the cost of the variation. Good thing, cos we have made heaps of them!! Re: Variations and Fees Post Contract Signing 4Jul 07, 2009 6:45 pm Ours seems to be $150 per variation so we changed some kitchen cupboards. We are building with M3tricon. A $1,000 seems crazy but guess it is to stop people and make them think twice before making a variation. Hoping to start building soon Forum thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=22300 Re: Variations and Fees Post Contract Signing 5Jul 07, 2009 6:48 pm fairy blue There is no variation fee with our builder, only the cost of the variation. Good thing, cos we have made heaps of them!! I'm the same, very lucky for us too as we have changed almost everything since our initial selections!! Nothing structural though... ICK So glad the building is over, never again. Loooove our house, but still not quite sure it was worth all of the stress they put us through! Re: Variations and Fees Post Contract Signing 6Jul 07, 2009 8:34 pm Our builder works the following way: - charges nothing for non-architectural variations .. just the variation cost - charges $200 if the architectural plans would need to change, but not re-lodged - charges $2000 if they would need to be re-lodged with the council So yeah $1000 for "any" variation is A LOT .. you can try n negotiate, they can probably do a better price than that ... --- I don't have a signature - just this sentence saying that I don't have one - that'll do! Re: Variations and Fees Post Contract Signing 7Jul 07, 2009 9:50 pm Thanks for that Yeah $1000 seems alot to us. It appears to apply to *all* variations -- whether we change a door handle or whether it's something a great deal bigger it's a flat fee. Wouldn't it be hilarious to put a clause in the contract re: **our** penalty charge if the builder is unable to deliver/source what they'd promised...LOL Pix Built a (highly) modified Allcastle Maxworth 38.7 in Sydney. Re: Variations and Fees Post Contract Signing 8Jul 07, 2009 10:40 pm I think its a blantant rip off, My variation fee is $210. The only costs to the builder is that they have to spend some time to change the selection book and photocopy all of the book and plans again and hand them to all the contractors. Time consuming yes, but definetly not worth $1000. Re: Variations and Fees Post Contract Signing 9Jul 07, 2009 10:47 pm Building with Metr!con and we have not been charged at all... The contract does state $500 per variation though... I guess we are just lucky cause we have been a little naughty changing things at the last minute... Cheers Re: Variations and Fees Post Contract Signing 10Jul 08, 2009 12:08 am do you mean post signing, or post signing and build start??? we changed a few things post signing, but before build start, and they charged us a $95 admin fee, although the contract says $600... maybe post build start it will be different!! Annie A thankful person is a happy person. [/color]My hobby design blog: http://aviewondesign.blogspot.com/ Re: Variations and Fees Post Contract Signing 11Jul 08, 2009 12:25 pm hmmm.. you might wanna keep an eye open if your contract DOES say that there is a cost to a variation and your builder is not charging it .. they can send you a $ figure in the final bill saying here is the admin cost for doing ALL the variations throughout the timeline .. you never know what can come out of a magician's hat .. and a builder ! --- I don't have a signature - just this sentence saying that I don't have one - that'll do! It seems very clear to me that your contract states that a security account does NOT need to be established so the answer to the builder is NO. If in doubt find a contract… 1 8505 So AFAIk the outcomes of the BAL ratings form part of a clause that allows them to pass these costs on to you. However the more relevant detail is how did it go from 19… 1 9164 Is it just a report written to give to the bank initially and it is based on what and how your payments are made up for, or is it a full service where they go out and… 2 5599 |