Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Sep 25, 2017 10:20 am Hi there I would greatly appreciate any advice, or if you know of someone who might be able to assist us. We are about to sign contracts to build a new home after many many months of planning. We didn't pass basix and the builder has provided us with a $56k bill to pass ($34k window upgrades, $2k insulation upgrades, $5.5k for adhere r1.0 insulation to garage ceiling, $1.2k for 3 roof ventilators, $5k for 1.5KW Photo Voltaic Electrical System on roof, $3k air con upgrade. We also had to remove some glass off the back sliding stacker doors and so they are charging $5.5k for door to retract into pockets). We are losing trust with our builder any more for a few reasons and worried that if we have concerns now over costs, that this could very easily escalate once we start to build and the 27% builders margin comes into effect for everything including variables such as excavation etc... Some trust examples (and any advice if any of this seems at all reasonable would be great please) - they added a window, at our request, a few weeks ago $2.2k. Now that we have a huge basix bill, we asked them where we could save money. They suggested a few things, one of them was removing this window, but they quoted $1000 to remove the window. How can it cost $2.2k to add a few weeks ago, and $1k to remove now? - they told us it would be "around $50" per door to upgrade from hollow to solid, but have charged us $79-$95 per door. However, when I was speaking to Hume, they said the upgrade cost for these doors was less than $50. - they have told us that if we want to change from carpet to engineered timber flooring in the bedroom the upgrade costs is $165 psqm. However, when we were talking to the timber floor people they said their retail price to supply and install the timber floors is $165psqm (which has left us wandering that surely upgrade cost must be less than $165psqm). - when they removed a basement room, it came off at the price of around $1.5k psqm, but any increases to rooms has been around $3.5k+psqm. - they didn't take off cost of us removing a window (we made a bedroom bigger and they said they had factored window removal into this, however window removal occurred after quote) Has anyone else experienced anything like this? We have invested a lot of time and effort with this builder and are so close to proceeding but we now have doubts about the integrity of how they are spending our money based on above and we just don't know what to do. I'm particularly concerned about variables in our contract - how can we trust what they bill us? We have a lot of rock in our garden and how do I trust the variable amount in the contract is enough and wont attract the builders margin etc.... Any thoughts greatly appreciated. thanks Re: Cost issues - advice please 3Sep 25, 2017 10:59 am Chipstick That's the problem builders don't rank in the Trusted Professions Stakeholders, Battlers & Punters invest time and money and generally just fork out.... I believe it's less than 5% that walk away after being whacked with variation$ & $ticker $hock increases You would have done better to have your own site report, design, species, engineering and then get 3 builders to quote Now if you walk, you will be left with nothing...... Goodluck Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Cost issues - advice please 4Sep 25, 2017 3:55 pm We had issues with first builder based on costs and non transperency of price/site costs, we walked away. Lost $7k but so glad we did, if you are having great these feelings now, trust your instincts, you don't want to start this not trusting your builder. They might all annoy you along the way but trust is hard to restore! Re: Cost issues - advice please 6Sep 25, 2017 5:38 pm Who the heck are these #@$%$#&%$#? Walk away now if you can - if you lose a couple of thousand deposit now, that's way better than losing upwards of 20 thou on charges for nothing. They are totally taking you for a ride... if you go with any builder, it's probably cheaper to have the rocks and things taken away and the site levelled out by an earthworks company, than let the builders do it, on a difficult site. But all that about windows and prices per square metre for adding on and taking away space - most of that cost is in the roof when you add space, and engineering for load bearing - still sounds $@#$# though! What frame material are you having? From what you've said, I'd run far away! Did you look at reviews of them first? As for Basix, if they can't help you through all that at the time of initial design, then they don't know what they're doing. Our whirlybirds, they charged about a hundred bucks each, so I don't know what gold plated roof ventilators they want to give you. about $5k is within range for a solar system with a good inverter that can take the addition of more panels, but honestly - it sounds like they're making it all up on the spot. Re: Cost issues - advice please 7Sep 25, 2017 8:17 pm Thanks for responses. Yes it is a custom build. We went with this builder because we liked their display home and they had won a number of awards. There aren't any reviews of them online. They mentioned that basix changed significantly in July which is why there is the unexpected changes required. We've already paid $20k for the plans, which we don't own, mistake we know. And we have transferred a further $50k (5% due on signing contract) - although we haven't signed contract as we were waiting for basix approval. We would be able to get the $50k back (we only transferred it as we could only transfer in $10k increments and were not expecting basix issues). I suggested to my husband that we go elsewhere but he just wants to get on with it if they have a reasonable response. I think their response over next few days is critical. I suspect they will try and sweep it under carpet. My concern is we are spending a fortune and how can we trust that the costing to date and as build proceeds. I'd prefer have a builder where we have a good relationship and I wander how possible that is. Re: Cost issues - advice please 9Sep 25, 2017 8:55 pm Chipstick You might get a reasonable response up until you sign the contract if you are lucky After that the builder holds the whip hand..and judging from those costings I don't like your chances. Do you have the final Site reports & Engineering costing...? Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Cost issues - advice please 10Sep 25, 2017 9:29 pm Maybe you want to get a lawyer to ask them to justify the costs. I'd certainly take a look at these awards... are they given by the industry, for the industry? In that case, they mean nothing... I can give myself an Oscar everyday... it just means it was their turn that year. I'd have had alarm bells go off if I couldn't find any reviews! It all seems very suspicious. And if they own the plans... well, not very nice, are they? Re: Cost issues - advice please 11Sep 25, 2017 10:19 pm Who's project managing the build? Do you have time to do that at least in part and source materials and components? If so, perhaps consider moving to a cost plus contract, rather than fixed price. Re: Cost issues - advice please 12Sep 26, 2017 7:12 am If you can't change builder at this stage, I'd suggest getting them to do it to lockup, with plastering, wiring etc, and getting your own contractors for everything else. There will also be a significant time saving, as well as cost saving... they'll probably charge you for when they don't show up, at this rate. Re: Cost issues - advice please 13Sep 26, 2017 1:32 pm Hello, The reason for the house failing basix would be because it was post July. If you have a building contract dated before December this year you can apply for pre July basix requirements. The basix requirements after July are beyond ridiculous. As for the solar... Organise that yourself. You can get a 5kw system for that price. Most of the other prices you mentioned are quite high also. Daniel Building estimator at Ford Homes Building designer after hours: Whitehaus Design & Drafting Re: Cost issues - advice please 14Sep 26, 2017 2:27 pm Benji241 Hello, The reason for the house failing basix would be because it was post July. If you have a building contract dated before December this year you can apply for pre July basix requirements. The basix requirements after July are beyond ridiculous. As for the solar... Organise that yourself. You can get a 5kw system for that price. Most of the other prices you mentioned are quite high also. Oh, I read 5kw, not 1.5... yes, that's super high pricing. Re: Cost issues - advice please 16Sep 27, 2017 8:57 am I wouldn't bother with a 1.5kw solar pv system personally. Solar panels are incredibly cheap at the moment and the general consensus is to put as many panels on your roof as you can afford. I have been getting prices for 5kw systems recently for $3,800 installed. Whirly birds are about $100 each plus maybe 2 hours labour each at $50 per hour. So including mark up about $250 each. Daniel Building estimator at Ford Homes Building designer after hours: Whitehaus Design & Drafting Re: Cost issues - advice please 18Sep 27, 2017 9:02 am No, that would be organising the solar yourself after handover. You would just need to try and organise with your energy provider to install a "net meter" from the start which monitors the generated electricity being fed back to the grid. Daniel Building estimator at Ford Homes Building designer after hours: Whitehaus Design & Drafting Re: Cost issues - advice please 20Sep 27, 2017 9:18 am Generally you can ask and it's up to the builder if they'll show you. Usually they will for certain things like kitchen quotes, electrical maybe and a few others. But they typically don't like to give away suppliers rates to protect their suppliers privacy which is fair enough. Legally, I'm not sure what your rights are. It may be stated in the consumer building guide that would've been in your contract. Daniel Building estimator at Ford Homes Building designer after hours: Whitehaus Design & Drafting I am looking at building a house. Has anyone used Construkt Homes (based in Adelaide)? Does anyone have experience with this builder? 0 6451 12 5332 Industry type domestic contracts are prepared by industry bodies for the benefit of the builders. This means that if you are the owner watch out. One of the points is… 0 3230 |