Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Sep 27, 2008 2:20 pm Another how long is a piece of string thread.
We all know about the sucker them in base price build cost. But just how much is every one going over that (not including site and regulatory costs) with variations/upgrades? I always thought 25% sounded like a nice round figure. Am I dreaming? Has anyone ever done one without one single variation? If you care to share your figures, that would be magnificent. Re: Base Price versus actual cost 2Sep 27, 2008 2:35 pm Our total variations :
Kitchen, Electricals, other bits & pieces NOT including tiling upgrades ( still waiting on their quote) totals : $11,000. I would have loved things like stone benchtops, latest kitchen innovations, more contemporary toilets, a spa, more interesting cornices, etc... which obviously would have upped our total figure. Mind you, we are doing ourselves after handover : carpetting, ducted AC, bathroom mirrors, BIR & WIR fitouts, driveway, alfresco & landscaping Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Base Price versus actual cost 3Sep 27, 2008 2:46 pm I think it really depend on your budget, and what promotion (from the builder) you are having, and what upgrade do you want
I break down into 3 categories during the selection - 1. must have, 2. needed, 3. not needed but nice to have it if cash available I am lucky that my builder provide a very good promotion at the time i signed up, so i managed to spend just 25% to get all other things i want/need.. and don't need to do anything after the handover (except the pengola and garden) Blog - http://clageonewhouse.blogspot.com/ Building Thread - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=10886&hilit=milan I am in, with my husband and my beautiful bunny Re: Base Price versus actual cost 4Sep 27, 2008 3:02 pm Ummm.... extras are well over 50% of the base cost.
Extras total 125k (for 42sq house) That will give us a house with everything except window coverings and nothing external (no paving, driveway, etc). Approximate breakdown (of the top of my head... will double check paperwork), 20k site costs, 20k structural extras, 15k environmental extras, (double glazing, sarking, rainwater tank plumbed to toilets, etc) 6k electrics, 6k in extra cupboard/fitouts, (pantry/laundry, etc) 5k promo (33k value) Rest is for cosmetic extras.....caeserstone to all surfaces, porcelain tiles, higher/heavier doors.......lots of stuff... Jo I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Base Price versus actual cost 5Sep 27, 2008 3:35 pm What we're paying direct to the builder is about 35-40% more than base price. This incldues the site costs, water tanks, making the house wider by about .5m, extending the roofline over the alfresco and a couple of extra cupboards.
Then, we'll still have to spend more on kitchen appliances, driveway, fences, landscaping (or at this stage: top soil and grass seed), carpet, tiles, blinds, extra electricals (down lights, extra points, light fittings etc) and of course new furniture. Just revised the budget again this morning. Re: Base Price versus actual cost 6Sep 27, 2008 3:38 pm Every project builder we have visited has always suggested adding 100k to the base price for a build with standard site costs. Re: Base Price versus actual cost 7Sep 27, 2008 3:50 pm Our base price was 130k.. the price is now approx 185k...
original plan was about 187m2 and revised was 207m2.. also have the site costs.. driveway, path, alresco, carpets, tiles, etc, etc... So for us it was an extra 40% but we did make the house bigger so not a true indication as would be lower if we kept orignal size. Re: Base Price versus actual cost 8Sep 27, 2008 4:10 pm My base price was $189,500
+3k promotional package +16k site costs +26k extras inc air con, brick + tile upgrades, garage door upgrade, electrical etc. +12k approx for flooring inc carpet tiles & floorboards +3k approx for window coverings + 3.5k approx for driveway + 4k approx for landscaping grand total = 257k or 35% extra or if you like 16% extra on the house itself not inc site costs. I honestly don't think I could have made it any less as I really only got what I think are the bare extras. There are is no spa or bifold doors or structural changes. Re: Base Price versus actual cost 9Sep 27, 2008 6:44 pm everything you want to add will always be an extra.
i still cant believe people are so tight and wont pay extra for stone benchtops or upgraded tiles. i reckon they're one of the most essential parts of the house. you can always change the paint - just my 2c Re: Base Price versus actual cost 10Sep 27, 2008 7:01 pm Our total build cost was 35% more than the base cost. No stone benches for us... increased the size of the garage and house, increased ceiling height and roof pitch, extra site costs, improved glazing, added sarking and extra insulation, upgraded roof tiles, bricks, sinks, tiles, carpet, timber floor ... the list goes on and on and on!!
Probably allow at least another $20,000 for all the post-build essentials (washing lines and letter boxes, landscaping, curtains and blinds, non-standard driveways etc etc) Re: Base Price versus actual cost 11Sep 27, 2008 7:52 pm mattydals i still cant believe people are so tight and wont pay extra for stone benchtops or upgraded tiles. But perhaps they don't actually want a stone bench top or different tiles!!!!! I've had laminate bench tops before and I am quite happy to have them again. I do not begrudge anyone upgrading anything - your money, your choice- but I do resent being called tight because I do not choose to do so. Re: Base Price versus actual cost 12Sep 27, 2008 7:57 pm Helyn mattydals i still cant believe people are so tight and wont pay extra for stone benchtops or upgraded tiles. But perhaps they don't actually want a stone bench top or different tiles!!!!! I've had laminate bench tops before and I am quite happy to have them again. I do not begrudge anyone upgrading anything - your money, your choice- but I do resent being called tight because I do not choose to do so. +1 definety nothing wrong with laminate... If I really wanted stone benchtops I would pay the extra.. but I can think of better things to spend my money on!! Re: Base Price versus actual cost 13Sep 27, 2008 8:13 pm We didn't have too many structural changes as we chose the floorplan which best suited our needs, so most of our 26% of base price is cosmetic changes. These include:
7.5K for Facade upgrade 12.5K upgrades for bricks, mortar, eaves and tiles 10.6K grand alfresco upgrade 1.1K skirting/architrave upgrades 2.3K for paint upgrade to Living Silk (not flat!) 6K on all door upgrades, window upgrades, privacy locks and fly screens 6.6K kitchen upgrade (2 pac cupboards, extra pot drawers and matching microwave and trim kit) 3.7K bathroom/laundry upgrades (Caeser Stone benches, 3 toilet upgrades, drawers to powder room and built in cupboards in laundry) 6.9K electrical upgrades, security and extra taps (water point to fridge space) Plus a few extra things here and there. This does not include our 15.5K site costs, as I don't really consider that an option, but a given! If we needed to cut out anything to save a few dollars, it most likely would have been the doors, as these can be changed easily later. Benchtops, skitings, architraves, bricks, mortar, roof tiles and electrical plan to ground floor not so easy! Henley - Wilshire Mk 3 ... I love my house!! Site start: 4th Feb 09 Handover: 10th Sep 09 Blog: http://stormygirlscastle.blogspot.com/ Build Thread: viewtopic.php?t=7166 Re: Base Price versus actual cost 14Sep 27, 2008 8:48 pm Well our first tender came in at $300k now we are up to $410k - and that doesn't include any kitchen / window furnishings / flooring / decking / driveways etc (which are going to cost a bomb since our home is approx 60m from the roadway!!).
We figure since we are building a custom home that we will never move out of we might as well include everything that we want (and can afford obviously since we don't believe in going into huge amounts of debt). The home is 50sqs so is massive but has not one bit of wasted space. And to the PP who called people "tight" because they wouldn't buy stone benchtops- I wasn't going to have them either only I happened to buy the stone at an auction for a tenth of the price quoted from the stonemason. Depends what you think is right for you - there are probably things about my home you would despise, more then likely things about your home I would dislike but that is the point of everyone having their own taste. Please don't inflict your beliefs on everyone else. Re: Base Price versus actual cost 15Sep 27, 2008 8:55 pm wakeboardandy Helyn mattydals i still cant believe people are so tight and wont pay extra for stone benchtops or upgraded tiles. But perhaps they don't actually want a stone bench top or different tiles!!!!! I've had laminate bench tops before and I am quite happy to have them again. I do not begrudge anyone upgrading anything - your money, your choice- but I do resent being called tight because I do not choose to do so. +1 definety nothing wrong with laminate... If I really wanted stone benchtops I would pay the extra.. but I can think of better things to spend my money on!! +2. I'm quite offended by that comment! Yep, they're nice to have and look great - but we're all entitled to our personal preferences and we all draw the line in different places for different things. I'm sure you've compromised on somethings too - doesn't necessarily make you 'tight' though. Welcome to the forum. It's a great place where DIVERSE thoughts and ideas are welcomed and encouraged. If you pull your head out of your you might work that out for yourself. Re: Base Price versus actual cost 16Sep 27, 2008 10:34 pm Extras total $59,000
includes electrical upgrades, basic upgrades, spa and much more I have realised if we had budget, we could easily spend $35k-$40k more on upgrades to make it a perfect home Re: Base Price versus actual cost 17Sep 27, 2008 11:06 pm +3 - although you are entitled to your opinion
My opinion is that I have a budget that I have to stick to (or not blow too badly) and some things internal went by the wayside. I'd love caesarstone but I can live without it. Didn't need to upgrade any tiles. I did spend the money on upgrading the bricks though. Fi has moved in!! Re: Base Price versus actual cost 18Sep 27, 2008 11:38 pm we spent an extra 33% on top of our base price. We would've been able to stick to your ideal of 25% if we actually stuck to our budget. But then again who sticks to a budget? LOL
I think 25% is a good figure to go by and very achievable. Just be prepared to juggle around your priorities in terms of your wants and needs in the house. As someone said most things are upgrades. Guess the question is: are you happy with the standard? [sneakersss] Re: Base Price versus actual cost 19Sep 28, 2008 8:40 am Thanks everyone,
Sometimes I wonder whether base price figures are just bait advertising, and something the regulators should seriously look at. Either that or the builders should build to that price. Re: Base Price versus actual cost 20Sep 28, 2008 9:43 am HappyHome Thanks everyone, Sometimes I wonder whether base price figures are just bait advertising, and something the regulators should seriously look at. Either that or the builders should build to that price. I think this forum is the perfect example of why builders can't build to a base price. Everyone has a different idea of what finished is. Personally, I'm glad my builder doesn't include things such as floor coverings or paving as standard... I probably wouldn't want the builder's range anyway, then I'd get minimal credit back for deleting it. The system as it is works well I believe. There's great choice once you get your head around how it all works. I'd rather be adding 25% - 50% to the base price and getting what I want, than paying a much higher base price and getting a complete house, with hundreds of things I don't want, or can't change. It seems we want it all, felexibility, freedom to choose anything, freedom to upgrade anything, and all at a set cost... not gonna happen. The system may be a little confusing, but as evidenced on this site, we can go to project builders and still personalise a house enough to call it "ours". I think we sometimes forget how fortunate we actually are. Jo I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick I've filled, levelled and compacted around 100mm of roadbase in preparation to lay some outdoor court tiles. Prior to doing the final compaction, I dusted the top with… 0 3041 I have seen poly marble shower bases last in excess of 30 years 1 4502 Wow I hadn't realised things had gotten that pricey in just a couple of years since I built, that is crazy with how much land is now costing if you aren't lucky enough to… 3 7051 |