Browse Forums Building A New House 1 May 15, 2014 9:52 am A bit of a spin off from the 'electrical work done after handover' thread as well as a question specific to a dilemma we are facing, I'm wondering what work you had done or are looking at getting done independently from the builder AFTER handover. Things like painting, concreting, flooring, robe fit outs etc. We need to get the cost of our build under a certain amount of dollars with the builder to avoid a council levy particular to our block. The council have suggested we get the alfresco area taken off the plan and get it done after handover, but when I've called a couple of local carpenters they've seemed hesitant and suggested it might end up costing us extra. However, I get the impression some jobs can be done with more choice and for a cheaper cost if left to be done after handover. There's also then the issue of warranty if things are done independently. So, please tell me about the jobs you've done/you'll be doing after handover and why (cost, choice, etc). Are there any you regret taking out of the contract and now wish you'd left for the builder to do? Any stories appreciated. Anything else I should be considering? Thank you. Our build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=69984 If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. Re: Independent work done after handover 2May 15, 2014 11:01 am Some things came to mind: 1. Any lighting other than battens. Electrician to install afterwards. Even having a GPO in the same position to the room adjacent to another room so that the sparky only has to cut a hole and tap into the other GPO. 2. Flooring other than mandatory tiling. There are a million mobs out there. 3. Cooling. Eg Evaporating or air con. You get the unit you want, for a much better price. 4. Driveways and paths. You might decide you wanted something different once living in the place. You can also get a better deal if you want to do a whole bunch of concreting. 5. Rendering 6. Appliances. Builders range is by far the worst. 7. Upgraded front door. You might decide you want something better. Ebay even? 8. Walk in robes and bedroom robes. I did it DIY. Once again, a million mobs out there. 9. Upgrades to tap fittings. Ebay, E&S Trading? 10. Painting if you are up to it. Re: Independent work done after handover 3May 15, 2014 11:06 am -Flooring can be done after for less (with better range) -Wardrobes can be done by yourself for stupidly less (if youre handy with some small power tools). the melamine with predrilled holes for the lille shelf spacers can be bought in sheets. You hane make up a 3 grand wardrobe for about 6-700 bucks. Yuo can pick up all the little ikea tech to input here for flavour. -some o fthe extrenal electrical work mentione din the other thread - concreting, paving - landscaping (dont trust them to do it, theyll do it as cheaply as possible) - glass splashbacks are cheaper after hand over - antenna is cheaper, but apparently annoying to get a tradie out to do it -big one is heating/cooling. You can get heating and cooling done significantly cheaper. You can save about 3-5 grand on a single story. More for a double. - trsnaslucent film to windows. Finicky but3 windows in my house cost 400 from the builder (for what is really 20 bucks worth of film) ...wtf - soft close mechanisms for drawers - Ikea sell them for like 20 bucks a drawer. Builders charge anywhere from 400-800 ber bank of 4 drawers... all i can think of right now Creator of superduperonium, expert at expert things, nobel laureate, can hold my breath for 10 minutes. Re: Independent work done after handover 4May 15, 2014 11:34 am Wow, some things I would never have thought of, thanks guys. Our build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=69984 If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. Re: Independent work done after handover 5May 15, 2014 12:30 pm This is what we've chosen to do after handover; * Driveway * Landscaping * Carpet (didn't want the hastle of beaded or DIY skirting, so got builder to do tiles - reasonable quote anyway) * AC * Blinds * Fencing and retaining walls * Electrical * Outdoor tiling I would say that's fairly typical for those sticking to a budget. I think that an alfresco is one of the worst things to add-on later. Nothing beats having it under the same roof and part of the same slab on concrete piers. And those you've spoken to are right - there's no guarantee it would be cheaper. Re: Independent work done after handover 6May 15, 2014 12:45 pm MadamImAdam I'd just like to clarify something. We did the alfresco post handover but what I mean by that is purely the concrete slab. It is still "under roof" so we paid the builder to do the roof, and the alfresco post is on a pier for stability. We saved at least 2-3000 just for this part of concreting doing it after. Just to demonstrate it'll still be under roof and it's possible to do it after handover this is what it looks like now: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65085 Re: Independent work done after handover 7May 15, 2014 1:16 pm My builder charged $2,080 for alfresco concrete. To save even 2k I would need to get it done for 80 bucks You can get it done after handover, sure. But you still miss out on concrete piers (unless u pay for them) & rio connecting to the home slab. I've seen plenty of after-handover slabs pull away, slope down or crack after 5, 10 years. But it' has a place I guess because you can push back that payment until years later if you have to avoid high build cost for whatever reason. Re: Independent work done after handover 8May 15, 2014 1:35 pm Tiling and carpets are the big ones for us. Floor tiling through the builder will cost approx. $100 sqm just for labour - after market can be done for around $50 sqm. That's not small change on a large home. BLOG: http://www.ourphoenix38.blogspot.com.au H1 THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70454 1) I had requested R6 ceiling insualtion batts, however I noticed that on some areas there are huge gaps which will allow hot air to sweep in, and also noticed black/grey… 0 3597 Depends what you're current inclusions are, but we're not including wardrobes and will just use second hand ones until we can save later on to get them built. Also have a… 3 11622 That is a really good attitude Akin to you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I do enjoy watching that tik tok inspector from Victoria but he does go a little… 12 81883 |