Browse Forums Building A New House Re: How do you choose a custom builder? 5Mar 19, 2017 6:29 pm Our build thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=82369&p=1525857&hilit=fairhaven#p1525857 Re: How do you choose a custom builder? 11Mar 20, 2017 5:01 am Our build thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=82369&p=1525857&hilit=fairhaven#p1525857 Re: How do you choose a custom builder? 17Mar 20, 2017 9:47 pm Hi there, I second Magavin's comments. We are also going custom and so far couldn't be happier. Our builder did not require any upfront payments until the contract was prepared. Even then it was only $1500. By then he had provided us with a very detailed quote. Any decent builder who wants your business will spend the time to give you a proper quote without any down payment. And by proper I mean take a few weeks for their suppliers to get back to them so they can accurately quote on the job. We are building a 37sq two storey home for much less that what you've been quoted and that's with quite a few upgrades. Obviously with your sloping block your site costs are going to be more $$$. But I'm sure you can do better than $550K. Shop around. Also try some of the smaller volume builders that also do custom. Re: How do you choose a custom builder? 18Jun 04, 2017 9:02 am Hi Finallybought Do you mind me asking whether you have a design already? Or that the builders you are speaking to saying you need to pay a deposit in order for them to design and quote against it? We bought back in August 2015, slopping block. Went to a building designer, got concept, structural and fit out drawings done, engineering, sites surveys and soil test, bush fire rating etc all done. $$$$ bit out of pocket by this stage. Last quarter of last year designer got indicative build price from one building company - that came back within our brief price to designer of $450,000-$500,000. Same firm finally came back with quote in early March of $690,000 with many exclusions so not the final build price. Next four quotes from other companies were $680,000, $807,000, $770,000 and $680,000 again all with numbers exclusions, so any costs we cut down are added back on because of essential items that have been excluded. Those were all well established companies in the custom build end of the market in our location. Clearly there's too much demand and not enough competition here currently in that market segment. Apparently the volume end of the market is overrun for competition such that it is hard to make a profit at all but not the other end. So we have taken a bit of a different tact and are going through the quote or tender process with another tranche of builders currently that we identified with a bit of research and by putting out a RFT. They are all smaller businesses wanting to expand into the custom end of the market. We've specified our budget is $500,000 and that because of overcapitalising risk, we cannot go much beyond that. We're flexible about certain aspects of the design and specification in order to save costs. We're also prioritising fit out joinery etc and there will be work that we will get done down the track. We appreciate that there's risk going with less established companies but we will do our reference checks and check out previous work etc. At this rate, for 2 out of 3 of the firms their communication and attentiveness has been outstanding and far beyond anything we experienced with the larger companies. Not that that means a quality, stress free build process of course. Our design has a fair bit of glazing and generous open living/dining/kitchen, and garaging/workshop beneath but is not enormous, 4bdm 2bthrm, 3grg. We are keeping the interior simple and low key, no stone or marble anywhere. Our tiles and lighting will be from bunnings or equivalent I expect. But I guess from our perspective, $500,000 to $550,000 seems pretty reasonable for a custom build on a sloping block. But we certainly haven't ever been asked to pay a deposit in order to get a quote. Re: How do you choose a custom builder? 19Jun 04, 2017 10:16 am hey ezza78 looks like you and I are in the same boat with a sloping block of land and home size. So far I have had a chat with Latitude 37 and their work seems to be good and general have got good feedback. There are a few L37 houses being built in my area as well. Perhaps it is just me and that their designs don't appeal to me. They do both custom builds and have predesigned templates. Their build prices are good as well. I am also going to be chatting with Mazzei and Thomas Archer homes this week and happy to let you know what my experience has been like. Inform has very good reviews but they are out of my budget by $300k. So far my estimates have come in between $550k to $700k but I am aiming to $600k. Re: How do you choose a custom builder? 20Jun 04, 2017 11:20 am With quotes my home was coming 200,000 above budget, I then hired a project manager who was committed to top quality for less, and I became owner builder with him handling everything like a builder would, he would work out, what was cheaper to do, but not cheaper quality, example, frame was done on building site, as it worked out $5000 less this way, huge merbau stairs quotes were, 12,500-13500, Ended up building them on site for 8900. If I were not taking the risk of owning my build, these savings would not be mine, But right person with the right mandate are keys. Hi Mofflepop, I would recommend finding a building designer to prepare plans, they should design to your specified budget. The benefit is you can tender the project out… 9 20354 Hello, we can help you please get in contact 0421019219 thank you 3 31823 Hi, can anyone recommend a custom home builder who can build in north east area? Looking to build a custom 4-br energy-efficient home with a max budget of 750k. If they… 0 22804 |