Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Architect vs Custom Home Builder 10May 14, 2021 11:25 am Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Architect vs Custom Home Builder 11May 14, 2021 11:40 am StructuralBIMGuy Here's the problem as I see it Architects and builders conveniently leave out the engineering upfront, once you have paid a deposit and you're locked in... then be prepared for the $ticker $hock price increases . ie geotech, footings, upgrade structurals, basic engineering costs , material compliances checks, alternate solutions certification, etc. OT The 3D AEC Bim process includes engineering, Data and proofs, etc... LOL, but all you are given/or offered is 3D visualisation of the front Elevation $950? go back and ask for 3D Engineering visualisation and data to be included and be prepared for the unknow/additional costs. Cheers Chris Yes their quote for 3D visualisation is purely for front elevation only. Also apologies not understood fully your sentence Architects and builders conveniently leave out the engineering upfront, once you have paid a deposit and you're locked in... then be prepared for the $ticker $hock price increases . ie geotech, footings, upgrade structurals, basic engineering costs , material compliances checks, alternate solutions certification, etc." Whether when the architect gives me the construction plan, does it not cover these? Once I take these to any custom builder, they should give a quote to me right. I am going to ask them to give a fixed quote based on the construction plans, if yes are there still chances of price increase? am curious. Thx Re: Architect vs Custom Home Builder 12May 14, 2021 12:17 pm Venkata ." Whether when the architect gives me the construction plan, does it not cover these? Architects can't certify construction/engineering details.. they should tell you that? Venkata Once I take these to any custom builder, they should give a quote to me right. They will quote you roughly on what they have minus the engineering... you haven't paid for any structural? Venkata if yes are there still chances of price increase? am curious. Thx It's not fixed until all the drawings and contract documentation is provided Venkata I am going to ask them to give a fixed quote based on the construction plans, if yes are there still chances of price increase? am curious. Thx How do they fix unforeseen items/problems... they are estimates at best, money grabbing opportunities at worse. Clients always pay for increases/variations ..read and understand the process & contract Goodluck Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Architect vs Custom Home Builder 13May 14, 2021 12:18 pm Sorry Venkata, but your budget is unrealistic for a custom build that is also energy efficient. Stick with a project home, try and get a block that has good orientation and then pick a design that makes use of the orientation. Re: Architect vs Custom Home Builder 14May 14, 2021 12:30 pm Hi gogo65, Thanks for the reply, but still am curious how the particular customer in Melbourne could able to achieve a high energy efficient house of 7.5 star at 1600 per SQM. https://renew.org.au/sanctuary-magazine/house-profiles/project-home-powerhouse/ I know they convinced a volume builder and somehow achieved this, While I continue this with CLARENDON and WISDOM, not yet raised energy efficiency stuff with them though, I think somehow I can find a small entry level custom builder who takes; a. the architect plans that I give b. uses the same grade of inclusions that a typical volume builder uses c. adds his/her builder's margin and so I should be in a position to achieve under $2000 rate Well, am not sure, but am trying to find answers, before I resign to the fact that only for my budget I need to go to cookie house builds by volume builders. https://renew.org.au/sanctuary-magazine/house-profiles/project-home-powerhouse/ Re: Architect vs Custom Home Builder 15May 14, 2021 1:14 pm Venkata Hi gogo65, Thanks for the reply, but still am curious how the particular customer in Melbourne could able to achieve a high energy efficient house of 7.5 star at 1600 per SQM. https://renew.org.au/sanctuary-magazine/house-profiles/project-home-powerhouse/ I know they convinced a volume builder and somehow achieved this, While I continue this with CLARENDON and WISDOM, not yet raised energy efficiency stuff with them though, I think somehow I can find a small entry level custom builder who takes; a. the architect plans that I give b. uses the same grade of inclusions that a typical volume builder uses c. adds his/her builder's margin and so I should be in a position to achieve under $2000 rate Well, am not sure, but am trying to find answers, before I resign to the fact that only for my budget I need to go to cookie house builds by volume builders. https://renew.org.au/sanctuary-magazine/house-profiles/project-home-powerhouse/ Hi Venkata I have been reading this thread wondering whether or not I should add my 2 cents. I couldn't help myself Gogo has been spot on with his comments. It's a really interesting article and reading between the lines I am wondering how long ago did they actually build this house. The reason I ask is that I know you could build a home in Victoria for the $1600/sqm mark around 4-5 years ago. Completely impossible now given the massive price increases in building materials. The other thing that stands out is the Nathers process as I have been going through the Nathers process for years and I actually achieved the first 5 star Nathers rating for an office park many years ago. But a lot of the things you need to do are complete rubbish from a thermal perspective such as recycled materials etc. In a house if you want thermal efficiency without selling a kidney you mainly need to focus on keeping the dwelling as airtight as possible. Forget all the rubbish about reverse brick veneer, it's all theoretical rubbish and not practical in the real world. These latest BASIX models were developed by a weekend engineer who lives on a yacht at Palm Beach who seems to think that concrete floors are warmer to walk on than carpet floors on a cold winter's morning. We all know from common sense that that isn't true. We have actually developed a really cost effective real world method of building energy efficient homes that maintain a 10 degree difference between internal and external temperatures. It really doesn't add much to the build costs but there is no way you could do this for anywhere near $1,600/sqm. I don't even think Clarendon or Wisdom could build a basic home for that. Their advertised prices for a 340sqm home are close to that but when you add site costs and some basic upgrades you are going to be closer to $700,000. There is a great thread I think called Boston 36 where a gentlemen gives the full breakdown of his build with clarendon that started in the $500's and finished in at $732,000. Anyway, I hope you manage to find a solution to your dilemma. Have a great weeked Simeon Simeon McGovern Affordable Custom Homes, We design and build to your budget Ashington Homes www.ashingtonhomes.com.au Re: Architect vs Custom Home Builder 16May 14, 2021 1:14 pm Venkata Hi gogo65, Thanks for the reply, but still am curious how the particular customer in Melbourne could able to achieve a high energy efficient house of 7.5 star at 1600 per SQM. https://renew.org.au/sanctuary-magazine/house-profiles/project-home-powerhouse/ I know they convinced a volume builder and somehow achieved this, While I continue this with CLARENDON and WISDOM, not yet raised energy efficiency stuff with them though, I think somehow I can find a small entry level custom builder who takes; a. the architect plans that I give b. uses the same grade of inclusions that a typical volume builder uses c. adds his/her builder's margin and so I should be in a position to achieve under $2000 rate Well, am not sure, but am trying to find answers, before I resign to the fact that only for my budget I need to go to cookie house builds by volume builders. https://renew.org.au/sanctuary-magazine/house-profiles/project-home-powerhouse/ Hi Venkata I have been reading this thread wondering whether or not I should add my 2 cents. I couldn't help myself Gogo has been spot on with his comments. It's a really interesting article and reading between the lines I am wondering how long ago did they actually build this house. The reason I ask is that I know you could build a home in Victoria for the $1600/sqm mark around 4-5 years ago. Completely impossible now given the massive price increases in building materials. The other thing that stands out is the Nathers process as I have been going through the Nathers process for years and I actually achieved the first 5 star Nathers rating for an office park many years ago. But a lot of the things you need to do are complete rubbish from a thermal perspective such as recycled materials etc. In a house if you want thermal efficiency without selling a kidney you mainly need to focus on keeping the dwelling as airtight as possible. Forget all the rubbish about reverse brick veneer, it's all theoretical rubbish and not practical in the real world. These latest BASIX models were developed by a weekend engineer who lives on a yacht at Palm Beach who seems to think that concrete floors are warmer to walk on than carpet floors on a cold winter's morning. We all know from common sense that that isn't true. We have actually developed a really cost effective real world method of building energy efficient homes that maintain a 10 degree difference between internal and external temperatures. It really doesn't add much to the build costs but there is no way you could do this for anywhere near $1,600/sqm. I don't even think Clarendon or Wisdom could build a basic home for that. Their advertised prices for a 340sqm home are close to that but when you add site costs and some basic upgrades you are going to be closer to $700,000. There is a great thread I think called Boston 36 where a gentlemen gives the full breakdown of his build with clarendon that started in the $500's and finished in at $732,000. Anyway, I hope you manage to find a solution to your dilemma. Have a great weeked Simeon Simeon McGovern Affordable Custom Homes, We design and build to your budget Ashington Homes www.ashingtonhomes.com.au Re: Architect vs Custom Home Builder 17May 14, 2021 1:26 pm Hi Simeon, Very much appreciate your reply. Of course, am in very early part of the journey and hence your inputs clearly had brought me down to earth. Just if for the time being , I keep aside my desire to have energy efficient house aside [looks like this is definitely beyond my budget], Could you please share your thoughts on my initial dilemma of going with CLARENDON/WISDOM sort of builder vs customer builders with their own in house drawn designs or a completely outside architect and then engage custom bulilder. From costing perspective and from the other doubts on each and every option, could you please suggest which option is feasible. I will also search and understand the other thread that you referred about a persons's actual journey on BOSTON 36 with CLARENDON. Thx Re: Architect vs Custom Home Builder 18May 14, 2021 1:42 pm Venkata Hi Simeon, Very much appreciate your reply. Of course, am in very early part of the journey and hence your inputs clearly had brought me down to earth. Just if for the time being , I keep aside my desire to have energy efficient house aside [looks like this is definitely beyond my budget], Could you please share your thoughts on my initial dilemma of going with CLARENDON/WISDOM sort of builder vs customer builders with their own in house drawn designs or a completely outside architect and then engage custom bulilder. From costing perspective and from the other doubts on each and every option, could you please suggest which option is feasible. I will also search and understand the other thread that you referred about a persons's actual journey on BOSTON 36 with CLARENDON. Venkata I wish I could put my actual thoughts/advice on here but I don't really want to get into a war with the project home builders so I will be polite: 1. Don't give up on your dream for an energy efficient home. Its achievable for a very small cost, Your builder just needs to know how to make your dwelling airtight, and off course you need to think about window sizes and placement and orientation during the design phase. 2. I would forget about the rate/sqm discussion and work out what your maximum budget is and the key things that are important to you, such as bedrooms, study, living areas kitchen, style of the home. 3. I would then go to either a small builder who does custom designs ( when I say custom I mean 100% custom, not just a modified version of their plans) and get them to design you a home that fits your budget. It may not be a 350sqm home, it may be a 275sqm home, but if they are clever at designing it you wont mind, it's all about efficient use of space. 4. The other alternative to point 4 would be to go to a good drafting company ( you don't want to pay more than$11-$12,000 for a whole approval including engineering) and get them to design to your budget and then tender your build out to 3 or 4 builders. I'd be happy to pass on some building tips to either you or you builder ( assuming they would speak to me ) as to what they would need to do to get your home airtight without sending you broke. On this note having worked in the project home world, I guarantee that you will have a zero% chance of getting one of those companies to modify their process for you. If you want to take this off line and chat in more detail just PM me. Cheers Simeon Simeon McGovern Affordable Custom Homes, We design and build to your budget Ashington Homes www.ashingtonhomes.com.au Re: Architect vs Custom Home Builder 20May 14, 2021 11:05 pm What exactly do people usually mean when they say 'custom home'? Any home that's not one of the builder's standard plans, or those fancy designer homes? For example we are starting to build another house to fix up all the mistakes from the previous one, and this time I spent about 3 months drawing up the floor plan that suits us (hopefully), before we even got to picking the builder. So it is sorta custom, but at the end of the day there is a finite number of layouts that you can fit on a small lot, so plenty of builders would have something conceptually similar. Your build is relatively simple, I believe your job can be easily done by a good building designer, you really do not need to pay for the architect. Remember, architect's… 3 10995 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 20434 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 22827 |