We are first time builders and have just come back from our tender appointment - we will be building in Melbourne with a relatively small-ish building company. This tender appointment has exposed a very big flaw (I think) with the whole quoting of prices for upgrades.
I'm referring to rebates when you upgrade from a standard inclusion. These aren't documented anywhere in your tender but are assumed to be factored into the price.
For example:
When you upgrade your standard aluminium sliding doors leading out to the alfresco (which you have already paid for in the base price of the house) to a timber bi-fold door you have to take the builders word for it that the rebate for those aluminium sliding doors has been taken off the cost of those timber bi-folds.
Same when you upgrade your front façade. You have already paid for the standard front façade in the base cost of your house but if you upgrade to a more snazzy one then you again take the builders word for it that the standard façade rebate has been factored into the cost of the upgraded façade.
I’m well aware the builders make their money off the upgrades but how do we know we aren’t getting completely ripped off and paying for both the standard AND the upgrade.
I’m curious to know if you have questioned your builder on this issue of rebates on standard inclusions or if you trust that the building company has factored these rebates into the price of the upgrade?? Or maybe you just think you can’t do anything about it so you just ‘cop it on the chin’………..????
I would like to hear your opinion on this.