New Build Gisborne VIC - Custom vs Spec

Shakin77 · Feb 16, 2010 8:27 am

Hi Guys, I have been reading this forum for the last 4-5 month and it has been a great source of information.

We have had a draughtsman draw up our plans and we are looking to build a Double Story Weatherboard House with 4 Bedrooms. (3 Upstairs). The living areas will be 32.38 squares while other areas will be 8.2 (Garage 4 sq, Alfresco 2.4 sq, Veranda 1.8 sq.

We took this to a local builder who told us that it would cost 400k-450k to build the inside alone. This was working on a price of 14k per square which will be for good quality finishes.

Now my Brother is building with NBG in Melbourne and is looking at a 50 square home including Garage, Alfresco & Veranda and he has been quoted 330k ish to build his home. This includes 50k of upgrades.

Now I know that my brother will incur more costs and that many things are not included but how can the price be so different?

Your thoughts and experiences would be appriecated.

doghouse · Feb 16, 2010 10:39 am

Hi Shakin77 - nice to see another Gisborne house in here!

We built in Gisborne and moved in 8 months ago. We built with Carlilise Homes, so one of the volume builders, but not one of the biggest. We built a 32sq house single storey, and including what we did after handover like flooring, driveway, deck, window furnishings, light fittings etc etc, we spent around $330k I guess. Now spending more to do the rest of the landscaping shortly.

Double storey is always more expensive and custom tends to be more than volume build. If you have a block that will suit a house on a slab then volume would be an option if you want to reduce your budget.

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Good luck!!

mummagoose · Feb 16, 2010 1:26 pm

We're building in Macedon - if we EVER get a planning permit. Like you, I'm surprised (amazed?) by how cheap the volume builders are compared to the custom builders we approached. In saying that, we've gone with a builder from Bendigo, who was somewhere in between (with respect to price).

Shakin77 · Feb 16, 2010 7:09 pm

Thanks for the replies.

Mummagoose when you say you got a price in the middle, if you don't mind me asking roughly what does that work out per square metre?

We are currently in the process of getting a few quotes from other builders.

We don't mind paying a bit more, but was really surprised at the difference.

Doghouse your house looks lovely. I will have to keep an eye out for it next time I am in Gisborne.

We spoke to Carlilise recently and they aren't currently building in Gisborne.

doghouse · Feb 16, 2010 8:01 pm

Oh - I hope Carlisle not building here at the moment isn't our fault!

They did indicate at the end of our build that they found it a challenge to build this far from town. Although they had a few on the go up here at the time. It is crazy though, we aren't any further away than lots of the south east or far west places, just less places out here I guess and the suppliers see it as a trek.

We love it though. The kookaburras are just about to do their 9.15 goodnight call from the tree just outside.

mummagoose · Feb 16, 2010 8:13 pm

Shakin77

Mummagoose when you say you got a price in the middle, if you don't mind me asking roughly what does that work out per square metre?

Hmmm, our initial quote came in at around $1500 per m2, but I think it might end up being more expensive than that. Most of the custom builders we spoke to quoted b/w $1500 to $2000 per m2. Admittedly we did approach a few of the top end kind of builders though .... so maybe my "price in the middle" was a bit skewed?