Browse Forums Building A New House Re: The Journey Home - Contract question 21Jul 14, 2010 8:44 pm So we got our contracts today. All the plans have been drawn up, and site costs weren't so bad. There are a few things we asked for that weren't put into the plans - so we have to get that sorted out, so maybe another week or so until we can actually sign the thing. I have a question though, regarding soil removal. They quoted $1500 + $562 (Builder's margin & GST), which I think is way too much for soil removal since we have a very flat block of land and won't be cutting much at all. I was actually thinking of telling the builder to take that out of the contract completely, and we'll be responsible for getting rid of it after handover. My dad just got a skip to remove a whole heap of concrete for just under $200, so a skip to remove soil shouldn't be much more than that. My question is, is it really necessary to have this included in the contract, and can I request for it to be taken out? What are your opinions on the actual cost they quoted for the removal of the soil? Re: The Journey Home - Contract question 22Jul 14, 2010 8:46 pm We were told that we could take the soil removal out of the contract and organise it ourselves, but if we didn't remove it when they wanted it removed, they would do it and charge us for it. contract signed: Nov 09 Released to Construction: 23 Jul 10 Slab poured: 9 Aug 10 Frame completed: 30 Aug 10 Windows & Gutters: 7 Sep 10 Bricks: 15 - 23 Sep 10 Roof: 24 Sep 10 Gyprock: 20 Oct 10 Lockup: 25 Oct 10 Kitchen: 27 Oct 10 Tiling: 6 - 9 Nov 10 Painting: 17 Nov 10 Carpet: 30 Nov 10 PCI: 15 Dec 10 Handover: 17 Dec 10 https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=35943 Re: The Journey Home - Contract question 23Jul 14, 2010 8:58 pm Ok cool, thanks for that carlswil. I just feel the $2000+ for soil removal is a bit crazy. I'm going to discuss this with my consultant on the weekend to make all these amendments. Re: The Journey Home - Contract question 24Jul 14, 2010 9:02 pm They are out to make money wherever they can, and charge ridiculous prices for some things. contract signed: Nov 09 Released to Construction: 23 Jul 10 Slab poured: 9 Aug 10 Frame completed: 30 Aug 10 Windows & Gutters: 7 Sep 10 Bricks: 15 - 23 Sep 10 Roof: 24 Sep 10 Gyprock: 20 Oct 10 Lockup: 25 Oct 10 Kitchen: 27 Oct 10 Tiling: 6 - 9 Nov 10 Painting: 17 Nov 10 Carpet: 30 Nov 10 PCI: 15 Dec 10 Handover: 17 Dec 10 https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=35943 Re: The Journey Home - Contract question 25Jul 16, 2010 3:48 pm Ok our builder wants us to sign the contract BEFORE making the changes. There are quite a few changes that we want amended, and the contract states that all variations make AFTER contract signing will incur a $500 variation fee. Am I being suckered in? I know I shouldn't sign, and won't be signing, just a little concerned about these "verbal" reassurances that have no weight legally. What should I do? I'm seriously considering bailing out of this whole deal and selling the land. Re: The Journey Home - Help needed 26Jul 16, 2010 5:09 pm Hey lealicious, Don't get disheartened and sell up. You obviously purchased the land with the vision of building on it and living there. I personally wouldn't be signing anything I wasn't 100% satisfied with, but in saying that if they put in writing that changes can be made with no financial penalties after signing, I might consider it, if it meant they were going to get started asap. Is that why they are pressuring you, or is there some other reason? Re: The Journey Home - Help needed 27Aug 06, 2010 5:16 pm Hey Lea, Where are you? It's been a while since we heard from you. Hope all is well. We signed our contract recently and after going through it all, have done some modifications and complete changes. That is part of the process of getting the plans as we want them. These mods/changes are variations to the contract and final plans and at this stage don't cost the $500. Maybe after final plans are drawn up there would be charges but not yet. Hope we hear from you soon Kay A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands. Melbourne West Our build viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34169 Landscaping viewtopic.php?f=19&t=51147 Re: The Journey Home - Help needed 28Aug 13, 2010 2:37 pm We're not building anymore. I won't discuss the reasons because I don't want to be in trouble for defamation. In short, we weren't signing a contract we weren't happy with. There were a lot of problems with the drawings and we weren't signing off on something that didn't include everything we asked for at the beginning. And there were additional costs that weren't required. A contract is a legally-binding document, and in the contract it stated that it'll cost $500 for any variation. Nowhere in the contract did it say that the first variations are free of charge. It was a "word of mouth" agreement that has no weighting legally. I'm not ready to go through the whole process again. So we have decided to sell our land and buy something established. Re: The Journey Home - Help needed 29Aug 13, 2010 2:42 pm Hi lealicious, I'm so sorry to hear it's been a negative experience for you. Hope you have a quick sale on your land and I wish you all the best. Keep us posted on how things go. Would love to see photos of what you end up purchasing Cheers Barbs. Re: The Journey Home - Help needed 30Aug 13, 2010 4:09 pm So sad to hear of your experience but wish you all the best with what you are doing. I hope you can buy a nice established house that isn't too old and you will be happy with. I'm sure it is out there. Good luck. Kay A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands. Melbourne West Our build viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34169 Landscaping viewtopic.php?f=19&t=51147 Re: The Journey Home - Help needed 31Aug 13, 2010 5:21 pm Maybe its the builder you were with?? We worked with our builder on what we wanted and what they could provide. They were very through with the contract to ensure that all of our wants were accounted for. If you still have your land may be look at other builders?? Any advice on how to ensure the kit home granny flat that im thinking of buying will get council approval. The kit home companys wont release plans without a deposit and… 0 7209 Hi All, I engaged a tradie to install concrete retaining wall 600-800mm high over 32 meters in Victoria. Sleepers are 200*75*2000 mm installed over 17 steel posts. I… 0 6899 Building Standards; Getting It Right! Don't think they are designed for double brick. WA has a particular way of building and unfortunately that's the way a large amount of sills are finished. 3 7003 |