FAQ'S
Why don't you provide a square meter rate?
We get asked that a lot. How much per square meter? The reality is, for a custom built project, there is no set rate. That’s because no two projects are ever the same, no site conditions are the same, and no clients are the same. A square meterage rate can be useful at the outset when formulating a starting budget. If the client has X amount of budget, then the size of the building is approximately that divided by the rate. This rate needs to be verified by the builder by doing a proper quote. More often the rate applied at the beginning of the design process is different to the ultimate cost.
Other builders provide a free quote, why do you charge a fee?
In order for a quote to be meaningful, it has to be accurate, contain clear and detailed information for both parties. An accurate quote takes a significant amount of time and money to prepare as each project is different in scope and site conditions. It is easy to get a free quote, but those builders will not want to spend the time or effort. They can apply a square meterage rate or lowball the quote and make up their margin by lowering the standard or adding extras during the build. Too often the owner engages the lowest-cost builder because it is hard to understand the quote. What sounds like a good deal, in the beginning, can end up being more costly or the project just fails to achieve the desired outcome. A paid service allows us to spend more time investigating deeper. In particular for renovation work, multiple site visits and confirmation may be required. If we are willing to enter into an agreement with you, we are committed to producing a quality quote with all the scope assessed, and unforeseeable items allowed. We also acknowledge that if we do not win the job, our expenses will NOT be recouped from the fee we charge. During our initial consultation, we will estimate if the owner’s budget is workable. If we believe there is a mismatch, we will not offer this service.
What documents are required for a quote?
If we are provided with accurate and detailed documentation, the quote produced will be precise. For a typical project, 4 weeks turnaround can be expected. On the other hand, if the document is lacking, the quoting process can be done in a couple of days. This is often the case if the client is seeking an estimate during the design process. A basic concept drawing can be used provided that the client understands accuracy will be poor. Ideally, a detailed set of architectural drawings, engineering design, soil test report, schedule of finishes, and fitting will be a basic minimum requirement.
How much do you charge for a quote?
The fee ranges from $500 for an estimate to $5,000 depending on the complexity and size of the job.
What is Soil Testing and why do I need it?
The types of soil usually present under the top soil in land zoned for residential building can be split into two approximate groups – granular and clay. Quite often, the foundation soil is a mixture of both types. The general problems associated with soils having granular contents are usually caused by erosion. Clay soils are subject to saturation and swell/shrink problems. Soil classification for a given area can be obtained by getting a geotechnical report (or soil test report). As most building suffering movement problems are founded on clay soils, there is an emphasis on classification of soils according to the amount of swell and shrinkage they experience with variation of water content.