Tips for saving on construction?

Hello Builders and Developers,

In about 4 months I am going to begin building on my subdivided lot and was hoping those with experience could offer some insight and tips into saving on construction. I am yet to choose a builder but will begin the tender process in about a month.

Some of what I already plan to do to reduce costs are:
Organise as many trades as possible myself that do not interfere (too much) with the build.

So far I have external works (driveways, landscaping, rendering, garage door, fences).
Internal works (blinds, carpets).

I also plan to supply the builder with majority of fixtures and fittings along with likely sourcing my own floorboards, tiles, joinery but will have the builder install.

What offer suggestions can anyone offer or things to be aware of that came at a nasty cost suprise?

Thank you in advance

 

If you put this plan forward to builders they will likely: 1. Blow you off or 2. Sting you with their labour costs.

Remember your cost savings are taking builder margins away from them.

Will likely become messy if you start trying to coordinate trades along with builder trades. You either OB, or let a builder do their thing.

In the long run, it will cost you!


pinkboy

 

@albanga

have to agree with @pinkboy on this!

you can ask shell only quote from builder and do fixtures your self !

Most of the cost saving can be done at design stage and choosing right building material.

 

@albanga, where is your time best spent? Running around getting quotes, getting the builder to provide a turn-key quote, or you project managing the whole project?

If you want to spend your time like a headless chook chasing trades, then that's fine however I think it's better to take a step back and look at the bigger picture and spend more time managing professionals to do their job rather than micro managing things. Each to their own.

 

If you want to do this, you may as well owner build.

 

I work in WA for a large building firm and I can tell you right now that supplying the majority of your own materials is a general "no no". The main issues being responsibility for damages and theft. If you are supplying all of your own items then you need to have insurance in place because the builder isn't going to cover damage or theft.

Make sure you do your figures and work out whether you are actually substantially better off by supplying materials, rather than having the builder supply and install everything.

 

It only comes down to three items the slab the frame and the finish,it you intend to buy the materials then good luck finding a builder and with any trades people all want too supply and fit,hour rates are too high and most would only work for cash,, the only way is do a owner builder course, then just over insure yourself and subby it all out in stages..imho..

 

Very interested replies.

Regarding exterior works, I do not think it is uncommon in the slightest for someone to do there own landscaping, driveways (I tendered the build a while back before some changes and most builders said "Are you happy to organise your own concreting for driveways), fences.
Maybe garage door and rendering is pushing it.

Interior then no builder includes blinds really anyway. Carpets fair enough.

So it then comes down to supplying the fixtures and fittings and I know a heap of people who have done this.
Tiles are a prime cost anyway and again when i tendered this build a while back they said "you can source your own tiles".
Floorboards and joniery again maybe pushing it.

I am just interested to know with the exception of maybe the floorboards, carpets and joinery, what else is pushing it? We are talking a custom home build, why would i want any of the standard fixtures and fittings on offer by the builder?

 

Hey Be Developer
The plans are already approved so not much that can be done there.
Interesting to know what you mean by "choosing the right building material". Any suggestions?

 

is it double story or single story?

using Hebel or Styrofoam for 1st floor will reduce some cost and time!

 

Built with project builder.below are what i have done after handover.
Tiles
Carpets
Driveway/fences
Landscaping
Curtains
Light fixtures

One thing i would do different is get the electric points in every nook and corner than what they offer in standard build.it works out cheaper than after you finish the build

 

Curious, have you actually worked out exactly what you would save??

What are the big ticket items with builds??? I don't think its these.

Also, from my experience builders don't include fencing, because they are well aware that due to neighbours, levels/retaining it opens up a can of worms which could cost them, so its an exclusion. Have fun getting 50% from neighbours, don't start me on that one

 

It is a double storey and I actually have "Hebel" down as a discussion point for the builder.

Hey Veech, and did you experience any issues with the builder by asking to do this after handover?

 

Hey MTR,
That is a very good point but no I have not, just an assumption at this stage. In my initial tender though driveways for example were being quoted at 15k. I have someone lined up who can do them for 8k.
Good point about the fences and no stress with neighbors as they are bugging me to do it. My brother in-law use to be a fencer for years and we did the other side ourselves. Basically charged the neighbor for the materials and we did the labor so everyone a winner.

Do you have any tips?I know you are quite experienced as per posts back on SS. Are there any "big ticket" items you could suggest that can be done or sourced elsewhere?

 

I doubt it would be viable to take on the big ticket items yourself because the builder will deduct a certain % and retain some of the profit, this I think the norm from my experience with builders, this is their way to discourage clients from going down this road. As you can imagine no builder is going to want a client doing this. So you are damned if you do and you are damned if you don't.

As others have suggested either go builder owner, or building at cost, I cant comment on this as I have always signed fixed contract, however I have heard that this can be more cost effective than a fixed contract?? Perhaps others on PC may know more than me regarding this.

MTR

 

ah...I remember the job that started this review of process.

Porter. 2002.

Dude supplied everything - bricks, mortar, timbers, gyprock, cornices, door frames, tiles, gutters ....pretty much everything except the plaster, concrete, in-wall tapsets and piping, electrical wiring (but supplied the points) and roof cover.

Half of it got knocked off on-site - mortar and adhesive bags, doors and door furniture, taps and basins and toilets....

Went on for months.

Owner then wanted to make the builder liable for the loss for not 'adequately securing the site' - considering there was no lock up without his stuff, it was all in the open and his responsibility.

Never did find out the outcome of that battle - unless it's party to how builders react to 'owner supply, builder install' these days...

 

that is very interesting and good enough reason why you would not want to do this. My recent deve in Spearwood, I know we caught plenty on our site checking things out, even trying to open the shed, a nice lot

MTR

 

Its a battleaxe subdivision with the front dwelling remaining.
It would take some very eager burglars to pull off stealing from the site.

 

Specify coloured undercoat and one final coat of paint.

Use coloured acrylic render on external walls in lieu of face brickwork.

Make sure that you understand how pc sums are adjusted under the contract.

 

Hi albanga, they didnt care i thought. Its one of the volume builders who build in new estates and pretty standard to exclude tiles/carpets