WA - West Leederville 6007, 3 unit development

Builder says they missed it, but does beg the question 'then what did the concreter quote off?'

 

I would be watch out for budget creep as you go along.

 

Ouch. I'd offer to go halves.

 

Will wait n see if they get a cheaper requote in first, but it's all delays either way...grumble grumble.

 

Thanks for posting, looks like an interesting thread to follow. Good luck with it all.

 

interesting thread!

I am not a big fan of Builder/Builder broker getting involved at design stage. In wong hand, it could be case of "giving my personal credit card to bank , to bill me whatever interest rate they like"

A good architect should be able to design cost - effective building/development.

FOUR STAGES where developer has opportunities to make money:

1.Buying well (at Developer 's premium rate)
2.Cost effective and profitable design
3.Build cost and choosing a right builder
4.Selling end product.

 

That's true @bedeveloper but I've seen some architects get far too carried away and design some very unsensible developments too. Whereas some builder designers design exactly the way their builder builds and its very cost effective.

So both have their pros and cons.

With the building broker designer designing it was designed to a budget, estimated by the brokerage, tendered and estimated by the builders on the panel for @Skuttles before being lodged for DA so it would be apparent if the cost was more than the budget given to the designer.

In Perth it's actually very rare to use an architect but not so in other states. I'm not sure why but generally we use draftspersons/draftees or some call themselves architectural designer/draftsperson.

 

An exipierenced and registered architect can do wonders for building cost.

Not hard to pass the draft drawings to engineering to get rough estimate on structural components.

Builder broker requires no trade licence, no expirence.


Also, it comes down to expirence of property developer.

 

Best to spend good money on getting design right.

Drafty could be good for single dwelling design. But definitely NO for multi story/multi dwelling design. (Well that is my opinion and expirence so far)

Load bearing beams, steel, usage of lighter material to reduce build cost, placement of bathroom, wet area (plumbing) can make huge difference in building cost.

 

I understand the broker needs no license - sorry not being argumentative - but their designer does need to be qualified.

For anything 3 storeys or more I'd definitely go architect but most of the time I have found drafties to have better construction know how and building sense than architects. Maybe it's a Perth thing. Not sure. But it's always good to check into both and get recommendations to get the right person for your job.

 

Thanks @bedeveloper for your advice.

In my case I am lucky to know two architects that I class as friends, one designs larger commercial spaces and the other does high end homes.

Both said that for my relatively small project the cost vs reward of engaging an architect wasn’t there, but they both insisted that I ensured I used a drafty that had experience in smaller multi dwelling projects. ie being classed as a multi dwelling theres a lot more to it than just designing a ‘larger than usual’ two story home

 

It is a Perth thing for sure.

I know plenty of good draftees and plenty of not - so - good.

I would always recommend someone own the plans they are paying for. Worst thing is when a builder gets your deposit then takes you to town - happens all to often in Perth.

At least by going outside the builders / brokers channels, you retain ownership of the plans.

Also, the builders/brokers/D&C s designer or architect often design what makes the builder happy; which may or may not make for a good planning or architectural outcome.

A 'good price' often comes at the expense of something else.

 

They hit that on the head!

Too many builders design small multi's and townhouse developments as either large houses or small houses - reality is they're neither.

 

Welcome back Aaron, long time no see on forum hope all is going well for you

 

Hi Marisa. Busy busy on new display product through Perth, giving me a massive boost to my demographic knowledge!

Also a few landmark projects around town either just starting or coming to fruition keeping me super busy.

New website coming too!

Anyway - still lurking just not much to offer that isn't covered already

 

you must be working in the wrong circles.

everything you just quoted is taught second year at TAFE Building Design and Technology and drummed home for anyone designing homes, project or otherwise.

 

Mmmm I wonder if we could correlate the decline in our TAFE system/s and the increase in this "competency" based RTO model to the distinct lack of skills especially in the construction industry.........

 

might be worth a pie chart

 

Progress update:
Slab went down a couple weeks ago, late March (additional costs were waived by builder)
Slab clean to be done this week.
Bricks scheduled to be delivered next week.
Brickies scheduled to start the week after that.

 

Yayyyyyy