Building Ethics
A
dvertised Price.
For some time now Project Builders have promoted their products at a base level. You start out with a price that is not relevant to the picture you see in Newspapers and Television. The house shown is the one that they are betting you will be willing to pay all the extras for. Starting with the base price, they add site costs, then Basix costs, then extra for the air conditioning, extra for the garage doors with glass panels, extra for the rumpus or family, extra for more power points and light fittings, extra for a larger linen cupboard, carpet and tiles to the living areas and so it goes. So what you hear is a price of around say $175,000 but the cost of what you see is around $30K TO $50K more.
Standard Inclusions.
Building is not an exact science, but many things are known when constructing a home. A calculable amount of soil from the site can be determined without going to the site. They have between 50 to 70 meters of stormwater, a water tank, and they must be insulated subject to the external lining type. Every house, with the exceptions of an acreage, has approx 6 to 10 meters of cold water supply, approximately 25 meters of sewer line to the sewer main, approximately 6 to 10 meters of power service either ariel or underground.
The question we ask is, why are these not included in the base price to reflect a more realistic cost for those looking to buy. A site inspection and adjustments of these costs are still required and would be minimal, but we feel it is unethical to draw people in with low prices and then get a higher profit on items that are essential. I have talked to many people who could not furnish their new homes because of the rising costs of Variations. They felt cheated because many expenses were obvious or they were given the impression that they were inclusive, by the sales Consultant.
Minimum Variation Policy.
This is a complaint that we have heard loud and clear. We have implemented a minimum variation policy in our First floor Extension Company, and the same applies with our new homes. Our price may give the false impression of not being competitive, but check our inclusions and you will see that you get more, which reflects the true cost of the product.
We would like to point out that we are not Project Builders, we are Designer Builders, hence we have chosen to include quality products throughout. The end result is that you and your family can enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle and future in your new family home with low maintenance, that is economical and environmentally sustainable.
