Builders Quotes Way Over The Budget Specified To Architect

893bet

whitewalker wrote: »

One page word doc only figure was the price....!!?? Suspect it was a polite rejection..

It seems that way but depends on what info you provided to him.

If you supplied a simple planning drawing and a very basic spec then his quote is going to reflect that. Garbage in Garbage out so to speak. If you gave construction level drawings and a specific specification detailing insulation spects, materials, doors, finishes, electrical etc then they should be able to give a detailed quotation. Anything else is only a guess. A detailed specification will protect both the client and the builder. As a self builder myself I am realizing this more and more!

Get a another 3-4 quotes......then panic if they are all way over your budget.

galwaytt

893bet wrote: »

It seems that way but depends on what info you provided to him.

If you supplied a simple planning drawing and a very basic spec then his quote is going to reflect that. Garbage in Garbage out so to speak. If you gave construction level drawings and a specific specification detailing insulation spects, materials, doors, finishes, electrical etc then they should be able to give a detailed quotation. Anything else is only a guess. A detailed specification will protect both the client and the builder. As a self builder myself I am realizing this more and more!

Get a another 3-4 quotes......then panic if they are all way over your budget.

Unfortunately giving a full spec won't make it fit a budget either: case in point, we are doing a job atmo where the literal spec added 50% to the client's budget. It's not the builders fault - he's pricing exactly what was specified. So the issue is where is the spec coming from...........and how that was arrived at, bearing in mind that the client gave a budget at the start of the process.

And even at that, people aren't factoring in enough to allow for the variables between what a spec and 'budget' costs are, versus the actual marketplace. This is why you're not seeing the two matched. I see it in my work every single day.

kkelliher

miller_63 wrote: »

and on the other side of the coin I have seen some samples of QS work for self build projects....the self builder would have been better off at throwing darts at the wall!

would love to see the coin? what relevance has throwing the QS profession under the bus to the OP's scenario?

kkelliher

whitewalker wrote: »

Hi all,

It's now 2015 and I've a similar issue. I may just be in a state of panic as I've gone to tender with full tender drawings provided by our Arc. and received back one coming in at 195K for a renovation (pluming, electrics, new window,doors floor, ex insulation) to existing building 1449 Sq foot. Also a demo of a garage utility to be rebuilt as a new 513 sq foot extension including a first floor space for a bathroom and WIW. The budget is roughly 150K with 100 PSQF to new build/demo and 70 PSF to existing. This includes a kitchen fit out.

Located in Munster. (not cork).

AM I Dreaming??? Would a QS help me at this stage????

To be honest no-one will be able to assist with this query unless they have access to the full detail. Before the work went as far as tender drawings it should have been costed (generally at sketch layout stage) to see if it meets your budget. There is no factual link between your actual design and the theoretical cost per ft2 approach. When an existing building comes into play, you can spend a high percentage of your budget on the existing building due to tie in details and finishes which are simply impossible to cost at an average sq ft etc.

In respect to the tenders received, if you did not provide them with the breakdown you required they were never going to give it to you. People need to understand that the tender process is your to direct and if you don't direct the process you don't end up with the information with which you can make a decision. I have seen too often where 5 tenders out with bunches of drawings and 5 tenders returned with 5 different views, interpretations and understandings of the same drawings leading to 5 different widely different prices.

Get a breakdown in a way that you can compare apples with apples and then if its too high its too high and you redesign.

ht9zni1gs28crp

kkelliher wrote: »

would love to see the coin? what relevance has throwing the QS profession under the bus to the OP's scenario?

Relevance? In midst of all the Architect slanging going on it needs to be pointed out that there are other pro trades that sometimes appear totally alien.

kkelliher

miller_63 wrote: »

Relevance? In midst of all the Architect slanging going on it needs to be pointed out that there are other pro trades that sometimes appear totally alien.

relevance of your statement is exactly what I was asking. OP asked a query in respect to a budget and an architect. You have decided to trow in a completely irrelevant opinion on a different profession that appears to have little connection to the OP query? The OP is fully aware that there are QS's in the world given he asked if he should get one involved.

ht9zni1gs28crp

kkelliher wrote: »

relevance of your statement is exactly what I was asking. OP asked a query in respect to a budget and an architect. You have decided to trow in a completely irrelevant opinion on a different profession that appears to have little connection to the OP query? The OP is fully aware that there are QS's in the world given he asked if he should get one involved.

So for the 'relevance' of fair 'moderating' have you also jumped at the neck of those slanging Architects? Which incidentally has 'little or no connection to the OP query' as we really do not know what level of service the OP has received from his/her Architect.

Its an opinion...apologies if it doesn't agree with yours but hey that's life. If you cant handle differing opinions then maybe just maybe your in the wrong place?

kkelliher

miller_63 wrote: »

So for the 'relevance' of fair 'moderating' have you also jumped at the neck of those slanging Architects? Which incidentally has 'little or no connection to the OP query' as we really do not know what level of service the OP has received from his/her Architect.

Its an opinion...apologies if it doesn't agree with yours but hey that's life. If you cant handle differing opinions then maybe just maybe your in the wrong place?

OP question was on 3rd December and not a single post since has mentioned an Architect so your point is? I have been on this site for many years defending Architects, so again little relevance. I have no issue with your opinion, however it appears to have no relevance to the query raised and is supported by no actual evidence and hence its unhelpful to simply knock a profession for little reason.

In order to stay on topic and not hijack the thread we will simply have to Agree to Disagree and move on.

padjo5

The architect made the proposals, aiming at 100k, in 2008 (construction at its lowest point)? You get larger quotes to carry-out the work in 2015 (construction in vogue again) and you are looking for comeback on the architect??

893bet

padjo5 wrote: »

The architect made the proposals, aiming at 100k, in 2008 (construction at its lowest point)? You get larger quotes to carry-out the work in 2015 (construction in vogue again) and you are looking for comeback on the architect??

Missed the 08 part!

Planning is also expired so!

db

This is a bit of a zombie thread. The initial post in 2009 was about plans drawn up in 2008. A new poster brought the thread back from the dead a few days ago.

BryanF

db wrote: »

This is a bit of a zombie thread.The initial post in 2009 was about plans drawn up in 2008. A new poster brought the thread back from the dead a few days ago.

good point, thread closed