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Handling price changes on new extension

  • 04-09-2013 09:56PM
    #1
    bazwaldo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,777 ✭✭✭


    I'm fresh into a build of a large extension to my house. Builder quoted for the tender and before starting I listed a few changes, some which were additions and some which were reductions. But we went ahead with the start as the changes did not affect the first weeks work.

    I just got the updated quote and feel the reductions aren't dropping the price enough and the additions are very pricey. So I'm feeling a bit screwed and stressed. We didn't employ a QS and am beginning to see that it would be very handy to have one now. Will a QS take on a project when the project has already started?

    One of the additions was for underfloor heating rather than rads. This means extra excavation, screed, mesh, insulation, underfloor pipes, manifold and whatever else. The floor area is about 65m2 but about 10m2 of that is kitchen cabinets so will not require heating underneath. Also the area would be split into 3 zones. Does anyone know how much that I should be expected to be charged for that?


Comments

  • #2
    BoardsMember
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,575 ✭✭✭BoardsMember


    I have a friend who found themselves in a similar position. Ongoing changes throughout project due to drawings not being great, and Customer changing their mind on certain aspects. Their builder had a QS who regularly sent considerable amounts of paperwork, including revised costings. I dont think my mate was able to make head or tail of a lot of it, but when he delved into it he found costs had run away. He too felt that reductions in scope were undervalued, and increased were over-priced. He took on a QS, now the two QS's are working through things between each other. They probably took on their own QS quite late into the project, so the situation is that now the build is complete, but the QS's are still trying to come to agreement.

    Short answer: get a QS in as quickly as possible. Maybe tell the builder that you intend putting one in place asap too


  • #3
    sinnerboy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,433 ✭✭✭sinnerboy


    bazwaldo wrote: »
    the reductions aren't dropping the price enough and the additions are very pricey

    And thus the absolute folly of the novice self builder who thinks he will save money by not hiring professionals. A QS will typically save you many multiples of his/her fee. So hire one now.

    Not meaning to sound like i'm having a pop at you OP but one grows tired of hearing the same lament .....


  • #4
    sinnerboy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,433 ✭✭✭sinnerboy


    bazwaldo wrote: »
    One of the additions was for underfloor heating rather than rads. This means extra excavation, screed, mesh, insulation, underfloor pipes, manifold and whatever else. The floor area is about 65m2 but about 10m2 of that is kitchen cabinets so will not require heating underneath. Also the area would be split into 3 zones. Does anyone know how much that I should be expected to be charged for that?

    You will be charged more for something like this if you ask for it after works start than you will be kindly asked to consider when a builder is tendering. Underfloor heating VS Rads is not a sensible change-your-mind-during-the-build kind of decision quite honestly.


  • #5
    BryanF
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 10,146 Mod ✭✭✭✭BryanF


    BoardsMember wrote: »
    I have a friend who found themselves in a similar position. Ongoing changes throughout project due to drawings not being great, and Customer changing their mind on certain aspects.
    Short answer: get a QS in as quickly as possible.
    similar to Sinnerboy's post above - what can i say..


  • #6
    prewtna
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 73 ✭✭prewtna


    very easy for a contractor to run rings around an inexperienced punter.

    A Q.S. is worth their weight in gold, they will have the arguments with the contractors Q.S. so you don't have to.

    I think they enjoy the wrangling / arguing / bartering / nit picking to try & keep the contract sum unchanged. i have had cracking good arguments with contractors Q.S's but because it is two professionals doing the arguing, it doesn't get personal and therefore the stress isn't all that much. Great to keep that away from the client.


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  • #7
    kilclon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 186 ✭✭kilclon


    If an unscrupulous builder senses that things may change from the tender document he may price the job quite low (at cost) in order to get the job and then make his profit by overcharging for the changes which have to be made. As was said above money spent on a QS is money well spent.


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