“I’m choosing a builder and have just received two quotes back for my villa renovation. There is a price difference of almost $250,000 between the two tenders. The builder with the cheapest price is one builder and his apprentice. They seemed like nice guys, but haven’t done work of this scale before. This worries me a little bit. The other quote is from a construction company, with a dedicated project manager. They specialise in villa renovations. But they are $250,000 more expensive. Why the price disparity? What things should I consider? How do I choose?”
This is an example of some of the all too common questions home owners have when faced with choosing a builder. Brendon Sowerby, Founder of Next Level Construct walks us through the in’s and out’s of choosing potential builders for your large scale renovations.
Value for money
Although it may be tempting to go ahead with the cheaper option, when choosing a builder it is important to remember that cost isn’t everything. The value that the cheaper builder provides, may not necessarily match up to your expectations of the project and may mean blowing your timeline, or worse your budget.
It is important to remember that when you receive your quotes back from potential builders there will always be a variation in prices. Some companies may price up to 20-30 percent more than another company. This is standard across many industries. I know that it is definitely tempting to go with the builder who appears to provide excellent ‘value for money’ but I strongly urge you to check the fine print.
Fine print adds up
Some builders will often use provisional cost sums when quoting your project; these allow the builder to change the cost as a project progresses. This means your bill may be twice or up to three times more than it was on the quote. While these additional costs are at times unavoidable and are usually justified, you need to be extra vigilant that the builder is not undercutting these prices to win your project. A larger construction company will most likely use the services of a Quantity Surveyor. Using their services means that your project is priced correctly.
Due to the unforeseen nature of renovations, allowing for a contingency is critical above and beyond your fixed quotation. Unknowns such as leaks, rotting framing and subsidence are examples of common issues found after exploratory work begins on a project. Any reputable residential construction company will advise you immediately of these costs. And will provide you with a revised cost to complete the project, which ensures your expectations and budget are aligned.
Whats included?
It pays to check what is being included in the price when you receive your quote. Quite often, what you are receiving is literally just the bare bones of your project. This means there will be no soft furnishings (such as carpets and curtains). No fixtures (such as plumbing or lights) and even no paint or plaster on the walls.
These are often called ‘exclusions’ and it pays to watch out for them. As mentioned in the example question, the cheaper quote from a one man band, can mean that you may have to become the project manager. You really need to be up for the challenge in that case or have experience. You’ll find yourself organising tradespeople (plumbers, electricians, plasterers, water proofers, tilers, and kitchen installers) to be on site as and when needed. You may even be left to organise the portaloo!
It would also pay to check the qualifications of anyone you are using, as well as any guarantees and warranties that are included. All building work needs to be supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner. And all building work should come with the option to purchase a guarantee from Master Builders or New Zealand Certified Builders. This will ensure that the work you have done is to a high standard.
Final word of advice
My advice would be to check the quality of the work of any builder you are considering using. Also check the fine print and don’t hesitate to ask any questions. Of course using the services of an end to end company like Next Level Construct means that you don’t need to worry about organising anyone or anything. They take care of everything for you because they understand that your time is valuable, and is better spent not having to chase tradies.
Brendon Sowerby is the Founder of Next Level Construct, an award winning end-to-end residential construction company. They specialise in renovations, extensions and new builds.
Brendon has been working in the building trade for over 17 years, meaning he knows the ins and outs of the industry.
Next Level Construct will be in Hall 6, stand 658 at the 2019 Auckland Home Show.
