Cost of New Build?

Hintza

We are about to get the quotes in for our new build (main contractor) and the prices seem high caomapred to the build cost calculator.

http://www.homebuilding.co.uk/self-build/project-tool-kit/build-cost-calculator

From what I can gather we should be in the medium house category (144m2) and I would have thought good build which comes up at £944/m2. Scotland figure.


The quotes are coming in at £1,277/m2 - £1,701/m2.

We are going to have to start pruning drastically as we were expecting £1,000/m2.

Any personal experiences so I can try to figure this out.

dander

Well, I have to agree those do sound high. The best people to tell you why they are coming in there would be the people who are actually quoting. Just go back to them and say it's much higher than you expected, what's causing it?

dander

Oh, and did you take into account the VAT thing at the bottom of that page - their figures don't include VAT, but you still have to pay it and then claim it back.

phill99

The online calculators are only a rule of thumb and don't take into account local problems eg access, delivery problems, etc.

You would be better off asking another local company to quote to get a true comparison.

McAzrael

In England it would be perfectly normal to hire a QS to advise you on construction costs and how changes to your plans will affect the cost, to handle the tendering and to monitor the build, particularly with regard to the costs. I don't know if it is different in Scotland, but I can't imagine it's massively different. the RICS website - https://www.rics.org - has a Find a Surveyor box; select Construction & Quantity Surveying, or ask your architect. Like all professionals, the good ones can save you their fees many times over.

Hintza

I have had the most expensive one round today (he is most local and has been building for the family for over 50 years!!). I think half of his problem is that he has a couple of jobs on at the moment. I also think there might be some double counting (ie stuff I am not expecting to be included in the quote but has been).

Anyway the architect, QS and I will be getting together to thrash through the quotes and do a bit of pruning.

Since it looks as if we might now be in the caravan through the winter now anyway then the rush might be off so I might project manage and do more myself.

Thanks for the input so far.