Have a development site that is a little oddly shaped - and have hunted around all the major project builders with not a lot of luck.
most of their designs are just too long (mine is more of a squat block) - leaving little to no garden....
The one builder that says they can alter a design to fit (the Alpha) wants x amount of dollars more to move walls.. and the sales consultant is very hard to deal with - leaves me hanging for days and doesnt really listen (so if this is the standard of service at this early stage in the game - i can only imagine what the build would be like!) - and she keeps throwing new ideas at me that doesnt meet my brief...(the new design sent is a combined 4th bed/study, a random bar area and a laundry area accessed though a scullery - what? is this Downton Abbey? who has a scullery nowadays?)
So over the last week i have put my ideas down in excel - and forwarded it back to this sales consultant to see what she could do with it - this was Sunday - still no response
So yesterday i arranged a meeting with a bespoke builder
took my ideas up to the meeting and within 5 minutes of the consultation starting - the designer/builder whammied me by trying to get me to sign a "preliminary agreement" for $1100 - which i was not pre-warned about... he also would not discuss price.... he asked me my budget which i explained was $300k to include subdivision costs, new driverway, carport, landscaping etc for existing house and turnkey for this new one and he said they could probably work to my budget....oh .. and there was a little bit of a language barrier (think he was Greek)
So i suppose my question is - which do i chose?
the project builder who wants to charge me for every little change to a plan that im not even that keen on - but assumingly they can give me a price
or the bespoke builder who will work to my doodle - but wants $1100 upfront in order to give me a price guide (which may be too expensive)
suggestions?
most of their designs are just too long (mine is more of a squat block) - leaving little to no garden....
The one builder that says they can alter a design to fit (the Alpha) wants x amount of dollars more to move walls.. and the sales consultant is very hard to deal with - leaves me hanging for days and doesnt really listen (so if this is the standard of service at this early stage in the game - i can only imagine what the build would be like!) - and she keeps throwing new ideas at me that doesnt meet my brief...(the new design sent is a combined 4th bed/study, a random bar area and a laundry area accessed though a scullery - what? is this Downton Abbey? who has a scullery nowadays?)
So over the last week i have put my ideas down in excel - and forwarded it back to this sales consultant to see what she could do with it - this was Sunday - still no response
So yesterday i arranged a meeting with a bespoke builder
took my ideas up to the meeting and within 5 minutes of the consultation starting - the designer/builder whammied me by trying to get me to sign a "preliminary agreement" for $1100 - which i was not pre-warned about... he also would not discuss price.... he asked me my budget which i explained was $300k to include subdivision costs, new driverway, carport, landscaping etc for existing house and turnkey for this new one and he said they could probably work to my budget....oh .. and there was a little bit of a language barrier (think he was Greek)
So i suppose my question is - which do i chose?
the project builder who wants to charge me for every little change to a plan that im not even that keen on - but assumingly they can give me a price
or the bespoke builder who will work to my doodle - but wants $1100 upfront in order to give me a price guide (which may be too expensive)
suggestions?