Q. I don’t have plans drawn yet?
A. We can provide you with experienced architects or drafting professionals to work with YOU on your ideas. We can also provide you with guidance on interior designs colours and finishes.
Q. What fees do I have to pay before building can start?
A. There are a number of building applications that have to be paid to the relevant departments.
- Development Approval (DA)
- Building Approval (BA)
- Plumbing and Drainage approvals.
- Engineers and soils tests.
- Side and front boundary relaxations.
These fees vary from certifier to certifier and engineer to engineer. You can organise these services yourself or for a fee the designer, draftsman, or builder can organise this for you. In most cases, if one of the above is involved the process can be less stressful for yourself and run more smoothly than if you DIY.
Q. What is a Certifier and what role do they play?
A. A Building Certifier is an independent person who acts on behalf of the local council. They will approve the building plans, making sure all the local codes, relaxations and fees have been paid. They are also the people to release a Final Certificate when all the appropriate certificates have been submitted to council.
Q. Will I have a fixed price contract?
A. Ferguson Builders uses HIA contracts and stationery. The contracts we use are a fixed price contract and will only vary for 2 reasons;
- Variations, also known as ‘extras’, to plans and/or specifications.
- Variations to Prime Sum and Prime Cost items.
Q. Will I need to move out?
A. In the majority of projects, our clients are able to remain on-site and works are co-ordinated with our clients needs in mind. In some cases however, there may be a need to move out for a period of time in the interests of time and safety.
Q. What are Prime Cost items?
A. A Prime Cost (PC's) is an agreed, reasonable estimate for materials (fixtures and fittings) which you may not have selected at the time of entering into the contract. Usually, PC's are one-off items, however they can relate to a large number of items when the labour cost remains constant. Examples may include kitchen and bathroom items.
Q. What are Prime Sum items?
A. A Prime Sum (PS's) is a reasonable estimate for material and labour of a particular part of the home which the builder cannot give a definite price for. The reason being the owner had not decided what they want at the time of entering into the contract. Examples are excavation, pool and landscaping.
Disclaimer
Please Note: Many of the comments in this publication are general in nature and anyone intending to apply the information to practical circumstances should seek professional
advice to independently verify their interpretation and the information´s applicability to their particular circumstances.
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