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Monday 27 August 2012

Playing Hard Ball

Okay time for an update.

We had kinda stalled on progress for a while because while we thought we knew which builder we were going with we were still getting a quote from another builder. It took a while because the first time we got it done, the plans weren't identical. So builder B came back to us a couple of weeks ago with an almost identical quote for $50,000 less. We took this to Builder A (after they got back from their company retreat) asking them to bring their quote down.

Builder A came back with $27,500 off. This didn't seem enough given that there are only slight difference in the quote. I basically told Jake they hadn't met the bench mark I had set (As Builder A is my favourite and we are further along the line with them) and that I would go with Builder B. Jake thought it was weird that I had suddenly switched so he kept bugging me about it (he wanted me to be 100% happy with the decision).

So I went  back to Builder A saying we wanted more and that it was their last chance. Low and behold they come back with another $10,000 off and an option of a further $10,000 off if we bought back the floor plan.
That extra $10,000 was all we needed to met the requirements for the home loan without taking anything else off the plan.

We are also now eligible for the First Home Buyers Grant which means we will be a further $14,000 better off. This means we can afford to floor and paint our home as soon as it is built.

This is where I give my husband a lot of praise as it was he who sought another detailed quote (I didn't really want to go to all the work, nor waste another builders time). If he hadn't we would be in the process of cutting things out of our dream home to be able to afford it by settlement. Thank you Jake!

So, where to from here, the quote is getting neatened up and re sent to us. Once we have proofed it they will continue to finished the contract (which they started ages ago) which will include the modification we have made since signing the initial quotation. I'm really glad it will all be in one and on the official plans etc.

From there we get the bank to evaluate the house and apply for the FHBG and that should all be ready by settlement of the block.It means that we wont be ready to build by settlement as we have to get shire approval. But ohwell, who can complain about a getting your dream home for cheaper!