ᐅ Costs for Quantity Surveying by Developer / Self-Purchase / Materials / Installation – Is this correct?
Created on: 12 Aug 2016 21:21
M
Mizit
We would like to ask for your opinion, as we are unsure whether we might be mistaken.
Regarding the bathroom, we would, on the one hand, upgrade the washbasin. The double vanity unit, which we really like, would, however, be charged by our preferred house provider at almost 1,100 euros extra. This is in addition to the standard price, which already includes a washbasin from Villeroy & Boch.
Now, I found exactly the same vanity unit online for 450-650 euros. That’s still more than 600 euros less... I don’t yet understand why it is about 200 euros cheaper in one online store compared to another, but anyway. These online prices, of course, do not include installation.
But is the installation of a washbasin really so difficult and time-consuming that it justifies a difference of about 500 euros compared to the price for a private customer purchase?
Another example: a rain shower, meaning a fixed overhead shower head. This would also cost us nearly 1,000 euros extra on top of the standard price. Online, I find prices around 200-300 euros... so about 750 euros less, also excluding installation. But is such a shower system really that complicated to install?!
Regarding the bathroom, we would, on the one hand, upgrade the washbasin. The double vanity unit, which we really like, would, however, be charged by our preferred house provider at almost 1,100 euros extra. This is in addition to the standard price, which already includes a washbasin from Villeroy & Boch.
Now, I found exactly the same vanity unit online for 450-650 euros. That’s still more than 600 euros less... I don’t yet understand why it is about 200 euros cheaper in one online store compared to another, but anyway. These online prices, of course, do not include installation.
But is the installation of a washbasin really so difficult and time-consuming that it justifies a difference of about 500 euros compared to the price for a private customer purchase?
Another example: a rain shower, meaning a fixed overhead shower head. This would also cost us nearly 1,000 euros extra on top of the standard price. Online, I find prices around 200-300 euros... so about 750 euros less, also excluding installation. But is such a shower system really that complicated to install?!
S
Sebastian7914 Aug 2016 08:41But what can you do? You can’t dictate prices to anyone – unfortunately, building a house isn’t like a daily commute that you eventually know very well.
Many people build only once in their life, and afterwards they know a lot (but not everything) better – but that doesn’t help much.
The most important, but also the most difficult thing: to create a plan for everything and everyone – and this is exactly where it usually fails. Because if you don’t have any knowledge, you can’t make a plan.
So: hire a designer or architect – it costs money, and many hesitate. But that’s how the cycle starts all over again.
I would guess that you save far more than what a designer costs if you have your dream house fully planned out in advance – with all the details.
Many people build only once in their life, and afterwards they know a lot (but not everything) better – but that doesn’t help much.
The most important, but also the most difficult thing: to create a plan for everything and everyone – and this is exactly where it usually fails. Because if you don’t have any knowledge, you can’t make a plan.
So: hire a designer or architect – it costs money, and many hesitate. But that’s how the cycle starts all over again.
I would guess that you save far more than what a designer costs if you have your dream house fully planned out in advance – with all the details.
I don’t fully understand the point of your post right now.
What exactly do you mean by planner? Or what would be the role and added value of a planner when it comes to paying a price for a bathroom upgrade that seems to have an extremely high profit margin to the customer?
What do we want to do? Nothing. The additional cost is openly communicated to us, and no one is obligated to make a purchase. If the price seems so expensive to us that we find it outright exploitative, we have to decide for ourselves whether the rain shower and the washbasin are worth paying that inflated price despite the high markup.
From how we see it here—and I find this exchange extremely helpful: installing it ourselves is not an option.
It’s questionable whether you can find someone through platforms like my... etc. who is allowed and able to install this, and whether you wouldn’t still end up paying maybe half of what the general contractor charges by going this route.
As mentioned, it’s not about saving a few bucks. But here, the additional cost struck us as very excessive.
What exactly do you mean by planner? Or what would be the role and added value of a planner when it comes to paying a price for a bathroom upgrade that seems to have an extremely high profit margin to the customer?
What do we want to do? Nothing. The additional cost is openly communicated to us, and no one is obligated to make a purchase. If the price seems so expensive to us that we find it outright exploitative, we have to decide for ourselves whether the rain shower and the washbasin are worth paying that inflated price despite the high markup.
From how we see it here—and I find this exchange extremely helpful: installing it ourselves is not an option.
It’s questionable whether you can find someone through platforms like my... etc. who is allowed and able to install this, and whether you wouldn’t still end up paying maybe half of what the general contractor charges by going this route.
As mentioned, it’s not about saving a few bucks. But here, the additional cost struck us as very excessive.
When in doubt, stick to the standard. You won’t be sitting in the bathtub every day or standing side by side happily brushing your teeth at the same time with someone else.
For us, all surcharges were very moderate, and the initial offer was far from excessive.
By the way, some products are indeed more expensive. A standard acrylic bathtub measuring 70cm x 170cm (28 inches x 67 inches) costs €200, while a 90cm x 190cm (35 inches x 75 inches) enamel bathtub with a body-shaped design is €1000 – but you have already ruled that out.
Another option is to consider switching the building contractor...
For us, all surcharges were very moderate, and the initial offer was far from excessive.
By the way, some products are indeed more expensive. A standard acrylic bathtub measuring 70cm x 170cm (28 inches x 67 inches) costs €200, while a 90cm x 190cm (35 inches x 75 inches) enamel bathtub with a body-shaped design is €1000 – but you have already ruled that out.
Another option is to consider switching the building contractor...
Switching is still possible, nothing has been signed yet, and that’s a good thing. These decisions need to be carefully considered.
However, I would only find switching due to questions about the bathroom upgrade costs reasonable if there are also at least 10 other reasons against the currently preferred builder, and if another builder has already been thoroughly evaluated so that you wouldn’t be surprised by similar discrepancies.
Furthermore, we find €1000 on top of the standard for the washbasin and rain shower to be excessive. This might also be because we now have a better overview of other extras and therefore don’t know if €1000 for a washbasin is very extreme when that amount would cover half the cost of a significantly nicer front door...
However, I would only find switching due to questions about the bathroom upgrade costs reasonable if there are also at least 10 other reasons against the currently preferred builder, and if another builder has already been thoroughly evaluated so that you wouldn’t be surprised by similar discrepancies.
Furthermore, we find €1000 on top of the standard for the washbasin and rain shower to be excessive. This might also be because we now have a better overview of other extras and therefore don’t know if €1000 for a washbasin is very extreme when that amount would cover half the cost of a significantly nicer front door...
For the sink, it’s usually best to start with a standard model and replace it later. (This is significantly cheaper and not difficult – plus you initially save about 1000€ (around $1100) and can upgrade later if you still have the budget.) Often, they use the same mounting fittings; otherwise, there are just two holes for two new threaded rods. The toilet mounting, on the other hand, is generally built into the wall and matches the toilet seat that will be installed. There is also a certain standard for this.
With the bathtub and shower, it’s more complicated and you should choose what you plan to use long term right from the start.
With the bathtub and shower, it’s more complicated and you should choose what you plan to use long term right from the start.
We don’t want to make any changes to the toilet, and while a bathtub is nice—I’m sure I’ll enjoy using it more often on Sundays—overall, a bathtub isn’t important enough right now for us to spend extra money on it. With an average height and build, you should be able to relax well once a week in a standard bathtub, or at least that’s what I hope. I feel the same way about the shower. My husband really liked the rain shower head, but now he says it’s probably not worth the 1000 euros (about $1100) that, in my opinion, could be better invested elsewhere. If we could install it ourselves over a weekend, then it might be worth it for him, but another 1000 euros (about $1100) just for that is unlikely.
I do see a clear benefit in having a double vanity, especially with two small children in the mornings, and I also find it much nicer visually. But over 1000 euros (about $1100)? I think we’ll put that on the back burner for now. We would both prefer additional roof windows to bring in more light. That is much more important to us than the sink.
But why do you think it’s easier to replace that later on?
I do see a clear benefit in having a double vanity, especially with two small children in the mornings, and I also find it much nicer visually. But over 1000 euros (about $1100)? I think we’ll put that on the back burner for now. We would both prefer additional roof windows to bring in more light. That is much more important to us than the sink.
But why do you think it’s easier to replace that later on?
Similar topics