worriedexpat

Thanks @saveasteading I'm finding it a bit upsetting as the architects are saying 'we could run the project within budget....but we won't do it for a fixed budget' and given the delay even getting to this point I'm just not willing to take that route. Think we will part company with the architects and take some time to make a new plan.. very sad as I've become very attached to our plans 😞 anyhow we are lucky...we have somewhere to live at the moment and a plot so the right solution will present itself. Thanks all

Hi all. Thanks everyone for all your input. We got an indicative cost back from a local contractor at 974,000. Given that we are currently overseas, have a hard budget limit (v limited borrowing options until we move home...and will struggle to move home without building the house!) I don't think we will be going ahead with the build as planned... Maybe the costs are OTT but we just can't take the risk to push ahead without a degree of certainty. Taking stock and looking into other options...likely better form factor and slightly smaller. Will update when we have narrowed down our options! Thanks again

Hi all, ok so this is sounding positive (for my pocket) that these figures are over-egged. The QS is on a fixed cost, is local and knows my family so I think he's legitimately trying to stop us going down a massively costly road.... He seems to think the architect has designed something more suitable for someone from upcountry with plenty of money (lots about) rather than a local trying to return home... but maybe he's over-egging it a bit?! There was a positive meeting between architect and QS yesterday, they are identifying areas that can be clarified (and reduced) and then I hope we will put it out to tender and that will tell us what the real-world price is and if we need to change build system/start from scratch... @Dave Jones Do you mean current build prices are 2k/m2 without foundations etc? So whichever build system we go for we would likely have to reduce the m2 anyway to get within budget? @Mattg4321 my electrical needs are certainly nothing out of the ordinary, plenty of sockets but nothing fancy (no cctv or the like) - so sounds like that cost could be slashed to start with... @SteamyTea I gather from some of your other posts that we are relatively near you (somewhere it rains/is about to rain all the time). Architect about an hour north and QS just round the corner. @ToughButterCup I'm sure it would be easier if I was onsite, but without leaving my job (and having an even smaller budget to build with!) I'm unlilkely to get more than a few weeks at a time until the time I get to move home (and Ideally move into the house!) Anyhow... thanks everyone for your input... I was really feeling pretty stressed and this has indicated to me that the actual price should be a fair bit lower, and that there are ways to reduce that further if needed. I'll let you all know what happens when we get a reality check from a local builder. Thanks!

Ok, I really hope so ... he admits hes been cautious on a few things and can reduce some finishes for us... but could he really be that far out? I've included the summary and some breakdown on costings thanks for the link to Kore - I'll ask them for a quote and see if thats a potential place for savings... Is a timber building, with lambswool insulation, clad in slate (1st floor) and timber (ground floor). polished reinforced concrete slab for ground floor, engineered hardwood first floor, sedum roof. No fancy kitchen or bathrooms. internal finish quoted for clay plaster. I know there are some things that can be compromised on in finishes. We want to keep the layout if at all possible, think the key will be to change the build system/spec to something cheaper but what will that be to still perform well?

Wow that seems reasonable... will get in touch with them.

Hi all, thanks for your thoughts it's appreciated so to answer a few questions @PeterWYES we did give the architect a budget, then upped it a little based on their indicative price of 2000/m2 I of course am guilty of retail creep, a little extra room here and there... so the final floor space was 218m2 and QS indicates this would cost 4,646/m2 (do the maths.... ouch!!) The build route was to be a main contractor (as we are a long-haul flight away so really cannot do anything to help!) this was made clear from the beginning The land is tricky and requires a concrete raft to build on...which is currently estimated to consume a large proportion of the budget. This requirement was known before the architects were commissioned as we already had mining surveys done Performance is really important to us, not necessarily passivhaus, but close to, as the whole idea is to have something affordable to live in when we leave our overseas jobs (and can't afford to switch on the heating 😉 looking at the plans (and yes this had always been at the back of my mind) I see that the form isn't exactly the most price efficient ... so I would probably prefer to change the shape and size of the building before reducing the spec... But I guess that means going back to planning stage. All in all I just see a huge amount of money sunk into getting here, and now realizing we can't go ahead with this project as is. What are my options realistically? 1. go out to tender and hope the architect is right (maybe?!) 2. keep the plans as is but reduce insulation all round/change build materials... can I do this and still retain a well performing home? 3. change the form of the house, choosing the best balance between cost and performance in the build system - and suck up all the costs related to going back to the drawing board. If I do this I don't suppose there is any recompense from the architect? I wouldn't want to work with them on a new iteration unless they re-designed for free... @ToughButterCupYes, I think being away really hasn't helped.. I was unable to get home for 2.5yrs due to covid restrictions so was never proactive in keeping everything on track Any recommendations on the way forward would be appreciated!

Hi all, have just joined for some advice. We live abroad and hope to move home in a few years time. We are lucky enough to have a plot (south west UK) and have planning permission for a timber frame (almost) passivhaus (not planning on certification). Got a QS involved to keep project on track and cost estimate has come back 2.5x the budget we gave the architects! QS and Architects basically both saying they are right so I guess we go to tender and see what actual builders say. But realistically where do we go from here? We cannot go over our budget... Is it time to rip up the plans and start again?!