BDA 2014 awards

I have seen quotes with provisional sum allowances for site works (excavation) of $2000, where the actual cost is more likely to be around $10,000. Because the excavation was nominated as a provisional sum, the $8000 difference becomes a ‘variation’ that the client must pay, possibly with an additional builder’s margin of $1600 (20 per cent of $8000) on top. For this reason, it is important to understand how a provisional sum has been determined. Is it simply a guess, or has the builder put some work into arriving at a figure that will at least be close to the actual final cost? A quote that contains a lot of provisional sums may indicate a lazy approach to quoting; in the worst case it can be an intentional strategy to deceptively make a quote appear more competitive, all the while shifting the risks associated with additional costs to the client. It can also be a sign that the plans the builders have been quoting from are unresolved or lacking in detail, giving them little choice but to make allowances. Ideally, you should be trying to eliminate as many provisional sums from the quote as possible and have those items included in the quote without being provisional sums.

Timber stairs and tiled floors Frameless glass around pool

Love the lawn with the tree. Not the light pavers though, not practical