“Can we negotiate the price?” People ask me this all the time. And it’s a fair question – a second-storey addition is a big investment. But here’s the truth, quality builders don’t negotiate:
Negotiation shouldn’t even be a part of the conversation.
If your builder’s open to it, you should be worried – because it usually means they’re swindling you in one of these 3 ways:
Swindle #1: The Fat-Margin Fakeout
It’s like selling a second-hand car. You want $9k, so you list it for $10k, giving yourself room to drop the price and make the buyer feel like they’ve “won.”
Some builders do the exact same thing. They fatten their quote with an extra 10 or 15 grand so they’ve got something to shave off when you push back. It makes them look flexible. It makes you feel like you’ve negotiated a good deal.
But all they’ve really done is take you for a ride.
Swindle #2: The Lowball and Load-Up
If a builder is open to negotiating, it might be because they plan to recoup the money later, through extra costs, once you’ve already signed.
Costs like:
- “Variations” or “upgrades” to get the selections you thought were included, when really, you’d only signed off on a stripped-back, default version of your build
- Adjustments to make up the difference on items that were listed as vague allowances (provisional allowances) or estimates instead of being properly costed
- Extra expenses that should’ve been priced in from the start, but weren’t (things like site works, structural support, or access requirements)
A builder may also accept a lower number upfront because they already know how they’ll make it back later – by sacrificing quality. Cheaper materials. Less experienced trades. Cut corners.
All so they can claw back the margin you just negotiated away.
Swindle #3: The Clueless Negotiator
(This one’s sort of a “self-swindle,” but you still pay the price.)
Sometimes, a builder will be open to negotiating because they simply have no idea what the job actually costs.
They’re running on guesswork, throwing out “this feels about right” numbers instead of doing a proper estimate. They think they’ve got wiggle room, but they aren’t across their margins, and they aren’t in control of their finances.
So when the penny finally drops – that they’ve negotiated their way into a loss – they panic. They start scrambling to plug the gap mid-build.
That’s when things spiral out of control. Trades get squeezed. Quality drops. Jobs get delayed. Calls stop getting answered.
And at this point, the roof’s already off your house. What are you gonna do – walk away?
Quality Builders Don’t Need to Swindle Their Clients
When we give you a price, that’s what your house is going to cost.
We start pricing your job by talking to our contractors – people we know, people we’ve worked with before. This is a balancing act. You want the best possible bang for your buck, and we’ve spent years building relationships with the contractors who deliver that.
From there, we add materials. We add overheads. We build the thing out on paper first. Any costs we don’t know? We spell them out in black and white and put a cap on them.
So, when you look at the bottom line, that’s the final price. A fixed price. Not a starting point for negotiation.
Saying “No” to Negotiating Isn’t About Being Difficult
It’s about doing the right thing by you from the start.
We haven’t left anything out. We haven’t fumbled our estimate.
There’s nothing to take off… because nothing extra’s been added on.
We’ve been at this a long time. We know what it costs. And we price it properly. That’s how real builders do business.
So, if you’re serious about doing a second-storey addition the right way, we’ve put together a resource to help you get started.
The Oasis Range: Price Guide & Inclusions
Inside, you’ll find:
- How to avoid the hidden costs that catch most families off guard
- Why budgeting honestly (not perfectly) is the smartest move you can make
- What to expect from a design & construct builder, and how it saves you time and stress
- Real-life examples of families who made it work on time and on budget
If you’re planning a second-storey addition, this guide will give you the clarity to move forward without second-guessing every decision.
Read more about the close knit family behind your stunning Edwards Family Home, a proud partner of APB, and HIA.
