How do you negotiate with a builder?

[GeorgeG.]

You're right... 6.5 yards. I measured the bed this morning

[Denny]

Loading it with that small bucket will take forever! As short as those walls are in that bed, I bet it's only 6.5 yards a load.

[GeorgeG.]

How far are they trucking it? Might be worth hiring someone.

I called a few people but those plans quickly changed by the minute, literally. I had one guy lined up with a similar truck that I offered to pay $75 per load, he agreed but then stopped returning my texts. Called a few other people that can do it, one guy's truck was in the shop, another was 3 weeks behind, etc. Marc above was willing to help but he needs more notice....understandable.

We ended up getting our own bobcat and truck. Dirt moving is no joke... hauling it 8 yards at a time barely puts a dent in it. Tomorrow is our last day with the truck and bobcat so we expect to get 10 loads. Each load takes about 50 minutes, round trip.

[8mpg]

Welp, The dirt is available...I have no means to move it (cheap).

How far are they trucking it? Might be worth hiring someone.

[GeorgeG.]

Welp, The dirt is available...I have no means to move it (cheap).

[Gasser64]

I also am a masonry contractor. I work for several custom home builders. Let me know and i can refer you a couple.

Got any pics of your previous masonry work?

[GeorgeG.]

A lot of the houses lately have been chemical injected with piers and a post tension slab. Injection is around 10k. It all depends on the soil report.

It's been suggested to go with piers in addition to the PT slab. Once we get to the soil test, and depending on cost, I may look into it further. It wasn't referred to injection piers though, just drilling the holes, adding rebar and filling.

If your trying to build up a pad. The engineer may want select fill. I haul dirt. Thats what i haul to a lot of house pads

Any chance you know where to find a bunch of good dirt and can haul it to Van Alstyne, or would want to? My brother and I have a lead on about 20 loads that might be free. We're hoping we can get it. He's pretty sure he has access to a truck and loader. However, we found out that someone in the dirt business has their eyes on it too. We'll see how it pans out.

We're not quite sure if we'll be going with the builder route just yet. Same brother knows a GC that does it for 10% - 15% as mentioned earlier in this thread. I'm going to check out a couple of houses that he built. I'll keep in you mind.

[8mpg]

Damn those are some big houses.

Im kinda forced to. Deed restrictions on my property say 3500sqft minimum. Bigger than I want but even at 4000ft, my house would be the smallest in the neighborhood.

[David]

I have a hard time figuring out what I'd do with all that space

[marcs95gt]

I also am a masonry contractor. I work for several custom home builders. Let me know and i can refer you a couple.

[marcs95gt]

Is there a preferred type of dirt? should I try to find the same type of dirt from the area?

If your trying to build up a pad. The engineer may want select fill. I haul dirt. Thats what i haul to a lot of house pads

[sdun]

A lot of the houses lately have been chemical injected with piers and a post tension slab. Injection is around 10k. It all depends on the soil report.

[ceyko]

Insulation and energy efficient cooling/heating. I have a 4200ish sq ft home and it's cheaper to heat/cool than my prior 2500 sq ft home.

[GeorgeG.]

Damn those are some big houses.

I noticed that too. If they can shrink that down to about 3K sq feet, then I'll be happy.

[David]

Damn those are some big houses.