Question about a hidden cost I found in my Austin build last month

My builder told me the site prep for the steep lot would be $15k, but the final bill for just the retaining wall was over $25k. Has anyone else had a big surprise like that with grading?

3 comments

3 Comments

andrew_rodriguez11d agoTop Commenter

That extra 10k for the wall is brutal, I mean it's basically a luxury car they just buried in your yard. Finley729 is right, they always hope for the best with the dirt math. My cousin's place needed a surprise rock removal that cost more than his kitchen cabinets. It's like the ground itself is running a scam.

sage_ramirez422d ago

Actually seen it go both ways. Sometimes the ground is fine and that line item was just a safety net. Finley729 makes a good point about lowballing, but honest builders do factor in real unknowns. That rock removal story sounds rough, but it's not always a scam. Just how it goes when you're dealing with nature.

finley72911d ago

Oh man, that stings. My "surprise" was a drainage issue they found after digging. Quote jumped by 12k overnight. Felt like a real genius for not seeing that coming. Builders lowball the scary line items hoping the ground plays nice. It never does.