1. Initial meet and greet
Firstly, let’s chat! Get in touch and we’ll show you how we can help. At this step, we’ll discuss your ideal home, listen to your needs and answer any questions you may have.
The aim of the initial meeting is to get to know each other and begin to understand what you’re looking for in your new home. We want to find out what does and doesn’t work in your current home, look at any inspirational images or ideas you may have, and explore what you are aspiring towards with your new home and lifestyle. Once we have a clearer idea of your expectations, we can outline a plan to get you there.
We believe transparency is key at this early stage, and you’ll find it is a hallmark of how we work with you during your entire ‘design+build’ process. The more you share your questions, your hopes for the new home, and the lifestyle you’re picturing, the better we can create a building solution to deliver you the result you’re after. It’s common for clients to come to us with their own very specific questions or concerns, and now is the best time to ask them!
2. Inspect and review site
If you’ve already selected your block, we’ll provide an obligation-free inspection to identify any considerations we’ll need to keep in mind. Alternatively, it’s quite common at this stage to ask for help in choosing an appropriate block for your new home – and we encourage it! Whether it is a knock-down rebuild opportunity or a vacant block in a new suburb, there are many factors that need to be considered in picking the right block.
The block has a significant impact on us being able to deliver the very best new home solution you’re hoping for. Factors like mature trees, orientation, sloping land, and the required solar and building envelopes can result in building setbacks. These items can have a huge influence on the way we can design and deliver the home you want, and what it will cost to carry that out.
3. Custom concept design brief
We’ll sit down again to discuss your budget, as well as the ‘must haves’ for your new home—whether it’s maximising space, an energy-efficient design, a dream walk-in wardrobe, or a magnificent adults retreat. Carefully consider everything you’d like to see in your new home—this is the most cost-effective time to make decisions! A dot-point list of what you need is perfect.
We will guide you through the design process based on your brief. This is a working document that sets out the must-have elements for your new home, along with the aspirational elements, any wish list ideas, and the budget we’re aiming for.
Based on your brief and budget, we’ll introduce one of our specialist building designers or architects to our meetings. This will be someone we feel is best placed to interpret your brief and achieve the end design you’re hoping for. We’ll ensure the project is on the right track from the beginning by injecting our building knowledge with regards to the home’s build-ability, costing and ability to meet approval requirements.
So that there are no surprises down the track, we will also coordinate any external specialists we feel are important at this point—for example, a site survey plan or a tree inspection report. This will give everyone the best picture of what we are working with.
4. Presentation and concept review
Within approximately two weeks, your custom home concept design will be complete, including your site plan, floor plan and elevations. You’ll review the plans and suggest amendments to ensure the designs are spot on. We’ll make any revisions, then we’ll provide the plans to you for approval.
Once you approve your concept plans, we’ll revisit your client brief and explore everything you would like to be included in your Home Estimate. We’ll share details of current and past projects including costs, design outcomes and even invite you to visit current homes under construction with similarities to what you’re proposing. Clients often tell us they find this helpful when formulating ideas, and it ensures everyone is on the same page before we start developing your first Home Estimate.