5 Reasons to Design your Home with a
Building Designer
17/10/2017
Considering renovating or building a new home but unsure on who to choose? With the overload of information on the web, in addition to the huge range of building options and businesses to choose from, selecting the right expert for your job can be a common dilemma.
If you’re still sitting on the fence, here’s a breakdown of the key differences between designing your home with a Building Designer and building with a Private Builder versus choosing a mainstream builder first.
Designing your home before approaching a builder gives you the flexibility to tender your plans to as many builders as you wish and achieve the best value for your hard earned money.
1) COPYRIGHT
Building Designer & Private Builder
You will own the copyright to the custom plans produced by a professional building designer. These plans can be taken to any builder of your choice.
Mainstream Builder
Once you sign a contract with a builder, you are locked in and he Builder owns the plans which most of the time would have been designed with a Sales Representative. If you break the contract and want to buy the ownership of the copyright, you will be charged a fee for the plans to take them to another Builder.
2) UNIQUE DESIGN & FLEXIBILITY
Building Designer & Private Builder
The design is unique and exactly suited to the size, shape and orientation of your block. There are no limits or constraints. You can create your own design based on affordability, quality, sustainability, innovation, aesthetics etc.
Mainstream Builder
Most designs are based on a standard model, which is only modified to suit the needs and wants of the client. This means that you will be limited by design elements, construction methods, material selections etc. Consequently, a one off custom design will come with a premium price tag.
3) PERSONALISED JOURNEY
Building Designer & Private Builder
You will be dealing directly with the Directors of the company who have experience across the entire design and construction process and you will experience a personalised journey from start to finish. The Builder is the Supervisor who you will deal with directly.
Mainstream Builder
Your job will be passed through multiple employees and departments including a Sales Representative and Contract Administrator during the Administrative Stage. Once the job moves into Construction, your project is handed over to a Supervisor and a Client Liaison.
4) NO ADMIN FEES FOR CHANGES
Building Designer & Private Builder
The Builder is the Supervisor so if there is a problem or if a change is required on site, it can be done instantly with no administration fees .
Mainstream Builder
Any amendments require a written variation which consequently has an additional administration fee every time a change is made.
5) HIGH QUALITY, EXPERIENCE & LOWER MARGIN
Building Designer & Private Builder
High quality products and finishes, experienced trades with lower Builder’s margin (approximately 20%).
Mainstream Builder
Lower quality products and finishes, trainee Supervisors and inexperienced trades with a high Builder’s margin (up to 40%).
Ultimately, it pays to make a decision based on the credibility, experience and accomplishments of the designer or builder. A good basis to work off is to make sure their process appeals to you and ensure that they provide credible testimonials from their clients.