Building your dream home is an incredibly exciting project, but its scope can mean it’s hard to know exactly where to start. Many clients will be inclined to start with an architect or building designer, developing plans before approaching a builder. However, this isn’t necessarily the best option.
Engaging a builder prior to any other professionals can make a huge difference to your project, resulting in a smoother process and higher-quality end product. Here’s why.
Budget control
While architects and building designers are experts in building design, they don’t have the necessary market knowledge to provide accurate costings. This makes it incredibly difficult for them to design to a specific budget and can result in costly changes when a builder finally gets involved. By engaging a builder alongside a designer, you’ll benefit from accurate quotes from the very initial stages.
Streamlined building process
A residential construction project is incredibly complicated, and only becomes more so when different parties struggle to collaborate. Bringing a builder in from the very beginning means they are across the project from start to finish and can identify and address issues before they become bigger problems. It also reduces the need for back and forth, and ensures clear communication between all parties.
Building your dream home can become even more streamlined with a design and construct project. This sees a builder handle the entire scope of the build, working with a chosen designer to bring your vision to life. It introduces a single point of contact – usually a project manager – and allows for greater budget control and cost planning certainty. It also lowers the risk, with a contractual obligation for the builder to deliver works as documented in plans.
Expertise
Along with knowledge on the latest costs, a builder will also be able to contribute technical expertise, suggesting methods or materials that may be more cost-effective. Their specialist awareness, gained through previous projects, means they’ll be able to recognise potential problems before they arise and suggest innovative solutions that utilise the latest developments in constructability, materials and technologies.
Collaboration
Engaging a builder early means they’ll be able to work closely with your architect or building designer from the very beginning. Having two sets of eyes overseeing your house plans and design selections means potential issues can be avoided early on and your two experts may be able to come up with innovative ideas and suggestions for enhancing your dream home within your budget.
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If you’re thinking about building a new home in the Warrnambool area, get in touch with our team. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have, or explain our design and construct process.
