Feasibility Design Review

Now more than ever is the perfect time to plan. Get a better understanding of wherever you can afford what you want to do.

Are you thinking about building a new home but don’t know if you can afford what you want to do?

Do you want to build a passive house? But everyone keeps telling you it's too expensive?

Or are you thinking about renovating or extending your existing home and don’t know where to start?

Are you too scared to sign up a designer or builder because you don’t want to end up paying lots of money in fees to find out that what you want is way above your budget? 

What if I would tell you there is a quick and easy way to explore your options without paying a fortune? 

It’s a Feasibility Design Review

So, what ‘s this you might ask?

The best way to explain this is by explaining you what we did with one of our clients in Ivanhoe.

Like so many existing homes this single storey weatherboard house is way too cold & dark in winter with barely any sun coming in. 

The backyard feels totally disconnected from the house. The bathroom is in urgent need of an update and the couple needs a proper study.

For many years the clients have been contemplating on what to do and didn’t know where to start, therefore too afraid if they could afford everything they want.

Because of this we have recommended to conduct a Feasibility Design Review with them.

Step one was a site meeting for me to see the house and discuss the things the clients like and don’t like, what their dreams are for the house and what changes would they like to make.

Rest assured, we can do this while keeping our distance and we do not have to touch anything. Even though we have to see the house and make some photos. Any discussions can be done via phone or zoom meetings.

Step Two involved us drawing up 2 simple design options with basic floor plan sketches / muck ups.
Option 1 included everything they want.
Option 2 is a more conservative approach with minimal changes while still improving the house layout. 

Step Three is where discussions are held with some builders to get some rough costing estimates for both options.
We can then explore the options together. It might be either one or the other options, or a combination or variation to both options.

Step Four involves the clients making an informed decision about the path forward. Having undertaken a preliminary design review our clients will be able to proceed with the confidence to the formal design and build process process. Or, worse case scenario, modify plans to reduce costs before the formal design begins.

Step Five is getting a Quantity Surveyor on board. 
Often builders don't have much time. So we might not get that much information out of them. It might just be a one liner. A rough guess on how much it would cost. But they usually don't go into details.
The quantity surveyor on the other hand will put together a detailed list of all the items and construction materials required for the works. 
Which can give us a good indication on where the money will go and can highlight potential areas where we could save money.

As for our Ivanhoe clients, after having discussions with a couple of builders and finding out that all the changes they would want to do in order to make the house perform and flow as they want, they would almost need to spend as much money as if they would build a compact new home.

So, after some further contemplating and discussions with their bank we have now started the process of designing a highly energy efficient and compact new 3-bedroom home with them.

What if I want to build a new home?

If you want to build a new home, but don’t’ know if you can afford what you want, the process is pretty similar. 
We will meet with you. Talk about your ideas, hopes and dreams.

We will then prepare some simple concept sketches and get an estimator on board to give us an indication on the actual build cost. To make sure that you can actually afford your dream home, rather than wasting money and time just to find out that you might not have enough money to build a custom designed home.

If it sounds like this could help you please contact us to have an obligation free chat about your house, by clicking the below learn more button.