• Begin by outlining your project scope in bullet points to clarify your goals and assess their feasibility.

• Consider creating a Pinterest account or a visual collage of architectural inspirations (even if it’s just magazine cutouts!) to share your ideas with us.

• Do you have a budget you are working towards? While some prefer to keep their budget confidential, understanding your financial parameters early on is crucial. If you're unsure, we can help provide a rough estimate.

• Providing your site address allows us to conduct a due diligence assessment, considering factors such as the Local Government Planning Scheme and Dial Before You Dig (now Before You Dig), which searches various agencies and infrastructure providers.

• Designing an impressive house is one thing, but what you truly need is a team that can realistically create options within your budget.

• The timeline for your project depends on various factors, and while each project is unique, the following considerations should be kept in mind:

  • The scope of your project and its location (approval timeframes can vary). Most projects typically take 6-12 months for design, obtaining necessary approvals, and completing documentation. Smaller projects may require less time.

  • Although the design schedule may seem relatively short, it is influenced by the availability and input of other consultants, council assessment timeframes (if applicable), and workload balancing.

  • Finding the right Builders and trades is important, as not all builders are equal. They may be working on multiple project sites to keep their teams engaged full-time.

  • Most residential construction projects take approximately 9-12 months to complete. Larger and more complex projects may require a longer timeframe.

  • We involve the Builder early in the project team to confirm scheduling and timeframes.

  • If you have a specific deadline for your building project, please discuss it with us. We will assess whether we can accommodate the timeline based on our other work commitments.

• For relatively minor projects, no. Developments can also be staged but these are rare. It is really a discussion to have with the Builder as the site does become a work zone and WH&S requirements may well apply.

• If your project is to lift the house and build under, then certainly yes, you will need to relocate temporarily, as all services and connections are severed, with only power and water connected to the front of the property.

• We regularly liaise with Builders to gather feedback and stay informed about current building cost trends. Since COVID, building rates per square meter for brownfield projects have more than doubled and are expected to worsen in the short to medium term.

• For greenfield sites or projects involving secondary dwellings, we utilise quantity surveyor websites that provide general figures based on the type of construction and the level of finishes (low, medium, high-end).

• We also cross-reference similar projects to provide the most accurate advice possible.

• Builders are a valuable source of knowledge, and they often quote based on square meterage, outsourcing the drawings to suppliers and adding allowances for finishes and fitouts. It's important to note that this methodology can be harder to scrutinise. Additionally, in the current market, sourcing trades can be challenging, leading to Builders' contracts having a short shelf life. As a result, clients can expect contracts to be around 50% fixed.

• For clients seeking a higher level of accuracy, we recommend engaging a Quantity Surveyor or Architectural Estimator for estimates within a 10% range.

• Clients should be aware that there is a shortage of materials, and Australia's market is influenced by global demand and supply, as well as the presence of free trade agreements with certain suppliers.

• The 2019-2020 bushfire season had a devastating impact on Australia's timber industry, with approximately 18.7 million hectares of land affected. To put this into perspective, the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires burned 450,000 hectares. It is estimated that these areas will take 30 years to fully regrow the lost trees. Due to this situation, Builders often need to secure orders six months or more in advance.

• This is your typical chicken-or-the-egg dilemma!

• At SBD, we believe that relying on pie-in-the-sky estimates during the concept stage can result in significant discrepancies, typically ranging from 40-50%. On the other hand, estimates obtained during the Design Development stage offer greater certainty and confidence.

• So why should you seek an estimate mid-cycle in the design phase? The industry data suggests that over 70% of residential development applications that receive approval do not reach completion. This is an alarming statistic that highlights the need for clients to have a clear understanding of their project's budget viability at a reasonable stage. By obtaining an estimate during the design development phase, clients can make informed decisions and determine whether their project is likely to align with their budgetary constraints.

• A Building Certifier is licenced to sign off on certain aspects of designs and construction that are not triggered through a DA (development assessment) application process. These form the far majority of our projects. The Certifier is responsible for assessing designs at he end of the documentation phase and will provide feedback on areas of non-compliance, prior to revision and forwarding to council for approval. They are also engaged during the construction phase to ensure critical areas conform to the design and other areas of regulation.

• A Building Certifier can also facilitate in energy reports, siting variations, plumbing and build over stormwater.

• The Builder cannot begin on the site until all the checks and balances have been approved by the Building Certifier.

• Absolutely! Both the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) and Master Builders provide building contracts and they should be provided for any construction work. The use of proper contracts ensures your building project follows a minimum professional standard, variations are kept to a minimum, there are no hidden fees, progress claims conform to regulations and everything will be legal.

• As head consultant and your Building Designer, Serenity Building Design:

  • Is appropriately qualified in Building Design. Richard also holds an additional Bachelor degree, and diploma qualifications in other disciplines.

  • Richard holds and maintains a current QBCC low-rise residential design license in Building Design, whereby the projects taken on are limited to:

    • Preparing plans and specifications for a class 1 or class 10 building, or;

    • Preparing plans and specifications for classes 2 to 9 with a gross floor area of not more than 2000m2, but not including Type A or Type B construction.

  • Contract administration in relation to building work designed by the licence.

  • Hold and maintain insurances as required, including:

    • Professional Indemnity Insurance - $1,000,000

    • Public Liability - $10,000,000

• SBD’s Principal is also a full member of the Building Design Queensland association. You can search for members on the BDQ web site and/or contact the secretariat to confirm the membership status of individuals:
  
  www.bdqld.com.au/BuildingDesignQueensland/Find-Designer

• Being a member of BDQ ensures we maintain a certain level of Continued Professional Development (CPD) points subject to our licence class and membership status. We also get to interact with suppliers, manufacturers and other professional groups that ensures its members are relevant and reflect the current changes in the industry.

• Every designer approaches this differently, but at SBD, we prioritize thoroughness and customer satisfaction as our top KPIs. Our goal is to ensure that the Builder can comprehend the project without the need for additional design work.

• The below table outlines inclusions at the typical stages of the project. In the case of new residential designs, Stage 1 is waived.

  This is the link to the table

• A Energy Assessment Report is a requirement by the State government to meet the minimum Deemed to Satisfy requirements or 7 Star rating, which typically relate to energy efficiency, glazing, insulation requirements and mitigating our demand on mechanical cooling systems to name a few.
  
  This is a mandatory requirement for all new residential builds or adding new rooms to an existing residential dwelling.

REVIT Building Information Software (BIM) helps architecture, designers, engineering and construction teams create high-quality buildings and infrastructure in a 3D model. REVIT documents phases of construction consisting of existing, proposed and demolition and the model can be interrogated to provide floor plans, elevations, sections, perspective views, renders, shadow diagrams, schedules and much much more. REVIT drawings can also be formatted into AutoDesk layouts, which is the preferred software embraced by engineers. Therefore, there is greater efficiencies to be gained across multiple teams in the development of a single set of master plans.

For further information refer to: www.autodesk.com.au.