ARCHITECTS GUIDE TO HOME BUILDING
Are you planning your renovation or new build?
Do you need assistance understanding the NSW planning framework and approval pathways?
Are you looking for advice on selecting an architect or consultants and understanding their fees?
Could you benefit from independent overview of the renovation or new build process?
Let us assist you to manage the planning, documentation and construction process.
Educate yourself on the site physical and design parameters for your project.
Understand who you need to engage, their role, fee structure. Understand the Authority approval process and the associated costs.
Our guides + checklists are prepared by us for strategic, financial and design advice to avoid costly mistakes and make building less overwhelming.
For most, a building project is a once in a life time event, entered into with little or no experience yet met with demands of creative, aesthetic, practical, financial and project management decisions.
Our FREE STARTER KIT covers:
Understand the work required before you start construction
What to do before you call an Architect
Checklist for a functional and aesthetic brief
Program - managing your expectations
Are you planning your renovation or new build?
Do you need assistance understanding the NSW planning framework and approval pathways?
Are you looking for advice on selecting an architect or consultants and understanding their fees?
Could you benefit from independent overview of the renovation or new build process?
Let us assist you to manage the planning, documentation and construction process.
Educate yourself on the site physical and design parameters for your project.
Understand who you need to engage, their role, fee structure. Understand the Authority approval process and the associated costs.
Our guides + checklists are prepared by us for strategic, financial and design advice to avoid costly mistakes and make building less overwhelming.
ARCHITECTS GUIDE TO HOME CONSTRUCTION PART ONE
PLANNING, AUTHORITIES + CONSULTANTS
Inside the 67 pages you will learn to
Plan with confidence before you spend a cent
How to prepare a proper brief, set a realistic budget, and pull free planning data (zoning, height limits, FSR, heritage overlays) on any Sydney site before you even call an architect.
Understand your project approval pathway
A clear breakdown of Complying Development (CDC) vs Development Application (DA) — timeframes, guarantees, and which one actually applies to your site.
Understand implications of heritage and other building aspects to review prior to lodging for Authority approval
Know exactly who to hire (and why)
An architect vs draftsperson vs project builder comparison, plus a full checklist of consultants you will and may need — surveyor, structural engineer, geotechnical, arborist, town planner, and more — with typical fee structures for each.
A detailed breakdown on how Architect’s structure their fees and scope.
Avoid budget blowouts
What's really included in a "construction cost," where contingency should sit, and the high-risk cost items (excavation, asbestos, old services, joinery, kitchens/bathrooms) most people underestimate.
Realistic timelines
Why a build takes a year-plus from first meeting to first shovel. Understand why good project preparation and sound documentation is important.
Insider tips from a practising architect
Real, practical advice from a NSW registered Sydney architect — from design, planning through to what to check before selecting a builder and managing your construction expectations.
Educate yourself to avoid expensive mistakes
First-Time Renovator to Informed Client
For most people, a building project is a once-in-a-lifetime event — entered into with little or no experience, yet met with a barrage of creative, financial, and project management decisions. This guide distils years of hands-on architectural practice into the exact roadmap we give our own clients: how to plan, who to hire, what it costs, and how to avoid the mistakes that blow out budgets and timelines.
Why Sydney renovators and new-build home owners need this
Understand the entire design and construction process in order that you spend your money wisely
Sydney's planning system is genuinely confusing — DA vs CDC, LEP vs DCP, LMR overlays that can override your Council's own rules. Get it wrong and you waste money and lose time.
Most people don't discover the "hidden" costs (Council levies, Sydney Water approvals, contingency, consultant fees) until they're already committed.
Our Guide serves those engaging an Architect or designer or going owner-builder/project home route
Part one of our eGuides - Inside the 67 pages you will learn to
Plan with confidence before you spend a cent
How to prepare a proper brief, set a realistic budget, and pull free planning data (zoning, height limits, FSR, heritage overlays) on any Sydney site before you even call an architect.
Understand your project approval pathway
A clear breakdown of Complying Development (CDC) vs Development Application (DA) — timeframes, guarantees, and which one actually applies to your site.
Understand implications of heritage and other building aspects to review prior to lodging for Authority approval
Know exactly who to hire (and why)
An architect vs draftsperson vs project builder comparison, plus a full checklist of consultants you will and may need — surveyor, structural engineer, geotechnical, arborist, town planner, and more — with typical fee structures for each.
A detailed breakdown on how Architect’s structure their fees and scope.
Avoid budget blowouts
What's really included in a "construction cost," where contingency should sit, and the high-risk cost items (excavation, asbestos, old services, joinery, kitchens/bathrooms) most people underestimate.
Realistic timelines
Why a build takes a year-plus from first meeting to first shovel. Understand why good project preparation and sound documentation is important.
Insider tips from a practising architect
Real, practical advice from a NSW registered Sydney architect — from design, planning through to what to check before selecting a builder and managing your construction expectations.
Educate yourself to avoid expensive mistakes
ARCHITECTS GUIDE TO HOME CONSTRUCTION PART TWO
DOCUMENTATION + CONTRACTS + SUPPLIERS
Review your house plans with greater confidence for fewer omissions or amendments during your build.
Have an Architect in your back pocket as you make design decisions and sign off on architectural and interior documentation.
Inside the 74 pages you will source
Functional tips on reviewing architectural and interior documentation
. Pros and cons of different floor, wall and roof material construction types. Make a well informed selection.
. checklist on door and window materials, function and hardware so you can select the best for your home
. tips for landscaping and pool specification
. understand common pitfalls of pools which fail to comply with codes
. detailed checklist for electrical, plumbing and mechanical specification
. What to consider in the selection of interior finishes
. Checklist for specification of flooring - timber, tiles, stone and tiles, carpet, painting
Review of each material and what to look out for in your selection
. Joinery - room by room tips on making the most out of your custom joinery design
. Stonework - a run down of natural stones vs man made products
. Practical tips for tackling appliance and sanitaryware selection
How to review Builder’s tenders
What your Builder’s tender should include and how to analyse different builder’s prices
Due diligence you should carry out before selecting your Builder
About to sign a building contract?
Understand different standard Building contract types and key terms
Understand how delays and variations can be charged and how to best avoid them
Suggested clauses to write into your building contract
Our little black book
Key architectural and interior suppliers that we use if you are going solo and needs some leads on where to start your own research
Our Guides will aid in catching documentation specification errors or omissions with helpful checklists all with the aim of preventing project delays, change of mind decisions and minimising the chance of costly variations.
An Architects guide to reviewing documentation with checklists to assist with preparation of a complete set of architectural and interior documentation for your build. Support for reviewing Builder’s tenders prices. An outline of typical Contracts used and key terminology to assist with understanding your contractual obligations. Plus our little black book of preferred suppliers if you’re sourcing materials and fixtures yourself.
Part two of our eGuides – Inside the 74 pages you will learn to
The preparation of detailed documentation will aid in prevention of delays, change of mind decisions and costly variations.
Have an Architect in your back pocket as you sign off on architectural and interior documentation to prepare the most complete set of documentation.
. Functional tips on reviewing floor plans and checklists for inclusions
. Pros and cons of floor, wall and roof materials
. checklist on door and window materials, function and hardware so you can select the best for your home
. tips for landscaping and pool specification
. understand common pitfalls of pools which fail to comply with codes
. detailed checklist for Electrical, plumbing and mechanical specification
. What to consider in the selection of interior finishes
. Checklist for specification of flooring - timber, tiles, stone and tiles, carpet, painting
. Joinery - room by room tips on making the most out of your custom joinery design
. Stonework - a run down of natural stones vs man made products
. Practical tips for tackling the appliance and sanitaryware selection
How to review Builder’s tenders
What your Builder’s tender should include and how to tackle price review.
What you should know before entering into a building contract
. Understand the standard Building contracts and key important terms
. Understand how delays and variations can be charged and how to best avoid them
. suggested clauses to write into your building contract
Our little black book
Key architectural and interior suppliers so you can carry out your own research
Architects Guide to Construction - Starter Kit
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