Pretty as a picture — but how much does it really cost to construct? Only the builder really knows. Photo: Perrem Design and Construction.
You’ve made hundreds of decisions, worked with an architect and designer to map out the vision for your dream home and even secured development approval. Then you start gathering quotes for the build.
Oops.
In the property world, there’s often a sizable gap between what a designer can draw and what a client can afford.
One expert says too many people spend thousands on consultants and approvals before having a single conversation with the person who will actually build their home.
The result? Homeowners are forced to fork out more to shrink their dreams.
Perrem Design & Construction director Daniel Perrem frequently has tough conversations with clients.
“They may have had informal estimates from architects or designers, but often they’ve not spoken to anyone truly in the position to provide accurate budgetary input,” he says.
“Builders are frequently having these conversations, and you feel like the bad guy. But at the end of the day, we’re the ones who have to shake hands, sign a contract and deliver.”
Online estimators routinely come in under realistic budgets, according to Daniel.
He has lost count of the crestfallen clients who’ve had to go back to the drawing board with consultants and spend more money reducing the footprint or architectural scope of their dream home.
He says he has seen actual costs blow out by hundreds of thousands of dollars beyond initial estimates.
“There’s no point proceeding if the price at that stage isn’t stacking up,” he says.
“A lot of that heartache can be easily avoided by consulting builders early in the process.”
Daniel says builders can be involved at the conceptual stages. Even better is a company that can do both.
“We do design and construction, and we won’t proceed past concept until preliminary pricing is done, because we don’t want to waste a client’s time and money,” he says.
A South Coast local, Daniel deferred university architecture studies to take on a carpentry apprenticeship. He went on to obtain his builder’s licence, a Certificate III in drafting and a diploma in building design.
In the push for renewables, his company has also taken a keen interest in building passive homes, built for energy efficiency and maximised thermal comfort.
Now registered with the Building Designers Association of Australia, Daniel enjoys the design aspect, but with one important caveat, he says, which works in his clients’ favour.
“The majority of our revenue comes from the construction, so of course we want the design to convert to a build,” he says.
“But for that to work, the client and I must be aligned on the plan, the cost and the timeline all align.
“A standalone designer or architect only fulfils part of that job, so there’s no real incentive to focus on the building costs. A quote from them isn’t a done deal until confirmed by a person who can build it.”
When seeking builder quotes, Daniel suggests there is added value in engaging locals.
“Professional reputation is everything when you live in the community where you work,” he says.
“I take great pride in making a person’s vision a reality, and I want to build things that last.”
For more information, visit Perrem Design & Construction.
Original Article published by Dione David on About Regional.
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