The Design Process - Owner Builder Club
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The Design Process

The team at The Owner Builder Club LOVES this part of the process 😍

It’s where the creative juices can really start to flow.

So here’s a summary of what happens at the design stage.

YOUR IDEAS

It's highly likely you've started gathering your design ideas or you have that image in your head of exactly what you want your home to be like.

That's great!

Maybe you can take it a few steps further and visit display homes, home building expos or start noting any design features you like about the homes of family or friends, perhaps even ideas from hotel rooms you’ve stayed in!

So the 30 kitchen designs you love? It's time to start narrowing down to 3 to 5 AND be sure to know exactly what it is you like about each.

THE BRIEF

With your beautifully compiled images, you’re now ready to put together your brief.

The brief (worth doing in advance) is what you’ll discuss when you meet your preferred professional i.e. architect/draftsperson/building designer.

So get busy and start listing things that are important to you and your lifestyle.

If you're interested in getting a detailed Design Process Worksheet, head to my resource, The Pre-planning Stage! At a cost of $49, it's an inexpensive resource that provides so much more than just the Design Process 😊

CONCEPT DESIGN

Now it’s time to take your brief to an Architect, Building Designer or Draftsperson and they will bring your dream to life.

Keep these 4 key points in mind:

  1. If what you want is not included in the brief, it won’t be included in the design. Changes during or after construction will cost!
  2. You MUST be across what’s included in any costing and what’s not.
  3. Be sure to know what's included in the architects price. And again, understand what’s not included.
  4. Think about whether or not you want an Architect to help you with the Development Application and Construction Certificate as well as the required surveyor and engineer plans.

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

Here, the architect/draftsperson will refine the concept designs into more detailed documentation, based on discussions with you.

FINAL DOCUMENTS

It’s really getting down to the pointy end as your vision is about to be locked and loaded.

If your Architect, Building Designer or Draftsperson is also carrying out the required approvals, these will happen at this stage.

You’re now ready to finalise costs!

BIG TIP

We like to take a can of spray paint and draw an outline on the site (to scale). This gives a fantastic idea of size/layout as well as a feel for space and walking from one room to another.

Anything you don’t like can be changed prior to documents being finalised.