Q and A
Q. What kind of experience do you have with residential or commercial design?
A. I have over 24 years of experience working on both residential and commercial projects ranging from small extensions to multi-unit housing and large commercial / industrial developments. Regardless of the size of the project I can offer design advice for a diverse range of construction projects. I am a registered building design practitioner with the Victorian Building Authority and carry the appropriate insurance. If you have a particular need or would like to talk regarding your building project, please feel free to make contact, I would love to hear from you.
Q. Once we have contacted you what happens next?
A. After you submit a contact form, I will reach out to you to schedule a meeting either on-site or in our office to discuss your project and gain a better understanding of your design brief and desired outcomes. During this meeting, I will also explain the steps involved in the design process for your project.
Q. Can you provide examples of your work or a portfolio?
A. You are welcome to browse my website to see the types of projects I have been involved with and peruse my clients testimonials. I am more than happy to meet in person if required to talk further.
Q. Are you familiar with local building codes and zoning regulations?
A.With many years of experience in the building design industry, I have dealt with planning regulations for both NSW and Victoria and possess a thorough understanding of the Australian building codes and regulations
Q. What is your process for working with clients and obtaining their input and feedback?
A. This is a collaborative process through open communication and working with our clients to discuss their project needs and preferences. This will involve several phases during the design process, including client meetings, providing drawings for review and feedback, and ensuring we are meeting their design brief and expectations.
Q. What are your fees and what do they include?
A. The cost of preparing drawings for a building project will depend on the size and type of project to be undertaken. We will provide you with a written fee estimate once we have discussed your project needs and desired outcomes. We treat each project individually, as each project has its own constraints and requirements. We provide a written fee schedule outlining the cost of producing the required drawings and the likely cost of additional supporting consultants that may be required to assist with your project.
Q. How long does it typically take for you to complete a set of house plans?
A. Each project is unique, so the timing depends on several factors, including the size and complexity of the design, the level of detail required, environmental issues affecting the design, meeting planning requirements, and statutory government processes. These factors all contribute to the time required to complete a set of drawings for a building project.
Q. How do you handle revisions or changes to the plans during the design process?
A. During the design stage, and at the appropriate point, we seek feedback from our clients through clear lines of communication. Through this process, we issue drawings on a regular basis to our clients, keeping them informed every step of the way. We are flexible and open to discussing new ideas and integrating these changes into the design, while offering advice to maintain the integrity of the original design. Each issue of drawings will carry the date when they were printed for quick reference. These drawings are issued seeking feedback from the client, confirming acceptability of the proposed changes before we progress to the next phase of the project.
Q. Are you available to answer any questions or concerns that may arise during construction?
A. Yes: If needed we can provide support during the construction phase of your project. This will be indicated in your fee schedule once we have a clear understanding of what services you would like from us.
Q. Are you familiar with the latest design software and technologies?
A. Yes: We use the latest building information modelling software (BIM) Autodesk Revit software for all our documentation; ensure accuracy and reliability of all our drawings that we produce.
Q. Are you able to provide 3D visualization of the project?
A. Yes: We are able to produce 3D visualizations of your project when required. We can produce still photo realistic images, animated walk-throughs and sun studies to help you visualise the design. Not all projects required this service, which is done on request.