The Importance of Pre-Construction Planning
All successful home building projects begin with an extensive planning process. As the foundation of the entire build, pre-construction planning ensures that a design and build project can be delivered on time, on budget and to the highest standard.
Generally, horror building stories arise when clients and builders aren’t clear on budgets, design or ambitions prior to a brick being laid, resulting in clouded communication, budget blowout and the potential for it to go horribly wrong.
At Olsson Building, we don’t start construction on any project without establishing a number of key factors, ensuring that all parties are on the same page. This initial piece of work sets us up for success, ensuring you receive a custom home that exceeds all expectations.
What does pre-construction planning include?
Most stages in a design and build project happen well before we start building. The very first step is to discuss your requirements and options with an in-person meeting. You let us know what you’re looking to achieve and we’ll clearly explain what we do and how we do it. We’ll also visit your intended site for a preliminary assessment of your block of land, looking at slope, orientation, views and planning requirements.
We’ll then move onto a preliminary agreement, which allows us to organise a site survey, soil testing, a planning report and concept design. This gives us a clearer idea of the scope of work and forms the basis of an estimated costing. It’s at this point you can start to see if your intended budget matches your vision, or if changes need to be made. We can offer guidance on how to marry the two together, as well as take you through options for fixtures and finishes, working to incorporate your design and lifestyle requirements into your home.
When you are satisfied with the design, we will finalise the documentation for construction, including working drawings, engineering design, energy assessments and planning approvals. From there, we prepare a detailed cost estimate based on the initial design and will make any changes necessary to proceed with construction.
At this point, you should feel confident in the expected costs, how this matches your budget, how long the build will take and what your home is going to look and feel like. When we are on the same page about all of these elements, we will take the next steps with construction.
The benefits of a design and build
Pre-construction planning forms the majority of a design and build project. When a builder is brought on in the initial stages of a new home project, they can provide almost real-time advice on the costs of materials and hiring subcontractors, while also ensuring the feasibility of the design itself. This reduces the risk of budget blowout and ensures you receive a home that suits your lifestyle.
Having that key point of contact throughout those important planning stages also eliminates the back and forth that may be required when engaging an architect or building designer, further streamlining the process. It will give you the confidence to know that no stone has been left unturned, and that there is an entire team in your corner, working hard to bring your vision to life.
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Ready to start the planning process for your new home? Get in touch with the team at Olsson Building to start the conversation.