Designing dream your home? Where do you start?

So you have bought your land and have been looking at many house designs and may have even worked out a list of requirements for your dream house. The question now is how to get this list onto paper and into a form that you can realise your dream. From this point there are a number of options available to you.

1. Architect designed

An architect is able to offer the most comprehensive design service. From helping you develope you a brief (i.e. what you really want), negotiating with authorities, designing the building, drawing (or what is known as documenting the building) to contract administration (i.e holding the builder accountable and deliver what has been requested by the design documents). An architect can be engaged to do all or any part of these services. In the residential market architects offer the greatest value where there maybe a complex brief or site that requires a unique solution. A good architect is able to work within a given budget and alert you to any choices made that will impact on the final cost, giving a level of control.

2. A building design service

Typically building designers are skilled at taking your design requirements and developing them into technical drawings to submit for planning approval to the local authorities and subsequently built from. Design skill will vary greatly; however your typical family house may well be within capabilities of someone experienced in the field and offers an economical way of developing your design to be built. This can be an economical way of having you own design to the point of construction. The upside is that you will have control of the design and the downside is a guide or control on the final budget.

3. A design and build

Many construction companies and builders offer a design service which they then build the resulting design for you. The design services of this type of company with vary greatly also. Some will employ architects, others draftspeople or building designers. Typically this can be quite efficient, but you may lack control over the final outcome and have terms of the contract handed to you with little room to move.

4. Pre-designed/ home and land package

These are offered by developers also known as MacMansions. This option will offer the lowest cost per m². This is often to the detriment of the overall design. This will require you to fit your dream house within the selection of designs on offer with minimal flexibility; however this can not ignored as an option as they gain allot through economies of scale by the developer. This category would also include prefabricated houses, ready to be placed on you land and services consented. Design and quality of these of cause can vary wildly, with some well design offerings from architects out there amongst many poorer quality design also.