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While money can’t buy happiness, it can certainly buy custom home designs to create a happy home for years to come. Next question: is home design worth the money?

Put simply, everyone has different needs when it comes to a home. And while it can be possible to make do with whatever is on the housing market at the time, there’s always the chance that existing real estate can fall short of needs or expectations.

Custom home builds are an alternative that more and more homeowners in Canberra are exploring, and for a number of reasons. You can ensure that the home has spaces dedicated to every need, without extra or missing areas that are awkward or outdated. What’s more, you can choose design elements that meet your exact aesthetic, from traditional to modern and everything in between.

But to achieve all of this, you’ll need to work with a home designer. And home design doesn’t come without a price tag. Rather than starting with a cookie cutter floorplan or choosing from the existing homes on the market, custom home design can give you the flexibility and creativity you crave. But is the process really worth the money? 

What is custom home design anyway?

Just like it sounds, custom designing a home starts with a plain piece of paper and a bevy of your ideas and goals. Instead of starting from an existing floorplan or blueprint, you’ll work with an architect to establish the inclusions and flow of your home from the ground up. You can point to existing home designs, aesthetics, and images that you like, and your architect will use that background to create a truly custom and unique home for you on paper. 

They’ll design everything from the facades to the structural and engineering elements that the builders will need to bring your vision to life. Your home will be one of a kind as your architect puts together plans that reflect your needs for movement, functionality, and fixtures. You’ll also have complete control (within local council requirements) of the placement of the home on the property itself and how to orient details such as outdoor entertaining spaces and driveways. 

What to expect from the home design process

It all starts with a literal drawing board. Your architect and builder will want to collect as much information about your desires and needs as possible to turn them into physical plans that can be used to build the home of your dreams. To do this, they’ll want to learn what works (and what doesn’t work) with your current home and may even want to do a site visit to get a sense of how you use (or want to use) your space. 

There’s no limit to the ideas that you can present to your home designer. The key thing to remember is that it is the architect’s job to combine all of these ideas and take them as inspiration to create a plan that will be functional and affordable for your budget. In the initial requirements stage, don’t hold back on the things that matter most to you, and feel free to share anything from magazine clippings to bookmarked webpages with your architect for inspiration. You can also draw from their extensive portfolio to point out design elements that you are really drawn to.

From there, your architect will begin the complex task of creating your very own custom home design plan. They’ll have to take into account local regulations and permitting requirements and approvals along the way. They may also request a survey of your property so they can ensure that the home will be positioned optimally on your lot. 

Learn more: How Long Should It Take To Design A House

How much does custom home design cost?

Different architectural firms will charge different amounts depending on a number of factors when it comes to custom home design. For example, larger homes will take more time for planning and design, which will factor into longer hours for the architect and higher costs. Some also charge based on the percentage of the total home cost, rather than charging an hourly rate for design fees. It’s important to understand how your chosen home designer will approach this from the start so there are no surprises. 

As such, custom house plans can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000 depending on the size and degree of complexity that the designs require. 

Is home design worth the money?

is home design worth the money

When it comes to securing a new home, you have a few options here in Canberra. 

One is to take advantage of the active real estate market and look for a home that is close to your expectations but perhaps not quite perfect. From there, you can pay for home renovations or home extensions that can help to make the house more like a home. However, this will incur costs of its own and in the end the home still might not be exactly how you would have preferred if you were starting from scratch.

Another option is to work with a builder who has a number of home designs already drafted and ready to go. This can cut down on the design costs to nearly nothing while kicking off your process much earlier since you don’t have to wait for designs of your own. But while the builder may be able to make minor adjustments to the plans before getting started, you won’t really be able to customize them as much to your liking.

And so, going with custom home design is often the best option for people who have a clear picture of what they want and need from their home. With home design, you can ensure that everything from the aesthetic and colour scheme to the floorplan and space flow are exactly what you want before getting started. Your architect will take the time to learn your exact needs and create a home that is second to none. And you can skip all of the hassle of home renovations or making do with whatever is on the market at the time. 

Ultimately, home design is worth the money for prospective homeowners who are very specific about their needs and interests and where the local housing market is simply falling short of their expectations.

How to choose a custom home builder and architect

When it comes to the design itself, it’s important to go with an architect or home builder that has a robust portfolio of work and who seems to understand or match the style that you are interested in. In many cases, home builders will staff architects or have a few firms that they collaborate with on a regular basis, which can help streamline the processes throughout the design and build phases. 

Look for a home builder that has a long track record of designing and crafting custom homes, specifically in the area you are looking to build. This way, they’ll be familiar with the local regulations and permitting that could otherwise slow the overall process down. 

You’ll also want to ask about anything that is critically important to you beyond just design factors. Elements like using eco-friendly materials or designing with sustainability and efficiency in mind are examples of topics that should be discussed with your designer or architect before they draw up any plans. You will also want to ask about how they work to keep your ideas in line with your budget and what aspects may need to be revisited in order to keep your costs a reality. 

Call on Canberra Home Builders for your new home design

Looking for a one-stop shop that can help bring your new home vision to life? At Canberra Home Builders, we have designers, architects, and builders all on staff to help design and craft the custom home you have at top of mind. We work with every client to create a bespoke home that exceeds expectations without breaking their timelines or budgets.

With over 21 years of experience, you can rely on the team at Canberra Home Builders to create a truly custom home for you and your family. We incorporate all client concerns into our plans and work with you to set a clear understanding of what is possible in your price range. It all starts with a no obligation, free consultation and quote. 

Call us on 02 6171 6104 or fill out our online form to get started!

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