Why Choosing Your Builder Before Your Architect Is Crucial

🔥 Looking to Build new or renovate your home? See how hiring a builder ahead of hiring an Architect would be cost-effective and advantageous.

Homeowners make a big mistake at the start of their build by hiring an architect before a builder. The traditional approach creates beautiful plans on paper but is often impractical or too expensive to build. The Builder’s relationship with the architect will determine the project’s success.

The order of hiring building construction professionals will impact the project’s budget, quality, and timeline. Homeowners who choose their builders first will know the construction costs, material choices, and building codes before finalising the plans. This way, they can avoid costly re-designs, providing relief and ensuring the final design fits their vision and budget.

Benefits of Choosing a Builder First

Builders should be chosen before architects to provide construction expertise during the design phase. A builder’s experience and practical knowledge will impact the project’s success from day one.

Access to practical construction knowledge

A builder’s practical knowledge will prevent common construction mistakes and safety issues that architectural drawings might miss. Their expertise will give designs that are not just beautiful but buildable. Construction expertise is precious with complex details, as builders can pick up on problems before they become expensive.

Better budgeting

Builders who join early will give accurate cost estimates and value-engineering explanations to keep the project within budget. They will also help homeowners avoid a common mistake: designing unrealistically and going over budget.

A builder’s early involvement will give you an advantage through:

• Cost estimates before plans are complete
• Value-engineering opportunities spotted early
• Material and labour cost optimisation
• Budget compliance during design Phase 1

Faster design process

The design-build approach will give you the most efficiency gains as builders and architects work together. This partnership will provide a smoother construction process and reduce the risk of costly re-designs. During design meetings, builders will bring valuable insights into cost variables and practical considerations.

The project benefits from the Builder’s involvement through the workflow. They turn design concepts into reality and consider constructability. Their hands-on experience with building codes, material availability, and construction methods will produce innovative and buildable designs.

How Builders Can Influence the Design Process

Through their partnership in the design phase, builders and architects will create a solid foundation for delivering projects successfully. When builders guide the design process, their practical knowledge will shape innovative and buildable designs.

Cost estimates early on.

When you choose the right Builder, contractors will share cost information during the initial design phase to avoid budget blowouts. Knowing how to provide cost estimates early will help the team make informed decisions and plan better. The team can make design changes when the Builder spots cost issues early and avoid costly surprises during construction.

Practical design changes

Builders are good at suggesting value engineering ideas that add to the design without losing quality.

Their practical suggestions are:

• Different ways to build
• Smart space usage
• Affordable materials
• Design changes that make it easier to build

Their technical knowledge and understanding of buildability inform these recommendations. So, architectural concepts match real-world buildability.

How builders can help you choose suitable materials

Builders are great at helping you choose materials. Their knowledge helps everyone select suitable materials for the project.

Here’s what they look at: The core team knows how materials perform in weather and wear over time. They don’t just look at how materials look—they think about practical stuff like maintenance needs and how long things will last. They also check what’s available locally and what local labour can do.

This method helps builders create designs that combine creativity with buildability. The result hits the style targets and works in real life.

Dangers of Hiring an Architect First

Hiring an architect first in a construction project creates major headaches that blow out timelines and budgets. Seventy-five percent of all projects go over budget because architectural plans don’t match construction reality.

Unrealistic designs that blow the budget

Architects who design without builder input create great plans that are impossible to build. Homeowners find their architectural plans cost double what they budgeted, wasting time and money. The problem is that architects focus on visual appeal rather than cost practicality, which can add hundreds of thousands to the build cost.

No buildability considerations

Architects who work on high-end projects create designs that builders struggle to build. The buildability problems are systemic and include:

• Structural issues not considered in the original design
• Materials not available in the local market
• Complex design elements require specialist labour
• Architectural plans are not detailed enough to give building contractors clarity

Redesigns can be costly.

Projects need expensive modifications because no one thinks about buildability at the start. Custom architects deal with clients who change their minds frequently. These changes can stretch the design phase out for months, maybe even years. This is a big problem when you have tight deadlines and budget constraints because every day of delay adds to carrying costs and can damage relationships with investors and lenders.

It gets worse when builders won’t quote from architectural plans because they see buildability issues. The situation requires extra structural diagrams and changes. The industry calls this “permitting purgatory”— projects that don’t move forward because of approvals and blow out the budget without progress.

Tips for Selecting the Right Builder-Architect Team

The success of projects depends on choosing people who work well together. A well-planned team selection saves time and money and delivers better results.

Look for builders with in-house design.

Builders who provide design-build services through their designers get the most significant advantages. According to industry stats, projects with in-house design teams complete 30% faster than traditional methods. The building contractor is involved from the design phase, which means efficient communication and collaboration. Their in-house designers know the practicalities of material usage, time management and product sizing that benefit every stage of construction.

Get references and review past projects.

Checking references is a big part of selecting professionals. Think about these when evaluating potential teams:

• Review projects similar to your planned build
• Ask previous clients about their experience
• Get into the quality of past collaborations
• Learn about their problem-solving skills
• Check their track record on the timeline

Industry experts suggest visiting active sites because it helps you see the team’s craftsmanship and attention to detail. A portfolio review will ensure their design style matches your project goals.

Clear communication between all parties

Communication is the lifeblood of successful projects. Studies show that 70-100% of an architect’s future projects come from referrals, so clear communication is vital to building relationships. Regular touchpoints between all parties prevent misunderstandings and keep project milestones on track.

Construction communication management software can streamline information sharing and document storage by 14%. This means team members can access all project details, changes, and potential roadblocks, reducing back-and-forth communication and costly delays. Projects succeed most when architects and builders collaborate early, which means accurate cost estimation and minimising expensive design changes later in the process.

To Summarise

Construction planning works best when you get the professionals in the correct order. Projects that start with the Builder create a solid foundation through practical expertise, accurate cost estimation, and feasible design solutions. This prevents expensive re-designs, keeps budgets on track, and streamlines the construction process from concept to completion.

Your building team selection is what makes or breaks your project. Competent builders bring design to the table. Their references must be thoroughly checked, and clear communication protocols protect project timelines and budgets. Projects succeed when builders and architects become one team. Their combined practical knowledge and creative vision deliver outstanding results that meet aesthetic and functional needs.

🔗 Conclusion

When considering a builder for your new home or undertaking significant renovations on the Gold Coast, remember that we value our architectural partners. However, clients are often left managing unexpected cost overruns from the beginning.

When you choose Risen as your strategic building and construction company, owner Craig Preston will collaborate with you on architectural or design plans, including modifications to the original designs. This approach ensures a cohesive construction process for renovating existing buildings and creating bespoke custom-built homes.

We will align our building strategy and plan with your building construction goals to maximise your property potential, giving you greater control over your investment. Enquire to discover more about this inspiring and potentially life-changing investment choice.

Are you looking to plan a Custom new home build or embark on significant home renovations on the Gold Coast, or are you curious about the permits the council requires? Please click to review Coast Council building applications.

# All photos and illustration artwork(s) are trademarked and intellectual property of Risen Development.

* Disclaimer: – * All costs displayed are for reference purposes only. It would be best to get a firm quotation on any size project.