Of course! Here is a brief guide to help you understand our language so you can feel empowered throughout the build process. What is a Brief? This is you “wish list” for inclusions (or exclusions) in your home design. What is a Consultant? This is a specialised who provides expert advice e.g structural engineer, surveyor etc. We can help you choose your team from our trusted list of professionals. What is a Contingency sum? This is a sum of money included in a building contract or kept aside for expected costs that may arise. It is highly recommended, and normally calculated on a percentage of the cost of works. What are Contract Documents? This refers to all of the documents which form the written building contract, including the agreement between you (the owner) and the builder, any special conditions, the drawings and specifications, and any other relevant documents. What is the Contract price? This is how much you will be paying the builder, including GST.

Every project comes with a unique set of opportunities and constraints, as well as a detailed client brief and budget. Problems typically occur when a building design proceeds to pursue a ‘wish list’ without a realistic assessment of the budget. Formery help our clients create and track the project budget by obtaining a ballpark figure up-front, and having this front of mind when designing your space. We then encourage an early cost estimate by an estimator, building or quantity surveyor to provide a more accurate figure for the works. From here, we can continue to develop the design, or go through a value management process to cut back on the overall cost.

Typical timeframes for documentation and architectural design in Melbourne vary, depending on the complexity of the works. For a house, a typical concept design usually takes around 4-6 weeks depending on the rounds of changes requested. Design development and Town Planning is next, with timeframes predetermined by the Local Council i.e 42 days from date of lodgement etc. Construction can take 9-12+ months depending on builder availability, weather conditions, material lead times, and complexity of the project.

We have a list of preferred consultants and builders who we partner with of various sizes and specialties who we trust to execute our designs. To select the Builder for any given project we run a competitive tender process with two or three contractors all pricing a comprehensive set of construction documents.

If engaged for the Contract Admin phase of works, we administer the contract between the Client and the Builder when construction begins. The ABIC contract (a fixed sum contract produced by the Australian Institute of Architects and Master Builders Association) nominates the Melbourne Architect to be the arbiter on any issues that arise. We act as the liaison between Client and Builder, conducting regular site meetings to resolve construction issues as they arise and provide expertise in assessing the Builder’s monthly progress claims.