Details Lie All in the Planning
UNDERSTANDING PRE-CONSTRUCTION
At the core of Second Generation Builders is pre construction collaborated planning. The team understands the impact of a quick plan for a build compared to one in full detail.
“Pre-construction is important because historically, plans for a new home consisted of one page, and the builds were relatively plain and simple … as regulations changed over the years and client expectations increased, it is not uncommon for plans to be 25 plus pages long, then add engineering footing and structural design and energy assessment,” O’Dwyer says.
Pre-construction consultation with the team begins with the simple step of getting to know their client. By doing so, the team fully understand how a client lives within their home.
“We ask questions like; do they thrive in natural light and large open areas, or do they need quiet areas to unwind and recharge? Is there a certain view on their property that they want to capture or a special piece of furniture that needs to fit it? Does the home need to accommodate working and studying or does it need to fit 20 relatives for a holiday?” O’Dwyer explains.
Knowing how a client lives in a home is different to knowing their home design wish list.
The Second Generation Builders’ team holds the responsibility to understand what lies beneath this list. The why behind, for example, the need of more space. Budgets can then be specifically and cleverly allocated, offering the best outcome.
Undertaking site research enables the team to identify any issues that may impact the delivery of the project and effectively plan to avoid them. For example, considering the location of a power supply or a septic upgrade. Without pre-site research, issues could be rudely discovered mid-build. Problems that would carry the weight of hindsight knowing they could have been avoided with planning. The time, money, and effort spent on collaborative pre-construction planning will determine the prospect of your project. So, it’s vital to not miss the start line before you even begin.
IS IT MAGIC? PREDICTING BUILDING SUCCESS
In this evolving world we live in, a crystal ball predicting the future would be nice. To simply sit down and ask whether the money we’ve saved for this new build or
renovation will pay off, and the vision turns to reality. Well, magic might not be real, but skillful, meticulous predictions are. This is where investing in the right building team plays its part.
“With over 20 years in building … education is key,” O’Dwyer insists. “Every issue we have faced in that time has been a learning opportunity and we happily share our knowledge with clients.”
“The team at Second Generation Builders has mastered the pre-construction phase, resulting in predictable successful builds. With new clients, O’Dwyer sometimes finds “they generally underestimate how much it is going to cost and how many decisions and details need to be documented” to reach a level of planning predictability. But this “time and effort spent by the whole team in pre construction is to ensure once construction starts there are no delays.”
In this way, the team you chose to lead you through the pre-construction phase, and eventual build, becomes your own crystal ball.
Reasons for undertaking a building project are normally based on imagining what could be. What if our kitchen was bigger and open-planned? What if our home had a sunroom to relax in? What if we built a holiday house in the country? At the beginning, the vision behind each project slowly transforms into a wish list, ready to present to the right building company. Second Generation Builders is aware of this, and O’Dwyer ensures that “throughout the process we continually revisit the wish list … as homes are often an extension of the personality of the people living in them.”
But the team also ensures that the build, with all of the needs and wants of the client, remains affordable for them. This is why “at the start of the process, we ask clients to priorities their wish list,” explains O’Dwyer, as “if the planned scope is over budget, we revisit the priority list.”
Every client is different, so understanding the why behind their priorities “enables the designer and builder to recommend the most cost-effective solution that suits their needs.” This initial collaboration between builders, designers, and clients forms a trusted connection.
O’Dwyer wants, above all, for clients to feel safe and secure throughout their building journey. “We work for the client, and they are the final decision makers,” O’Dwyer states.
Starting any building project can be clouded with fear of the unknown. However, pre-construction planning with an experienced team provides the clarity and predictability needed to navigate the process with confidence.
The cheapest part of any project is the planning phase. Once construction begins, the cost rises. While plans may feel like nothing more than just a few lines on paper, they form the foundation of a successful build, minimise surprises and create a streamlined, enjoyable experience.
By investing time upfront and connecting with a team like Second Generation Builders, you’ll be setting your project up to be a story of building success.