Building a custom home is a dream for many, but high-end home construction costs can be high, and the reasons why are often misunderstood. Understanding the factors that drive construction costs for an architecturally designed home is crucial for effective budgeting and ensuring a smooth construction process.

To avoid unnecessary stress and ensure greater accuracy when planning your project, it’s crucial to understand how your Architecture timeline works, and how third parties like local councils, private certifiers, and specialist consultants (each with their own book of clients and timelines) can have an impact on timing for your project.

To help, we have unpacked the Architecture Planning Process to shed light on the factors that influence this often underestimated timeline.

In the world of home renovation and building, the price per square meter has long been a go-to metric for homeowners and builders alike.

However, it has become increasingly evident that relying solely on this metric is an oversimplification of the complex factors that influence construction costs.

Here, we delve into the history behind why price per square meter estimating is so popular, and why it may not be the most relevant guide for your home renovation or new home build.

To price a build there are two terms used to define two separate pricing services:

1) Building Estimate, and

2) Building Quote

These two terms often cause confusion amongst homeowners and can make it difficult to compare apples with apples when choosing your builder.

Here, we delve into their differences and outline how to choose which option is right for you based on what stage you’re at with your project.

The National Construction Code (NCC) is an important regulatory framework that governs the design, construction, and performance of buildings throughout Australia. Here, we take look at these regulatory frameworks and delve into recent changes you need to be aware of for your home renovation or new home build.

We delve into the key differences between Interior Architects and Interior Designers, shedding light on the roles they play in shaping the spaces we live in, to help you choose the right professional for your home renovation project.

Explore the advantages of working with a Master Builder and the crucial role a Master Builder’s Contract plays when it comes to your home renovation or new home build’s success.

There are many factors to consider when undertaking a major home renovation or rebuild – and finding a reliable and trustworthy builder should be at the top of your list. But how do you know if a fixed price contract or cost plus contract is right for you? Read on to find out.

When it comes to a major renovation or new build, what are the pros and cons of engaging an integrated design and build company that manages your entire project, versus hiring separate designers and builders and managing the project yourself?

MILEHAM rounded out 2022 winning a Master Builders Association Excellence in Housing Award for our Grand Apartment Living project. Our Principal Architect sat down to answer a few questions on how this project came about, and the work involved to achieve this great result for both MILEHAM and the client.

When it comes to building a new home, the volume of information available and decisions you need to make can be overwhelming. Do you go with a custom home builder? Or a project home builder? How do you know which option is right for you? Read on to find out about the pros and cons of each to help you decide which path is best for you.

The relationship between time, cost and quality is often referred to as “The Golden Triangle”. When undertaking a major home renovation or rebuild, a successful project will be one that delivers the quality you want, within your budget, meeting an agreed timeframe. Learn more about how to achieve the right balance.

Your plans have been approved, the building quote signed off, and it’s time for construction to begin. But what happens at each stage? And how long does each stage take?

We’ve outlined each stage for a typical major renovation, knockdown rebuild, or new home build, and how long these stages generally take.

Short of a knock-down rebuild, increasing the size of your home can be done in two ways:

1. A ground floor extension, and/or

2. A second story addition.

So how do you work out what is the best path of action for your home? We’ve mapped the key decisions you need to make.

When it comes to designing your ideal home, there are various ways to achieve a great result. But what’s the tipping point in deciding whether to renovate or rebuild? We’ve outlined a decision path to help you work this out.

When embarking on a home renovation, the two main factors you need to weigh up are:

1. The scale of your project against,

2. The quality of fixtures, materials, and finishes you want to use.

If you’re on a set budget, you need to carefully consider your priorities. So what can you get at various budget points and how do you weigh up what’s best for your project?

When you’re looking to build a new home or undertake a major renovation, you’re generally presented with two options for getting your plans approved:

1. Development Application (DA) or,

2. Complying Development Certificate (CDC).

While each option presents its own pros and cons, there are two main differences between these options.

There are many factors that come into play when setting a home renovation budget. To help you better understand what a project budget might look like and how costs tend to be allocated, we have outlined a typical project for you to use as a guide.

When it comes to undertaking a major home renovation or rebuild, it’s crucial to pick the right team who share your vision and can bring your dream home to life. The first place to start is finding a qualified design professional who can help you understand the possibilities of your site, council restrictions, and design a space that best suits your lifestyle and budget. We delve into what you do and don’t receive with an architect and draftsman, to help you decide which professional right for you.