FAQ’s

I’m keen to buy a New House Plan. Should I find a builder first, and then purchase my plan; or buy the plan first and then find a builder?

We recommend deciding on your plan first and then finding a builder, but it really comes down to personal preference.

If you’ve never built a house from scratch before, it can be a steep learning curve and there are a lot of potential problems that can arise, and these can add to the cost, stress, and construction time.

That’s why we prepared a 20-step guide that describes how to build one of our New House Plans, and you can find it here. 

We don’t have a builder yet – can you recommend one for us?

We work with several trusted builders who may be able to build your New House Plan. Feel free to contact:

Vinn Build (Tim Rose, vinnbuild@gmail.com)

Petit Homes (Geoff Petit, geoff@petithomeimprovement.com.au)

Ecovision Homes (Craig Bailey, craig@ecovisionhomes.com.au), and

Sovereign Builders (David Savietto, David@sovereignbuilding.com.au)

The New House Plans I’ve driven past look small from the outside: do they feel cramped inside?

One of the best things about our New House Plans is that the overall footprint of the homes is super efficient but they don’t feel small internally.

That’s because the designs are optimised for solar orientation, meaning they have large window and door openings to the north (and to some extent, the south), with fewer or no openings to the east and west, given these have the most intense solar heat gain during summer.

These large openings connect nearly every room to gardens and greenery, which results in spaces that are light-filled and interiors that feel more generous than their size, because they are connected to their outdoor surroundings.

Also, the plans are carefully zoned for different uses – meaning there is a deliberate separation between sleeping and social spaces – and the variation in volumes and voids helps to contribute to a sense of spaciousness inside.

Also, because the overall footprint is relatively modest – compared to many plans on the market – there is plenty of space left for gardens – and these can be used in multiple ways, such as entertaining, for children to play, and to grow food.

The houses look plain and uninviting from the outside. Can I personalise my plan to give my home more street appeal?

Yes you can. Whether your preferred style is beachy and coastal, traditional or contemporary, you can tailor your New House Plans to suit your wishes.

You might want to make minor adjustments to the elevation that will face the street (if that’s not north), or use decorative features such as materials, cladding and paint to personalise your home.

The homes are designed with “good bones” in mind – ie, the spatial arrangement and flow between rooms and zones – and this makes it easy to adjust the overall appearance by choosing your preferred materials, fixtures and fittings, colours and furnishings.

How do I find out if I’ll need council approval to build a New House Plan on my block?

This depends on several different factors – including any relevant R-Codes, local government overlays, neighbouring structures and context, and other considerations – and it varies from council to council, so we can’t provide a one-size-fits-all response here.

We offer two ways to help you obtain more clarity about your local requirements and the best New House Plan for your needs and site:

1. Book a free 30-minute online call to talk us about which of our five New House Plans is most suitable for your chosen site, budget, brief and lifestyle.

2. Purchase our preliminary Site Review Service  for $500, then complete our intake questionnaire with your intended address, and details about your family, your wishlist of needs and wants, and your ballpark budget. Once we have all your details, we’ll assess the local development controls, solar orientation, and identify any topography, access issues or other design constraints, and let you know which of our New House Plans you should purchase to get your project started quickly, while working within your stated budget.

How much will it cost to have MDC Architects prepare documents for us to apply for development consent?

The lump sum fees outlined below are for MDC Architects to coordinate Development Approval to local government authorities, and the subsequent Building Permit drawings. They do not include any additional costs, ie engineering or consultants fees and local authority lodgement fees, which may apply to your project.

Development Approval – $2,500 +GST

Building Permit – $2,500 +GST

We plan to knockdown an existing house and rebuild on the site. What do we need to know about, and be aware of before we go ahead?

There are many different variables and factors to consider, because every site is unique, as are our clients, so it’s not possible to cover off on every possible scenario here.

Having said that, key elements include:

• The size of your land and relevant R Codes and other overlays
• Access to water/sewerage mains, and plumbing, gas and electricity connections;
• Orientation and the northern aspect, in relation to the street and backyard;
• Crossovers – aka driveways – and how they might limit the way your new house is placed on the site;
• Setbacks and height restrictions in relation to boundaries and neighbours;
• The location of any trees and other plants, or buildings and structures, that you wish to retain on the site;

If you’re ready to take your next step, feel free to book a free call to discuss your site and needs with us, or purchase a Site Review Service for more specific details (the links for both of these services can be found at the top of this article).

And if you think a friend, colleague or relative would be interested in our New House Plans, please share details and ask them to get in touch with us.