When planning a major home renovation, extension, or addition, many homeowners think the best approach is to work with an architect first, then engage a builder once the plans are complete.
While this might seem like a logical sequence, it can lead to delays, unrealistic budgeting, and unnecessary compromises.
By bringing your builder into the design phase from the very beginning – or working with a ‘design and construct’ builder – you can avoid these issues. Best of all, there really is no downside to working this way.
Here are the key reasons why early collaboration with a builder at the design phase will improve the success of any major home renovation.
1. Realistic Budget Planning
Architects can often create beautiful concepts without a full appreciation of current construction costs, local site conditions, or material lead times.
A builder understands what it takes to turn those plans into reality, and how much it will actually cost to construct.
Getting real-world cost estimates during the design process helps prevent situations where plans must be scaled back later because to build them ‘as-is’ will exceed your budget.
2. One Set of Plans
If you employ an architect, their main objectives are to create plans that tick all your boxes in terms of what you want from your newly expanded home, and for the plans to be sufficient for obtaining development approval from your local council.
These are primarily considered to be design plans (as opposed to building plans) and as such contain the type of information and detail required by statutory authorities. It doesn’t necessarily follow that a builder can build from those plans.
There can be a significant delay and additional cost if design plans have to be redrawn as building plans.
Ensuring that your builder is working with the architect early on may prevent this from happening, but better still, working with a ‘design and construct’ builder means that you can be certain of working from one set of plans for the entire project.
3. Practicality and Constructability
Not all ideas that look great on paper are practical – or even possible – to build, especially on a challenging Sydney block.
A good builder brings construction knowledge that can help shape structurally sound designs, meet building codes, and are feasible given your site conditions.
They’ll also spot issues early that might otherwise result in costly variations or delays during construction.
An architect is less likely to understand the practical constraints and less experienced at ‘reading’ any underlying issues in an existing home that will need to be accounted for when renovating it.
4. Streamlined Approval Process
Builders familiar with your local council regulations and approval pathways – Complying Developments (CDC) and Development Applications (DA) – can offer input on how to simplify your plans and avoid red tape.
This can reduce the time and stress involved in securing approvals, and they are often better at knowing how to create plans that might avoid approval altogether by using a CDC.
This is especially important in some Sydney Local Government Areas, where controls can be complex.
‘Design and construct’ builders usually also offer management of approvals as part of their services, and therefore have detailed experience of what each council requires and what to avoid.
5. Better Coordination = Fewer Surprises
When your builder and designer are on the same team, you avoid miscommunications that arise from a fragmented process.
Your builder can advise on structural requirements, materials, services like plumbing and electrical, and help your designer make choices that integrate smoothly into the build.
This alignment reduces surprises, errors, and the need for, or risk of rework.
5. Smoother Construction Phase
When a builder is involved from the start, they’re already familiar with the design intent, potential site constraints, and your goals.
That continuity means fewer delays when construction starts, less need to “catch up,” and a team that’s already aligned on how to deliver the project.
A smoother, more predictable build is less likely to run into costly issues and delays.
6. Early Access to Cost Saving Ideas
A good builder can suggest alternative materials, construction methods, or design tweaks that save money without compromising the look or feel of your home.
These savings are easier to find early, before your plans are finalised and locked in.
That means you can get more ‘bang for your buck’ from your renovation budget, without any obvious difference to the finished project.
7. Greater Collaboration
Great results come from great teamwork. When your builder and designer collaborate from day one, they build a shared understanding of your vision, priorities, and lifestyle.
This synergy often leads to better outcomes, and a far more enjoyable, stress-free renovation project.
In Conclusion…
Designing first and building second might work in theory, but in the real world – especially with the complexity of constructing extensions and additions in Sydney – it pays to get your builder involved early.
A collaborative approach saves time, reduces stress, protects your budget, and delivers a better end result.
If you’re planning to renovate or extend your home, choosing a design and construct builder is a smart way to keep costs and project length in check, especially if, like Addbuild, they offer a ‘concept to completion’ service that includes looking after council approvals.
Looking To Renovate?
As one of Sydney’s longest-standing ‘design and construct’ builders with a 45-plus year history, Addbuild offers a range of options to help Sydney homeowners.
Whilst we can certainly work with existing plans, and welcome early collaboration with an architect, we also offer a ‘concept to completion’ service where we design your plans, get them approved by your local council, and construct your project.
We also understand how to make use of the Complying Development pathway if at all possible.
Addbuild has worked in almost every Sydney local council area, completing more than 2,000 homes, and we use that experience and know-how to create designs that can be approved and then built as quickly as possible.
If you are thinking about expanding your home with a major renovation, we’d love to hear from you and share our experience.
Call our office on (02) 8765 1555 or send us a message using our contact form if outside of office hours.
If you are still researching, have a look at our blog, consumer guide to home improvement and masterclass to get further ideas about every aspect of renovating your home.
Searching for inspiration? Have a look at our feature projects and ‘before and after’ photos.