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Why You Should Hire a Builder Before You Start Designing Your Home

Building Success Together: The Power of Early Collaboration.


When you’re planning a home renovation or a custom build, it’s tempting to wait until everything is finalised before calling in a carpenter. Most people think, "I’ll get the design done first, then find someone to build it."


At Vance Carpentry, we’ve seen firsthand that the most successful projects (the ones that stay on budget and look exactly like the vision) start with a conversation long before the first nail is driven.


Here is why involving your builder or carpenter during the early design phase is the smartest move you can make for your custom project.


1. Accurate Budgeting from the Beginning

There is nothing more frustrating than falling in love with architectural plans only to find out they cost twice your budget to actually build! By collaborating early, we can provide accurate estimates while the project is still on paper. If a specific timber type or structural design is pushing you over your budget, we can suggest alternatives that achieve the same look for less.


2. Spotting Any Hurdles Early On 

Architects are masters of aesthetics, but a carpenter looks at a drawing through structural assembly. Early-stage collaboration allows us to identify potential pain points such as:

  • Complex rooflines that might require expensive steel.

  • Joinery details that may not be practical for the climate.

  • Load-bearing requirements that could affect your open-plan layout.

Solving these problems on a computer screen is free. Solving them once the walls are framed can be very expensive.


3. Seamless Integration of Custom Details

If you want that wow factor with custom details, those elements need to be baked into the bones of the house. When we work with the architect or designer early on, we ensure that the framing and layout accounts for these custom features, resulting in a finish that looks intentional, not added on.


4. Better Time Management

A project that is well-vetted before it starts moves a lot faster. Early collaboration allows us to:

  • Pre-order materials: With supply chains, certain materials can have long lead times.

  • Schedule trades: We can coordinate with our tradies so they know exactly what’s expected of them before they even step on-site.


Collaboration isn't just about avoiding mistakes, it's about maximizing the potential of your home. When the architect and the builder are on the same page, the result is always a higher-quality finish.


Ready to start your next project?


If you’re in the planning stages of a renovation or new build, Vance Carpentry would love to get involved. Let’s make sure your project is set up for success from the beginning.


 
 
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