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/ what you need to know
We realise and understand the huge amount of questions you have and through 2 decades in the industry we have also seen the many mistakes made and the traps along the way.
AVOID THE 'DESIGN TREADMILL
Most people when starting an extension for their home contact an architect. While this seems a logical starting point, it can often be a poor choice. Architects will often jump straight to an agreement that includes detailed working drawings. These can regularly cost well over $12,000-$14,000.
Consider this common scenario; You give the architect your brief and budget. You work closely with them on your design and detailed refinements, and finally settle on a design, often weeks down the track.
The architect will then arrange engineers to complete structural plans, costing you another $5,000-$7,000. You finally then send the plans to builders to quote and weeks later you receive a quote, maybe 2, only to see that you are tens of thousands over your firm budget. Naturally, you go back to the architect to fix, only for them to ask for yet more money. More often than not, the many unwanted compromises and changes to the design are still not enough to bring you back to your budget.
By this stage you could have spent well over $20,000 for what often becomes nothing more than very expensive paper. This can be heartbreaking. At Haven advocates we utilise our buying power to negotiate fixed price concept design agreements with a range of architects and drafters. We are able to guide you through this design stage to ensure your budget expectations are in line with what is being designed.
We then have the designs independantly costed and if they are over budget, we are able to revisit the concept designs and bring them back in line with your budget.
All of this before you invest in expensive technical drawings and plans.This service alone could save you many thousands of dollars.
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We've got this
You can relax in the knowledge that while you may only do this once or twice in your lifetime, we've done it 100's of times.Our aim is to provide you with a comprehensive, 1 on 1 service that not only takes the stress and workload out of your extension, but can also save you a lot of money at the same time.
Save Money
Firstly, by obtaining an independent and full cost breakdown of your project, using the best available software prior to contacting prospective builders, we are in the best position to negotiate the best and fairest price possible for your project. This results in genuine cost savings and because we take no commissions or fees from builders, the savings are passed on to you.
Save Time
Deal with 1 person, not 10.It is easy to underestimate how difficult it can be to get quotes from quality builders. Quoting requires the builder to dedicate many hours of work and takes them away from what they do best. More often than not you are left to waste a huge amount of time chasing and chasing, only to find they are over budget & not available when you need them. Let Haven Advocates enable you to have quality builders fight for your business.
More Choice
There are many builders that offer the "Start to finish" option but often you are being locked into one builder and one architect, with limited options to shop around or compare quotes. Many of these builders are paying sales people 6-7% commission as well as huge monthly marketing budgets that in the end, you are paying for.
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Managing Director
/ faq
HOW CAN YOU SAVE US MONEY ON OUR BUILDING PROJECT?
Our process is all about saving you time and money. Building is expensive and a large part of that is caused by inefficiencies as well as a lack of transparency and fairness. From eliminating unnecessary margins, to ensuring efficient design, avoiding mistakes and double ups and leveraging our buying power when negotiating with builders and creating accountability throughout, we can guarantee you will save money, time and a lot of stress. We work for you!
Will you work with my local council?
Yes. We have worked with almost all councils and will manage your application from start to finish to ensure your voice is heard throughout and that the approval process goes as smoothly as possible.
Do you help with knowing if our budget is realistic?
We all only have a finite amount to spend. We get that, and too often we see homeowners given poor advice and unrealistic budget expectations resulting in wasted time and money on plans that will never meet your budget. During our initial free consultation, we will discuss your needs to ensure what you want and need, can be built for your budget.
What if we already have plans and anarchitect? Can you still help?
Yes. We will assess your current plans and put together a complete program and a detailed costing to ensure your dream home is built well and a price that is fair.
Do you just have a panel of builders you work with?
No. We will take your project to market and negotiate with a broad range of builders. We make the process easier and more efficient for builders too so they want our business and are eager to quote for our clients. We utilise our buying power, experience and detailed processes to ensure we can negotiate the best possible price for your build.
Are you involved throughout our project?
Yes, we work with you, architects, council, engineers, certifiers and builders from the initial planning phase right through to completion of the project. We are there every step of the way to ensure value for money, accountability and an overall successful project for you and your family.
Do you get paid commissions from architects and builders?
No. We will never accept payments or commissions from any service provider, supplier or builder involved in your project. This ensures that the savings created by leveraging our huge buying power are passed on to you.
How much does a home extension or a new build cost?
Costs for building can vary greatly.Throughout the entire process, we will compete detailed costings so you know where you stand the whole way. We don’t like surprises so will keep you updated prior to going to market to negotiate with a large range of builders.
