Services

At Christopher Haydn Consulting I provide a consultation service to fit every stage of the design and building process.

I like to think of it as a consultation safety net that prevents my clients from falling into costly common industry traps. Booking a consultation should give you a clearer understanding of how to progress, what to avoid and how to move forward with confidence in your build. You may need more than one consultation depending on the number of services you need assistance with. You might choose to have a number of consultations at the beginning of a build, or space them out over time as your build progresses. However you do it, a consultation with me is like an ace up your sleeve that puts you ahead of the game.

Pre-Purchase Design Inspection

Plan Check

Design Service

Save Money

Contract Check

Where Do I Begin?

Start here if you’re looking to build, extend or renovate.

Beginning a building project can be daunting. It’s a large investment of money, as well as months of your time and energy. There are numerous decisions you need to make along the way, from initial design and contracting builders, through to choosing materials that will fit your budget.

You might be purchasing your first house and land package, contracting a builder to design and build your dream home, or renovating or extending your home to fit the needs of your growing family. Whatever project you’re looking to undertake, be informed of the process ahead and book a consultation with me for peace of mind.

I can help by taking you through what to expect from the building process: from deciding which building or renovation project is right for you, through how to make sure your project fits your budget, and what to expect from your trades people. You’ll pick up heaps of tips and ideas from me along the way that should give you more confidence as you move into making the big decisions about your build.

Spending some time chatting with me can save you a lot of uncertainty and prevent costly mistakes that often come from inexperience and you can continue your project with confidence knowing that I’m on your side and only a phone call away.

Pre-Purchase Design Inspection

Helping buyers find the home that fits them best.

You’ve found your dream home. Or have you? Is that wall you’re planning to knock out a load-bearing wall? What about the extension you want to add – is it going to run too close to the neighbour’s fence or not be permitted due to the protected tree that’s growing right where you want your new kitchen sink?

A Pre-Purchase Design Inspection is a great little tool to use before you bid at auction or put down that deposit. When I walk into a house or look at a set of plans, I know where to check for design errors, which council regulations to generally be wary of, and what the indicative cost difference can be when comparing one home to another.

I’ll check on the little-known snags like easements, slope and gradient of the block, existing house design and construction, and the potential a house has for effectively extending and renovating. I can investigate constraints like planning permits, covenants and overlays that can impact the design and function of your new home.

A pre-purchase design inspection with me will help take the guesswork out of whether a property can become your dream home or a house of potential disappointment and dismay.

Plan Check

Getting the drawings right before they turn into bricks and mortar.

There’s nothing more exciting than rolling out a newly drawn set of plans over your dining table and dreaming about how these simple drawings will soon become the rooms where your family will live, entertain, rest and call home.

But if the plans aren’t quite right it can lead to mistakes that can’t be fixed once the house, extension or renovation has been constructed. A Plan Check can be a simple, inexpensive way to ensure your plans are the best fit for the people who are going to live in your new or renovated home.

Sometimes the suggestions I make may not seem significant at the time but can lead to big payoffs in everyday comfort. I’ll check simple things like whether your vanity benchtop is long enough to accommodate your cosmetics and other accessories; after all your bathroom is a hard-working zone that should meet your everyday needs, not just look pretty when no one is using it.

Can the doors to the kids’ rooms be better situated so they’re not easily woken by noise from the living room? This could mean more pleasant evenings for everyone. What about the laundry: the understated working hero of the house? I can make sure the laundry storage is planned with the correct dimensions so as to hide the clothes hamper, and your stick-vac which can reside in a purpose-built cupboard with a wall-mount bracket and a power-point for charging. These are small changes that can be designed into your plans that can make a big difference to your way of life.

Design Service

Getting the design right from the start.

I believe a great home design can be measured by how well it serves the people who live in it. Homes are for living and loving, a safe haven for creating family memories and great entertaining; your guests won’t want to leave!

That’s why before I draw a single line, I listen, watch, and make it a priority to understand you and your family. What are the features of a property that will serve you best? And what are the tiny details that will make you smile every day you spend in your home? These are the things that will matter to you when you’re in your home, and so these are the things that matter to me.

Through the designing process you get all my expertise with planning, budgeting, and developing the right design for your land, your budget and most of all your family. Call me today and tell me about the home you’re dreaming about.

Save Money

Making sure the books will balance all the way to the end of the build.

One of the biggest questions that keep people awake at night while their build is underway is “Will my money stretch far enough to complete my build?”

It’s difficult to know whether you’ve budgeted the right amount for each stage of the building process. Where can you save? And where do you need to allow extra?

I can audit your budget, identifying problems and suggesting solutions to minimise wasted expenditure. In many cases I’ll identify opportunities to upgrade fit-outs so you get the most beautiful bang for your buck.

And by the way, if you need to renovate your existing home to accommodate your growing family, but your architect’s quote has thrown a wet blanket over your plans, call me. I may be able to identify ways to lower building and materials costs so that your design can still fly.

The ‘Save Money’ service in conjunction with our budget check, will help ensure your money works in all the right areas.

Contract Check

Running my eyes over the works documents with a fine-tooth comb before you sign on the dotted line.

So you’re looking at your specifications and working drawings and hoping it covers everything you need it to – but how do you know for sure? Or you’ve already signed a contract with your builder and you’re excited to see your new home spring into existence. But what works exactly did your builder agree to do? And what works were left out?

How do you find out? And what do you do if you suspect you’re not getting what you paid for?

My Contract Check service is designed for people who want to be certain their specifications and working drawings are robust and thorough. It’s taking the time to see if the contract works for you and not just your builder. I’ll tell clients that there’s no such thing as a silly question during a specification and working drawing check. Think of me as a mate who’s been in the building industry for over thirty-five years and has all the knowledge that brings, sitting by your side and talking through all those works-related contract documents.

Contact

Services

At Christopher Haydn Consulting I provide a consultation service to fit every stage of the design and building process.

Pre-Purchase Design Inspection

Plan Check

Design Service

Save Money

Contract Check

Where Do I Begin?

Pre-Purchase Design Inspection

Plan Check

Design Service

Save Money

Contract Check