HOW WE ROLL
(AND MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR YOU)
We don’t like to build alone. We like to build with you.
The build process is one that you will only do once or twice in a lifetime.
Our role is to guide you through the dirt and mud with openness and honesty, so you can have an easy-to-grasp handle on what’s happening right now and what’s happening next. We take the weight off your shoulders and steer you away from failure and risk of wasting of money, time, and resources.
How Will We Work Together?
Every project is customised to what you need. However, to ensure great results, we’ve developed a process so you know what to expect every step of the way.
1. Get in touch with us
You can do this via our contact page. Once we've received your details, we can either chat about your project, time-frames and budgets:
via email - this creates an email trail, perfect for referring back to later down the track
via a FREE 30-minute discovery call - great for those that don't mind the sound of our kelpie loudly snoring or barking at kangaroos in the background. Make sure to include your best contact number so we can reach you
2. Builders Consultation
We help you grapple with the big questions. What are you hoping to achieve and where are you trying to get to? And is a building project even the right way of getting there?
First, we sit down for coffee, chai or kombucha and chat. We listen to you and encourage your imagination to run wild. We ask you the tough questions about your project and help you find the right answers, We discuss how you live, how you want to interact with the spaces and how you want them to connect.
Next, we discuss budget, time-frames and answer any questions you may have.
You’ll walk away from our session with clarity and confidence that you’re moving in the right direction.
3. Digging Deep – Design and Detail
Taking the napkin scribbles we gathered during the Builders Consultation, we roll our sleeves up and begin to explore the ideas that will turn your wish list into a living, breathing project. We may bring in an architect to sketch several design options like floor plans and space diagrams. Architects are able to think in terms of actual spaces with real dimensions along with basic elevations in case there are any slopes to conquer. This process also ensures the design aligns with your budget.
By the end, you will have a design to review, the opportunity to provide feedback and feel confident that any problems have been flushed out before they arise during the build.
4. Locking it in – Building Proposal
We’ll send you an extensive building proposal outlining timelines, costs, and a clear game plan to make your project a success along with a few T&Cs.
In addition, the finer design details of your project are chosen like materials and finishes. Actual drawings will also be used to secure permits, determine final pricing and become the final blueprint to build your project.
This comprehensive building proposal will help you make informed decisions going forward. It will also allow you the opportunity at this time to further review the design concept and adjust project inclusions if necessary.
5. Construction Agreement - Deposits & Dotted Lines
We’re going to be building something special together. Working together means you join our community, enabling you to tap in our local expertise, hand-picked trades and other experts.
We’ll send you a Construction Agreement which is a contract of our services and an outline of both our responsibilities and obligations. We’ll make time over another coffee to go through and sign the Construction Agreement, run through all the details of your project and answer any questions you may have that haven’t been covered.
Once you sign the dotted lines and pay a 5% deposit, we’ll get to work.
6. Council Submission
Upon receiving the deposit, Steele Design & Build will prepare your building application and submit it to your local council for approval. This application includes detailed construction plans, any architectural drawings, engineering reports and any other necessary documentation.
You’ll be kept in the loop and regularly updated with the progress of your application during this stage.
7. Pre-Construction
Once council approval has been received, we move into pre-construction phase or the moment you’ve been waiting for! We’ll meet with you on site and introduce you to the Steele Design & Build team who will be making sure the walls go up.
This will be the first of several meetings where you will see the designs being transformed into reality, clarification of construction that may require additional detail and ensuring everything is completed with the highest standard and care.
8. Getting it Built – Schedule of works
We’ve laid the groundwork and can finally break ground. Construction begins and we work with our trusted tradies to ensure your project is executed in the most efficient and smartest possible manner.
We guide you through every step of the way so you can enjoy a stress-free build from the time for the first slab is poured until the last fixture is fitted.
Our project manager is crossing T’s and dotting I’s to make sure all the contract conditions are met so we can move you in feeling happy and satisfied.
9. Handover - When we move out and you move in!
Time to see how your dreams have finally become a reality. You’re in. We’ll walk you through your home and hand over the keys. Even though we carry out quality assurance checklists throughout the build, it’s not unusual for fine-tuning to be done and loose ends to be tied during this stage. Let us know what we’ve missed and we’ll have it rectified.
We’re a tight-knit team and once you’ve built with Steele Design & Build, you become part of our community.
We’ll follow up with you in future and see how everything is going. We’d love to see how your building is performing because doing that helps us understand the impact of our work, keeps up learning and means we can check your home is keeping you warm and comfortable.
FAQ
s
+ Why do I need a professional builder?
Your home is one of the biggest investments you will ever make. It’s important to get it right and know you’re in safe hands. Of course, you could watch The Block and draw up some simple plans with the guys at your local Bunnings and set to work.
However, if you want to avoid financial stress and ensure your home fulfils everything you could wish for, then you’ll want a professional builder.
Builders are experienced professionals with insight to overcome any snags and hiccups without disruption. Your chosen builder should also be able to clearly communicate what’s currently going on with the build as well as what’s coming up next. If they can’t communicate from the start, it’s probably a hint you aren’t a good fit.
When you hire a builder, you hire their professional services. This Code of Ethics ensure your builder remains guided by official warranties and guarantees. Make sure your builder is registered and affiliated with an industry association that reflects high quality standards. We are registered with HIA and MBAV.
+ What type of projects do you take on?
For us, just like you, it’s mostly about being a good fit. We specialise in new home constructions that are environmentally sustainable. We can also help you renovate or extend your home. We can help you realise your home’s potential and what can and can’t be achieved, and what it may cost to realise it.
Browse through our Projects.
+ At what stage in the home building process do I bring on Steele Design & Build?
We can save you time and money by helping you make the right decisions early on. This could include advising on land selection and assisting with the council to get the required approvals and permits. During Design phase, we can work alongside your architect (or ours), engineers and interior designers.
Get in Touch here if you have something in mind.
+ Do I need a site?
Yes, eventually you will. We'd love to chat to you before, but to get your project rolling, we need a site. We believe a well built home is responsive to the site and connected to the surrounding environment.
We study the site, whether slopes help with a view or hinder foundations and need to be cleared, and how the sun moves. All of these factors help create a structure designed to maximise its potential.
+ How much will my newly built home cost?
We can’t tell you exactly how much we charge without first finding out about your project. If we could, we’d be trying to fit you inside a box which isn’t how we do things. Your home is unique in size, specifications and complexity and the cost is a reflection of that.
What we can say for certain is that good design and streamlined project management is worth it. We save you time, money and stress, which gets you moving into your new home to pop that bottle of champagne sooner.
We’re also happy to show you examples of our past projects and give you an idea of figures involved. What’s important is that you are honest with us about your budget as it is for us to be upfront with you about costs. If we are both on the same page, we can continue to dream big and aim high.
+What should I include in the construction budget?
We work hard to provide you a build that fits within your budget. Factors and people to consider in your budget include planning application fees, construction costs, building control fees, an architect, a structural engineer and maybe even surveyors. Basically, anything that goes in or on the house and the labour required to put it there. This all depends on your site, location, design and level of specification.
We only take on a few projects a year so we can keep our ear close to the ground and both eyes on the ball.
+ How long does it take to build a house?
Great question which is (almost) impossible to answer. For a well-appointed quality home, the average home in Australia takes from 4 months to 12 months.
Variables can affect the timeline such as:
- size your home
- complexity of the design
- custom features and materials selected
- characteristics of the land
Delays may also occur if the land hasn’t yet been purchased, or design hasn’t been locked in, planning permits haven’t been approved or your preferred builder isn’t available for a few months.
We don’t cut corners and are invested in crafting your home to the highest quality possible. You will need to allow time for the project to run its right and proper course. We’ll provide you with a Schedule of Works at the beginning of your build which you can follow along with. As professional builders, our role is to anticipate any snags that may lead to delays and keep a close eye on potential hold ups.
We’re building your beautiful home together and will need you as much as you need us. As a collaborative process, we’ll be asking you questions, running things by you and coming to the right decisions together. We know that takes time, but guarantee it is time worth spending.
Here are some Projects we have loved working on.
+ Do you use the same trades for all your projects?
Absolutely. We believe in building strong and lasting relationships. Builders who aren’t using regular trades lose control over quality and efficiency. Just as it is important for you to find a builder you can rely on; we only work with local professional subcontractors whose values align with ours.
+ How is quality managed?
We are just as picky with detail as you are with coffee. We have a strict quality control procedure to make sure all the t’s are crossed and I’s are dotted. Checks are carried throughout construction and at end of trade completion and each construction stage.
Nina and Anthony love a “hands-on” approach, constantly getting their boots muddy on-site overseeing all trades. This means we can identify any loose bolts early and have them fixed quickly.
During site visits, we encourage you to be diligent in pointing out any areas of concern.
+ Will I be kept up-to-date during the build process?
Definitely. Communication is key. We like to run details past you, make sure we’re both on the same page and ask questions (and you can ask us too). We have regular site meetings to discuss progress, milestones, works coming up and selections, if needed. We want you to be part of the process.
We love clients who are open-minded, curious and collaborative.
+ Where do you work?
We are fortunate to be nestled mid-way between Woodend and Daylesford, approximately one hour away from Melbourne on the edge of the Wombat State Forest in Trentham, Victoria. We love to work close to our patch of grass and getting to know our neighbours.
If you're in our neck of the woods, Get in Touch.
We also like to keep our horizons wide and have projects in Melbourne, from the stunning seaside of Williamstown to tight-fitting blocks in the inner-city suburbs of Richmond.
Key suburbs we like to work in:
Country Victoria: Trentham, Newbury, Blackwood, Daylesford, Woodend, Castlemaine, Kyneton,
Melbourne: Abbotsford, Richmond, Kew, Hawthorn, Malvern, Toorak
If it’s the right project and you’re the right client, we’ll work almost anywhere.