Don’t become a statistic.
The Australian building industry estimates that 70-80% of home designs never get built… Yep. You can spend months designing your home only to find out you can’t actually afford to build it.
We’ve heard this story too many times. People come to us having spent $30,000, $50,000 or more on plans for a home or renovation they love. Then the builder’s quote arrives, and their hearts sink, because it’s well beyond what they can afford.
They’ve invested their savings and months of their lives, only to find themselves trying to work out what can be salvaged, and how to find the energy and money to start again.
At Designful, 90% of our designs go on to be built.
- We’re not magicians, but we listen to your needs, take your budget seriously from the start and help you consider where compromises can make your project achievable.
- Our Home Consulting service gives you a place to begin that conversation.
- If you don’t want to waste months of your time and tens of thousands of dollars on a design that you may not even be able to afford, this is for you!
Put your money towards a home you can achieve
Before making any design decisions, it helps to step back and ask what you’re trying to achieve.
What isn’t working about your current home? Which changes would improve everyday life? How much are you comfortable spending? How much life are you willing to trade in exchange for paying for the build.
Your Home Consulting session helps you consider these questions with someone who understands the design and building process.
Together, we’ll explore how to prioritise your needs and make intentional choices about where your money goes. We’ll also identify what you need to investigate before making bigger commitments.
Good early advice can help you recognise an expensive wrong turn while you still have time to choose another path.
Leave knowing what to do next, and why.
Your session will focus on your burning questions.
We can help you:
- Make better-informed property decisions: we can talk through a home or block of land you’re considering, including the opportunities and questions worth exploring before you buy
- Understand what your budget needs to cover, including likely building costs and allowances for design, approvals and other project expenses
- Work out what’s worth doing: we’ll explore different options, such as renovating, extending or building new, or considering a pre-designed home, and we’ll consider which options would make the greatest difference to everyday life
- Bring your brief into line with your life and budget: we’ll consider how you want to live, what your values are, how much space you need and what you need to support comfort and wellbeing
- Get clear on the process and understand the likely steps ahead, who you may need on your team and what to investigate before committing further
Your home consultation session includes
Preparation before we meet
A short questionnaire helps us understand your project and where you’re feeling stuck. You can share existing floor plans, land details or other relevant information for Jane to review beforehand.
You’ll also receive our values-led briefing material to help you ponder what you want your home to support.
90 minutes with Jane online or on site
Time to talk through your ideas, ask questions and get frank, practical advice tailored to your circumstances.
Together, we’ll explore your options and identify the decisions that need attention first.
Written notes + an action plan
A follow-up summary captures the key advice and recommended next steps, so you can put everything you learnt into practice.
Our home planning resource collection
Further guidance on topics including values-led design, finding land, climate-conscious homes, enoughness and building more affordably.
Use what’s helpful as you need it.
Your investment that can save you tens of thousands of dollars:
$900 – Online session or on site, plus travel where applicable
Book your on home consultation
You’ll have advice that relates to your project, with a practical plan to help you spend your time and money more intentionally.
Meet Jane. A building designer who cares about your life + your budget
Jane is the director of Designful and the creator of Homeful, our collection of pre-designed homes.
Having worked on more than 500 homes, she understands how much a home project asks of people, financially and personally.
Her approach centres on enoughness: considering how much home you need to live well, and where your resources will make a meaningful difference.
She’ll listen to what you’re hoping for and be frank about what might need rethinking. That could mean questioning the need for more space, exploring a simpler approach or helping you recognise what needs investigating before you proceed.
She wants you to make decisions that support your life, including your financial wellbeing.
“We have been working with Designful Studios for the past few years to create our dream forever home.
They guided us through the whole process from initial house design, council approvals right through to build completion. Along the way we have felt informed and supported which was just what we needed as first time home builders.
Our home is more than we had ever expected, it fits perfectly into the bush surrounds and is modern yet feels warm and inviting. We’ll be forever grateful for your creation Designful, especially Rose.”
Rebecca C.
Is home consulting the right starting point for you?
Our home consulting session is for you if you’re:
- Dreaming of building or renovating but unsure what to do first.
- Trying to understand how your ideas relate to your budget.
- Wanting to avoid over spending and budget blow outs
- Considering a property purchase and wanting guidance on what to investigate.
- Already underway and needing help to reconsider your direction.
- Working with a builder or drafter, or planning to owner-build, and wanting experienced design advice.
We work with people across southern and eastern Australia, generally considering projects with budgets of $100,000 to $2million.
You can book a session as a standalone service, with no commitment to engage Designful afterwards.
What happens next?
After booking, you’ll complete your questionnaire and share any relevant information for Jane to review.
You’ll then meet online or on site for your 90-minute session, followed by written notes and an action plan.
When you are ready to commit to delving into a specific design and design-informed probable costing, the best next step is a Project Feasibility Study. This explores design, puts opportunities on paper and provides you with associated probable costing.
Your consultation session will help you understand if that’s the right next step for you.
Give next year’s home project a considered start.
We have 10 online Home Consulting sessions available in November and December for people wanting to get their plans moving for 2027.
Before you spend tens of thousands on getting a home designed that you might not even be able to afford, invest in a budget-focused consultation first.
$900, including preparation, 90 minutes with Jane, resources and a written action plan.
Still pondering?
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