FREQUENTLUY ASKED QUESTIONS

QLD ONLY - Full drafting and design

We are pleased to offer comprehensive design and drafting services for new builds, catering to both private clients and builders/developers in Queensland.

DESIGN PACKAGES FOR QUOTING

Ideal for clients in early stages, including site selection or feasibility.

DESIGN PACKAGES FOR CONSTRUCTION

Suitable where a concept design already exists.

Preliminary → Contract → Construction documentation stages

Structured to reduce builder RFIs, variations, and construction ambiguity

CONCEPT DESIGN ONLY

Our consultation and concept design services are available Australia-wide, allowing us to address your needs regardless of your location. At this time, our full services are limited to Queensland, as we are licensed to operate exclusively within this region. We look forward to collaborating with you to realise your vision.

What services do you offer?

What does it mean to engage a building designer?

Engaging a building designer means hiring a qualified professional to guide your project from initial ideas through to approved, build-ready plans. Building designers specialise in practical residential design and construction documentation, which allows us to deliver high-quality designs while keeping fees more affordable.

A building designer works closely with you to understand your lifestyle, budget, and site, then translates that vision into a functional, compliant home design. They manage the design process, prepare detailed drawings, and coordinate the required documentation to support planning and building approvals. By engaging a building designer, you receive a tailored design solution that responds to your needs, complies with regulations, and helps avoid costly changes during construction. The designer acts in your best interest throughout the design and approval stages, ensuring your project is well considered before building begins.

When you engage a building designer, they typically:

Listen to your brief, lifestyle needs, budget, and site constraints
Design a custom layout (not an off-the-shelf plan)
Ensure the design complies with planning controls, building codes, and regulations
Prepare concept designs, detailed drawings, and documentation
Coordinate with consultants (engineer, energy assessor, surveyor, etc.)
Assist in obtaining planning and/or building approval
Refine the design before construction to reduce costly changes later

What does it cost to have my plans drafted as a private client?

We offer competitive, transparent design and drafting fees that reflect a highly personalised, architecturally minded design process… without the associated architectural price point. Our approach focuses on thorough and detail driven documentation to minimise construction risk, reduce costly variations, and avoid common design and coordination issues during the build phase.

Fees are based on:

• Project size and complexity

• Site conditions

• Level of design development required

Half day design/working meetings are available in our office in Eagleby by appointment where we are able to collaborate in real time in front of the computer on the 3D design software. These meeting are high intensity and suited to those who struggle visualising 2D images. They are ideal in reducing the number of revisions and accomplishing your goal as fast as possible.

We offer two flexible fee structures, tailored to suit your project scope and level of involvement required. These are based on a reasonable and iterative design process at each stage. The agreed fee allows for standard design development and refinement within each stage.

• Fees assume a standard design process with reasonable revisions

• Changes to scope, size, or complexity may result in fee adjustments

• Meetings are included via Teams or within 30 minutes of Beenleigh (4207). Travel beyond this may incur additional charges

OPTION A – FIXED FEE

A lump sum fee based on the agreed project scope, site constraints, and dwelling size.

Best suited to projects with a clear design brief, defined requirements, and/or an existing floor plan to build from

OPTION B – HOURLY RATE + FIXED FEE

A flexible fee structure combining hourly rates during early design stages with a fixed fee for documentation. Recommended for projects where the scope is evolving, design direction is not fully defined, or site/design complexity is higher. Consultations and concept plans are charged at $200 per hour. Changes to drafting are charged at $150 per hour. Once you are happy with the design, a tailored per square meter price will be provided for the building approval and full construction set. The square meter price starts at $12 for a standard single storey house on a flat block with minimal complexity.

Do you design and document renovations and extensions?

At this stage, we do not have the scope to work on renovations and extensions. However, we do work on knock down - rebuilds.

Can I take the plans to any builder?

Yes. Our drawings are prepared so you can obtain quotes from multiple builders if you choose. This helps you compare pricing and select the right builder for your project.

During the quoting process, the plans remain the property of Drafted by V. Once a builder is selected, we provide them with the rights to the plans, including the DWG files, allowing them to move forward with documentation seamlessly. Alternatively, we can work directly with your chosen builder to complete the final construction documentation phase (QLD only).

All drawings and documentation remain the intellectual property of Drafted by V until full payment is received.

• Documentation is licensed for use on the nominated project only

• Drawings must not be reused, modified, or distributed without written consent

• CAD (DWG) files will only be issued upon full payment

• Watermarks may remain until relevant stage payments are completed

Do you design energy-efficient homes?

Yes. We incorporate design principles that improve energy efficiency, including:

Passive solar orientation
Cross ventilation
Natural lighting
Compliance with energy rating requirements

These strategies can reduce long-term energy costs while improving comfort.

Do you have examples of work so I know what to expect?

Yes - contact us and we can send you a example of a boutique 2 storey project.

What software do you use?

We use Autodesk Revit - a industry wide software. It is a premier Building Information Modeling (BIM) software that enables 3D modeling, simulation, and coordination of multidisciplinary projects from design through construction. It facilitates parametric modeling, real-time updates across views, and collaboration via cloud worksharing.