Pre-Design:
Speak to the house design team at Ausplan Design Group about your existing home or vacant block of land. We help home buyers and developers to understand what’s possible when it comes to additions and renovation, unit development or new build. This includes reviewing planning overlays and ensuring your project aligns with your lifestyle and budget. Access our design expertise to ensure you’re making sustainable choices for your lifestyle and your budget. During the Pre-Design phase we assess your site for any planning overlays including other important information about your property.

Concept Design:
We assess your site's limitations, location, and potential, developing layouts that balance form and function. We focus on the site orientation to create natural, passive solar design while keeping your budget and time constraints in mind.

Design Development:
Your building designer will develop detailed floor plans and elevations so you can begin to understand how your home will look. The building designer considers the regulation requirements of home builds in your area ensuring the neighbouring properties are not impacted by your new design. This is the stage we determine materials and finishes. We collaborate with consultants such as Energy Raters, Engineers and Builders to ensure we get the best design, sustainable and buildable outcome to your budget. We consider this stage to be where all the major decisions get made as we have the flexibility to make changes at this point.

Planning Permit Application:
If required, our team will arrange a pre-application meeting with the planning department, and the council will then advise if the proposed works meet their requirements. Your building designer will then prepare a planning drawing package for submission so a planning permit can be granted. It’s best practice if Ausplan Design group liaise with the relevant planner during the advertising period. If additional documentation or written reports are requested, we will provide recommendations to consultant specialists which may be required.

Working Drawings:
When the Design Development drawings and or endorsed planning drawings have been approved, your building designer will prepare the Working Drawings you need to get a building permit. At this stage we provide all the technical information required for a builder to build your dream home. The information required will be determined based on the complexity of the build and what the builder requires. Once these drawings have been completed and given that we have already engaged consultants at the Design Development phase we use these drawings to enable the consultants to complete their assessments of the project. As we have determined the preliminary outcomes in the Design Development phase with the consultants this is merely the technical completion documentation required for a building permit.

Building Permit:
As the owner and by the regulations you are required to select a Building Surveyor to obtain a building permit. Ausplan Design Group will liaise with the Building Surveyor and make sure our drawing package covers all the relevant building regulations. Ausplan Design Group, with the permission of the owner, can prepare and submit the relevant information ready for submission. Other information may be required, but not limited to, such as property information, legal point of discharge and easement information as part of the submission.

Building Quote:
Based off the fact that we have collaborated with a builder with the budget in mind in the Design Development phase, the builder with all the technical information completed can formalise a building quote. This should be a relatively short process as the builder has had input at an early stage to ensure we have met the budget.

Designing a home is a dream come true for many. It’s an opportunity to create a space that perfectly suits your lifestyle, preferences, and needs. However, embarking on such a significant project requires careful planning and consideration, especially when it comes to budgeting.

Defining Your Vision:
Creating a budget for your home allows you to define your vision clearly. It prompts you to think about your desired features, finishes, and amenities. By understanding your budgetary constraints, you can prioritise what’s most important to you and make informed decisions about where to allocate your resources.

Realistic Cost Estimate:
Planning a budget enables you to have a realistic estimation of the overall costs involved in designing your home. It involves considering factors such as land acquisition, building design, materials, labour, permits, and contingencies. With a comprehensive budget, you can avoid unexpected financial surprises and ensure that your project remains on track.

Financial Preparedness:
A well-planned budget allows you to assess your financial readiness for designing a home. It helps you determine how much you can afford. By understanding your financial capacity, you can make informed decisions about the size, design, and scope of your project, ensuring that it aligns with your long-term financial goals.

Setting Priorities:
Budgeting forces you to prioritise your needs and wants. You can allocate funds by ensuring that the essential aspects of your home are addressed first. This helps avoid overspending on non-essential elements and ensures that you create a home that meets your core requirements while still leaving room for potential upgrades or enhancements in the future.

Avoiding Cost Overspend:
One of the significant benefits of planning a budget is that it helps you manage costs effectively and avoid overspending. By having a clear financial plan, you can closely monitor expenses, make cost-conscious decisions, and identify potential areas of overspending before they become problematic.

Collaboration with Professionals:
When you have a well-defined budget, it becomes easier to collaborate with professionals, such as builders, energy raters, engineers, and interior designers. They can provide valuable insights and recommendations that align with your budgetary constraints. Together, you can explore creative solutions and find the right balance between design aspirations and financial realities.

Planning a budget is a critical step in designing a home. It lays the foundation for a successful and financially sound project. By defining your vision, estimating costs, preparing financially, setting priorities, avoiding cost overspend, and collaborating with professionals, you can design a home that reflects your unique style and respects your financial boundaries. So, before you embark on your new design home journey, take the time to plan your budget meticulously. It will be your roadmap to turning your dream home into a reality.

Our goal with our energy-efficient home design is to minimise waste, use efficient designs for long-term sustainability. We aim to design a home that you and your family can enjoy while contributing to positive climate change. Some of the services we offer to accomplish this goal include:

Design consultation:
We advise on products and systems that have a low or non-existent carbon footprint. We also optimise indoor environmental quality.

Drawings:
To ensure that our designs incorporate energy efficiency, we put together preliminary drawings, town planning drawings and working drawings for customers to look over.

Supporting technologies:
Our designs look at solar power, lighting placement to reduce energy costs, enhanced air conditioning and solar passive principles.

Hard landscape design:
Through ample garden space and drought-tolerant vegetation, we’ll ensure your landscape is up to standards.

Ongoing support and advice:
We’ll help you optimise operations and maintenance practices to use passive principles of upkeep.

Suburbs
Abbotsford, Aberfeldie, Albert Park, Alphington, Armadale, Ascot Vale, Balaclava, Balwyn, Balwyn North, Bellfield, Brunswick, Brunswick East, Brunswick West, Burnley, Camberwell, Canterbury, Carlton, Carlton North, Caulfield, Caulfield East, Caulfield North, Caulfield South, Clifton Hill, Coburg, Collingwood, Cremorne, Deepdene, Docklands, East Melbourne, Elsternwick, Elwood, Essendon, Essendon West, Fairfield, Fitzroy, Fitzroy North, Flemington, Footscray, Gardenvale, Glen Iris, Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, Ivanhoe, Ivanhoe East, Kensington, Kew, Kew East, Kingsville, Kooyong, Maidstone, Malvern, Malvern East, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Middle Park, Moonee Ponds, Newport, North Melbourne, Northcote, Parkville, Pascoe Vale South, Port Melbourne, Prahran, Preston, Princes Hill, Richmond, Ripponlea, Seddon, South Kingsville, South Melbourne, South Wharf South, Yarra, Southbank, Spotswood, St Kilda, St Kilda East, St Kilda West, Thornbury, Toorak, Tottenham, Travancore, West Footscray, West Melbourne, Williamstown, Williamstown North, Windsor, Yarraville

Airport West, Albanvale, Albion, Altona, Altona Meadows, Altona, North Ardeer, Ashburton, Ashwood, Attwood, Avondale Heights, Beaumaris, Bentleigh, Bentleigh East, Black Rock, Blackburn, Blackburn North, Blackburn South, Box Hill, Box Hill North, Box Hill South, Braybrook, Briar Hill, Brighton, Brighton East, Broadmeadows, Brooklyn, Bulleen, Bundoora, Burnside, Burwood, Burwood East, Cairnlea, Campbellfield, Carnegie, Chadstone, Cheltenham, Clarinda, Clayton, Clayton South, Coburg North, Coolaroo, Dallas, Deer Park, Derrimut, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Donvale, Eaglemont, Eltham, Epping, Essendon North, Fawkner, Forest Hill, Gladstone Park, Glen Huntly, Glen Waverley, Glenroy, Gowanbrae, Greensborough, Hadfield, Hampton, Hampton East, Heatherton, Heidelberg, Heidelberg Height,s Heidelberg West, Highett, Moorabbin Airport, Hughesdale, Huntingdale, Jacana, Kealba, Keilor, Keilor Downs, Keilor East, Keilor Lodge, Keilor Park, Kings Park, Kingsbury, Lalor, Laverton, Laverton North, Lower Plenty, Macleod, Mckinnon, Meadow Heights, Melbourne Airport, Mentone, Mill Park, Mitcham, Mont Albert, Mont Albert North, Montmorency, Moorabbin, Essendon Fields, Mount Waverley, Murrumbeena, Niddrie, Notting Hill, Nunawading, Oak Park, Oakleigh, Oakleigh East, Oakleigh South, Ormond, Pascoe Vale, Reservoir, Rosanna, Sandringham, Seabrook, Seaholme, Somerton, St Albans, Strathmore, Strathmore Heights, Sunshine, Sunshine North, Sunshine West, Surrey Hills, Templestowe, Templestowe Lower, Thomastown, Tullamarine, Vermont, Vermont South, Viewbank, Watsonia, Watsonia North, Westmeadows, Yallambie

Arthurs Creek, Arthurs Seat, Aspendale, Aspendale Gardens, Avonsleigh, Badger Creek, Balnarring, Balnarring Beach, Bangholme, Baxter, Bayles, Bayswater, Bayswater North, Beaconsfield, Beaconsfield Upper, Belgrave, Belgrave Heights, Belgrave South, Calder Park, Lang Lang, East Bend Of Islands, Berwick, Big Pats Creek, Bittern, Blairgowrie, Blind, Bight, Bonbeach, Boneo, Boronia, Botanic Ridge, Braeside, Brookfield, Bulla, Bunyip, Bunyip North, Burnside Heights, Officer South, Caldermeade, Cambarville, Cannons Creek, Cape Schanck, Cardinia, Caroline Springs, Carrum, Carrum Downs, Catani, Chelsea, Chelsea Heights, Chirnside Park, Christmas Hills, Chum Creek, Clematis, Clyde, Clyde North, Cockatoo, Rythdale, Coldstream, Cora Lynn, Cottles Bridge, Craigieburn, Cranbourne, Cranbourne East, Cranbourne North, Cranbourne South, Cranbourne West, Crib Point, Croydon, Croydon Hills, Croydon North, Croydon South, Dalmore, Dandenong, Dandenong North, Dandenong South, Delahey, Devon Meadows, Dewhurst, Diamond Creek, Diggers Rest, Dingley Village, Dixons Creek, Don Valley, Donnybrook, Doreen, Doveton, Dromana East, Warburton, Eden Park, Edithvale, Eltham North, Emerald, Endeavour Hills, Vervale, Eumemmerring, Exford, Eynesbury, Fernshaw, Ferntree Gully, Ferny Creek, Fingal, Flinders, Frankston, Frankston North, Frankston South, Garfield, Garfield North, Gembrook, Gilderoy, Gladysdale, Greenvale, Gruyere, Guys Hill, Hallam, Hampton Park, Harkaway, Hastings, Healesville, Heath Hill, Heathmont, Hillside, Hoddles Creek, Hoppers Crossing, Humevale, Hurstbridge, Iona Junction Village, Kalkallo, Kallista, Kalorama, Kangaroo Ground, Keilor North, Keysborough, Kilsyth Kilsyth South, Kinglake, West Knoxfield, Koo Wee Rup, Koo Wee Rup North, Kurunjang, Lang Lang, Ravenhall, Langwarrin, Langwarrin South, Launching Place, Lilydale, Lynbrook, Lyndhurst, Lysterfield, Lysterfield South, Macclesfield, Main Ridge, Mambourin, Maryknoll, Mccrae, Mcmahons Creek, Melton, Melton South, Melton West, Menzies Creek, Mernda, Merricks, Merricks Beach, Merricks North, Mickleham, Millgrove, Modella, Monbulk, Monomeith, Montrose, Moorooduc, Mooroolbark, Mordialloc, Morningto,n Mount Burnett, Mount Cottrell, Mount Dandenong, Mount Eliza, Mount Evelyn, Mount Martha, Mount Toolebewong, Mulgrave, Nangana, Nar Nar Goon, Nar Nar Goon Nort,h Narre Warren, Narre Warren East, Narre Warren North, Narre Warren South, Noble Park, Noble Park North, North Warrandyte, Nutfield, Oaklands Junction, Officer, Hmas, Cerberus, Olinda, Pakenham, Pakenham South, Pakenham Upper, Panton Hill, Park Orchards, Parkdale, Patterson Lakes, Pearcedale, Plenty, Plumpton, Point Cook, Point Leo, Portsea, Powelltown, Quandong, Red Hill, Red Hill South, Reefton, Research, Ringwood, Ringwood East, Ringwood North, Rockbank, Rosebud, Rosebud West, Rowville, Roxburgh Park, Rye, Cocoroc, Safety Beach, Sandhurst, Sassafras, Scoresby, Seaford, Selby, Seville, Seville East, Sherbrooke, Shoreham, Silvan, Skye, Smiths Gully, Somers, Somerville, Sorrento, South Morang, Springvale, Springvale South, St Andrews, St Andrews Beach, St Helena, Steels Creek, Strathewen, Sunbury, Sydenham, Tarneit, Beenak, Taylors Hill, Taylors Lakes, Tecoma, The Basin, The Patch Three Bridges, Tonimbuk, Toolern Vale, Tooradin, Tootgarook, Tremont, Truganina, Tuerong, Tyabb, Tynong, Tynong North, Upper Ferntree Gully, Upwey, Tarrawarra, Wandin East, Wandin North, Wantirna, Wantirna South, Warburton, Warneet, Warrandyte, Warrandyte South, Warranwood, Waterways, Watsons Creek, Wattle Glen, Werribee, Werribee South, Wesburn, Wheelers Hill, Whittlesea, Wildwood, Williams Landing, Wollert, Wonga Park, Woodstock, Woori, Yallock, Wyndham Vale, Yan Yean, Yannathan, Yarra Glen, Yarra Junction, Yarrambat, Yellingbo, Yering, Yuroke

Municipalities
Alpine Shire Council, Ararat Rural City Council , Ballarat City Council, Banyule City Council, Bass Coast Shire Council, Baw Baw Shire Council, Bayside City Council, Benalla Rural City Council, Boroondara City Council, Borough of Queenscliffe Council, Brimbank City Council, Buloke Shire Council, Greater Bendigo City Council, Colac Otway Shire Council, Corangamite Shire Council, Darebin City Council, Greater Dandenong City Council, East Gippsland Shire Council, Frankston City Council, Gannawarra Shire Council, , Glenelg Shire Council, Golden Plains Shire Council, Greater Bendigo City Council, Greater Dandenong City Council, Greater Geelong City Council, Greater Shepparton City Council, Hepburn Shire Council, Hindmarsh Shire Council, Hobsons Bay City Council, Horsham Rural City Council, Hume City Council, Indigo Shire Council, Kingston City Council, Knox City Council, Latrobe City Council, Loddon Shire Council, , Manningham City Council, Mansfield Shire Council, Maribyrnong City Council, Maroondah City Council, Melbourne City Council, Melton City Council, Merri-bek City Council, Mildura Rural City Council, Mitchell Shire Council, Moira Shire Council, Monash City Council, Moonee Valley City Council, Moorabool Shire Council, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Mount Alexander Shire Council, Moyne Shire Council, Murrindindi Shire Council, Nillumbik Shire Council, Northern Grampians Shire Council, Port Phillip City Council, Pyrenees Shire Council, Borough of Queenscliffe Council, Greater Shepparton City Council, , Southern Grampians Shire Council, Stonnington City Council, Strathbogie Shire Council, Surf Coast Shire Council, Swan Hill Rural City Council, Towong Shire Council, , Warrnambool City Council, Wellington Shire Council, West Wimmera Shire Council, Whitehorse City Council, Whittlesea City Council, Wodonga City Council, Wyndham City Council, Yarra City Council, Yarra Ranges Shire Council. Yarriambiack Shire Council