How we calculate fees
While we like to be transparent with all our clients, it’s very hard to give a guide to the likely fees we would charge. Why? Because there are so many factors that contribute to the amount of work that will be needed. However, this article is designed to give you some idea of what might be involved.
Services Required
The first consideration is the services you will require. SEED is a “full service” practice, where we guide a project from concept to the end of construction and beyond. We believe that this represents the best way of ensuring our client’s interests are looked after and to ensure a high-quality outcome. However, we also acknowledge that we need to be flexible in what services we offer so we are happy to discuss your particular needs.
Project Complexity
A big contributor to how much our fees will be is the complexity of the project. This can arise from a number of factors. Considering the house itself, we need to account for overall size, how many floors, the number and type of rooms and even the amount of cabinetry needed. Then there is the site itself and how complex site conditions are, be it flat or sloping, dry or prone to flooding plus much more. And finally, there are the planning constraints set by regulation, including whether you are in a heritage area or an area with special significance to First Nations people. Besides the regulatory controls, we need to consider the route that will best achieve the goals (see here). The cost of developing a project under Complying Development Certificate is different from negotiating significant deviations from the regulations with a Development Application.
Whatever the situation, once we are in a position to do so, we provide each client with a tailored project proposal that suits their projects and needs.
Fixed Fee Engagements
We can. however, be precise about our fees for certain stages of the project.
- Meet and Greet – We believe that there is no better way of ensuring that our clients and us are a good fit than to meet, face to face at our office. We can answer any questions you have and can learn about your proposed project. There is no cost for this and all we ask is that you first complete our enquiry form, so that we undertake a little preparation in order for all to gain the most benefit from our meeting. click here to organise a “meet and greet” consultation
- Project Workshop – While we are happy to prepare a proposal tailored to your needs after a meet and greet, clients often like to take an intermediate step, our Project Workshop. We prepare for the workshop by researching the planning rules that apply to your site and conducting a site visit with you. During the workshop we take a deep dive into your aspirations for your home, how you live and what the future might have in store. We give you honest feedback about the opportunities and limitations of the site and discuss realistic budgets. After the workshop, we prepare a report which includes our understanding of your brief and budget, the services we believe you will need, how we will work with you, timelines and fee options. We offer all this for $865.
