Why Choose Smith & Sons?

It’s no secret that time is one of the most valuable assets you (or anyone!) has, and it is something you can never get back either! And naturally, most of us want to spend that time on enriching experiences that make our lives more enjoyable and will leave us memories that last a lifetime. So, when it comes to building, you really need to consider how to minimize the time you spend on the ins and outs of the construction process as much as possible.

When building, yes there will always be the necessary activities you will be required to carry out such as choosing designs, styles, colors, furniture, and signing documents, and communicating with the builder on certain points. Some of these activities are quite enjoyable and creative, while others, well, not so much! However, what we find is that time spent up front saves time in a compounding manner further on into the project. What we are saying is, prior preparation through the correct process in the planning stages of your custom home or renovation avoids wasting time down the track (which is usually significant amounts of time) on issues that were not handled correctly at the start.

To us, that is the beauty of our DPC methodology, which stands for Design – Plan – Construct and is a staple of the custom home or renovation process across the Smith & Sons network. The power of this three-step build process is that one whole step is devoted entirely to getting things right at the start of the renovation journey through detailed planning so that everything is ready for when construction starts. If all aspects of the custom home or renovation are set in concrete (pardon the pun) at the beginning of the process, everything can be ordered, mapped out, and scheduled so that the process can run quite smoothly. With everything already in place, the builder can get on with the job confidently, knowing that the plans and specifications are true and correct.

On the other hand, we have heard of instances where all the details were not finalized before the custom home or renovation began, and throughout various stages of the building project clients were pulled back in to make final decisions—this results in delays while new materials are ordered, and then, of course, delays on site because of the changes. Very soon the custom home or renovation is weeks behind and everyone is getting quite tense. Alternatively, because the client has not been through a thorough planning process, they decide to change the design or other elements of the custom home or renovation halfway through, and again delays occur because of changes—often significant structural changes—that can take weeks to rectify.

So the lesson here is find a general contractor who has a detailed and thorough process that ensures everything is organized at the beginning of your custom home or renovation in order to avoid wasting time halfway through the project.

And of course, being a one-stop-shop for your custom home or renovation, we save you time on all that running around to and from designers, architects, and builders, and prevent you needing to deal with trades and approvals which take up huge amounts of time that you could spend doing other things and getting on with life. As we say, there are some things you can’t avoid during the renovation process, but by using the right builder, you certainly can save a lot of time!

Naturally, no one wants to spend more money than they need to on anything, and a custom-home build or renovation is no exception—we completely understand this. However, one issue we see with people is they somehow want to keep their budget a secret for fear of the general contractor jacking his price to the sum of money they have, when in reality this is rarely the case. The opposite is usually true—in order to save money, you have to be upfront about it, be honest about it and really consider it when doing your custom home or renovation project planning.

How does this approach actually save you money? Number one, being honest about your budget and discussing with a good general contractor is the best way not to overspend on initial plans. We have seen this time and again when a client goes to see a designer or an architect before seeing a GC, and here’s the scenario: the client wants to renovate, so as the first point of call they go and see a designer/architect. (don’t get us wrong, these people are vital in the whole process, but in our view should not be the first port of call). The client tells the designer/architect all their hopes and dreams, and then they draw up plans that look simply amazing! The client absolutely loves it, pays quite handsomely for it, and is off on their merry way to find a builder.

When the client meets a general contractor, they quote up the clients’ plans that have been drawn up by the architect, and when the contractor tells the client the price to build those plans, the client falls off their chair. Had the client seen a professional custom home or renovation builder first, and had an honest budget conversation at the start of the process, he could have saved thousands by not getting extravagant plans drawn that are now useless! Once again we want to stress that both designers and architects are critical components of the custom build or renovation process, but they need to be introduced at the right time and given the right information (including budget!) so the designs and plans match the client’s budget.

The fact is, that for a relatively small stage 1 cost compared to the overall it’s a no brainer to get plans drawn to your budget and accurately priced from the outset (not just sketched out on the back of an envelope). You now have the confidence to move forward with your budget and spend clear, a proper feasibility file to take to your bank if needed, and the comfort of working alongside a one-stop custom-home and renovation specialist.

As we mentioned above, our DPC process takes care of all this and makes sure that the budget conversation happens at the very beginning so we can craft a unique custom home or renovation just for you that also fits into your budget. Plus, by ensuring everything is prepped and ready to go when construction starts, there are no delays that along with costing time (as above), which inevitably cost money as well.

If there’s one thing that people want to feel at the end of their custom home or renovation project, it’s a sense of ‘wow, we are so glad we did this’. It sounds like a cliche, but to see the smiles on people’s faces when they move back into their home or get to use their new space for the first time is simply an honor to behold, and we feel so privileged that we can be part of that process.

One of the big advantages of a building group such as Smith & Sons; is the sheer variety of expertise across the group, which is shared on a daily basis. Let’s face it, every custom home build or renovation is as unique as the person who owns the home, and so no two projects are the same. Each build holds its own unique challenges and complexities and achieving the stunning result the client is after is not always easy. For the standalone builder who hits a stumbling block in the way of technical difficulties or some part of the build he has never done before, there are not many places he can turn to for advice.

However, as part of a national network like Smith & Sons, our builders have the unique advantage that should that situation arise, the solution could only be a phone call away. With over 15,000 custom home and renovation builds completed over the last 12 years, the sheer diversity of projects we have worked on means that usually, someone across the group has encountered most issues builders can come across when carrying out a renovation or custom-home build and therefore can pass that knowledge on. This gives real confidence to our builders that they can safely tackle the most complicated of custom home or renovation projects.

The other advantage of using a builder such as Smith & Sons is that we are dedicated custom home and renovation builders. Our builders thrive on the challenges that a unique build or renovation brings. Every build provides a special challenge as our teams look to piece together the best solution to achieve a stunning result.

There’s no doubt that building a custom home or undergoing home renovations can be a stressful endeavor. A seemingly simple build entails project management, budgeting, timing trades, and juggling schedules. We’re here to take the stress out of your renovation or custom home build—from your initial design ideas, through the project management, right up to handing over your new home. By engaging your local, professional Smith & Sons builders who have extensive experience in home renovations and the creation of uniquely individual homes, you can significantly reduce your stress and the risk of unforeseen issues arising that could impact your lifestyle and your family.