How we work with You
Our Process Step by Step
Building a home doesn’t have to be a stressful or traumatic process. We make things as easy and straightforward as possible and aim to make the process from start to finish enjoyable.
01 Hello
The process starts with a conversation with us after you have checked out our website and the standard designs and filled out the enquiry form. We will get back to you to discuss your budget, your block and talk to you about your requirements for a Small Change home. We will also let you know if we build in your area (refer to ‘Our Partners’ for the areas where we have collaboration agreements with local builders to build Small Change homes). Call us or send an enquiry via our website to discuss your ideas and to evaluate if a Small Change home is right for you.
02 Let’s Meet
We can show you one of our homes in Geelong (by appointment) so you will have an idea of how our small homes feel and if our style works for you. At this meeting we will also give you a list of the information that we will need to get the ball rolling for a Small Change build – things like a soil report, survey, services information and planning controls which will impact what we can build for you and are necessary before anyone can put pen to paper. We can organise these reports for you or put you in touch with consultants we use regularly.
If you are planning to build in an area where we collaborate with a local builder, we can discuss how that works and arrange a meeting with them. At this meeting we can give you an idea of the planning and building regulations that apply in your area as well. We can discuss which Small Change concept design might suit your situation and consider any changes that may be needed to accommodate your particular requirements, or talk about a more customized solution if that is your brief. We understand that choosing a builder and a new home design is an important and often daunting step, so we’re not expecting you to decide anything quickly and we understand it may take a few phone calls and perhaps another meeting before you are ready to take the next step.
03 Concept and Budget
If a Small Change home is a good fit for you and you are keen to get moving with downsizing in style, the next step is for us to prepare concept plans and budget estimates. If you are planning to build in an area where we collaborate with a local builder, they will be an integral part of this process – so they can meet your budget and design requirements and build the small home of your dreams.
04 Project Designs
Once you have accepted the concept plan and budget estimate, we then move on to designing your Small Change home in detail. During this process you will also be asked to confirm your selections for finishes, fixtures and any other options / works we are including. If we are working in collaboration with another builder, they will liaise with you so that everyone is on the same page and we can design your perfect small home.
When documentation is complete and ready for building permit application (and planning permit application,if this is required) we will meet with you again to present you with a final fixed price cost and a building contract. During this meeting we will go through the contract with you so you will understand what you are signing.
05 Construction
After contract signing we get cracking with all necessary permits, ordering materials and programming works. We keep you updated on our construction program and will meet with you regularly to update you on progress and discuss any issues that arise during construction. We welcome your feedback during this process and aim to make this an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
06 Completion
When your Small Change home is complete and ready for handover we will meet with you on site for a final inspection to confirm that you are happy with your new home. Once you have signed off on your Small Change home and made the final payment , we are ready to hand over your keys to you.
07 Living
Once you or your family are enjoying the benefits of living small in your Small Change home we hope that you will stay in touch with us and tell us about your experience. You are the best ambassadors for small house living and we hope that you love it! We are also here to help if you have any queries or any maintenance issues arise. We strive for the highest quality work but sometimes things aren’t quite right and we need to know as soon as possible so we can fix it quickly for you.