Everyone budgets for the build. The decisions that actually govern what a house costs, and what it is worth afterwards, are almost all taken before a contractor arrives on site. Written for The Gatekeepers Club by Lindsay Mattinson of Mattinson Associates.
The cost is settled before the contractor arrives
When people think about the cost of building a bespoke home, they naturally focus on construction. Yet, in my experience, the decisions that have the greatest influence on the final outcome are almost always made long before a contractor arrives on site.
The decisions that actually shape the number
Choosing the right plot. Understanding how the land should be approached. Orientating the house to capture natural light and views. Establishing the correct proportions. Determining where to invest in craftsmanship and where simplicity will achieve a better result. These are the strategic decisions that shape not only the cost of a project, but also its long term value.
Why changing your mind later is expensive
Once construction is underway, changing direction becomes increasingly expensive. A poorly positioned house cannot easily be moved. Ceiling heights, structural grids and circulation are difficult to correct without significant cost. Conversely, a well considered concept allows every subsequent decision to build upon a solid foundation.
Clear thinking rather than a larger budget
The finest homes rarely owe their success to extravagant budgets alone. They succeed because they are guided by clear thinking from the outset, where every decision is tested against the client's lifestyle, the character of the site and the long term aspirations for the property.
Where the value sits
For those investing in a home that may remain in the family for generations, the greatest value often comes from the decisions no one notices, because they were made before construction ever began.
At a glance
The TGC view
Our standing series with Lindsay Mattinson usually takes a finished house and works backwards through it. This is the other end of the same argument, and it is the end where we are most often useful: the stage before anything is drawn, when the expensive mistakes are still free to avoid. We introduce clients buying land or commissioning a house to the people who read the site and the building as one problem, and this piece is a fair account of what that conversation is actually about.
Want us to arrange it?
We hold the relationships, the rooms and the access. Tell us the dates and we handle the rest.
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