ARCADO studio guide · Sydney
How to compare residential design proposals
When two design fees differ, compare the drawings, stages and responsibilities behind each price. Use these questions when you speak with a design team.
Start with the deliverables
Ask for the drawings and schedules included at each stage. A concept plan, an approval drawing set and construction details serve different purposes. Put the two offers side by side and identify the information your builder will still need.
Check who coordinates the consultants
For each consultant, record who appoints them, who pays their fee and who incorporates their work. A proposal may include coordination while the specialist’s own design fee is separate.
Follow one change through the process
Ask what happens if you move an opening after engineering begins. Who updates the drawings, who checks the changes and what triggers an additional fee? The answer helps you compare the appointments against your own project.
Have a site, a sketch
or a set of plans?
Tell us where you are. In one conversation we can tell you which services you need, what the approval path looks like and what to do next.