When it comes to building a home there are plenty of holes to jump into, but tread with caution - it's not always easy to get through to the finished project. This is part of what Stephen Royal tells us in today's episode of Property Secrets.

Stephen, an accomplished designer, architect & entrepreneur has always had a knack for design. His high achievements in secondary school led to him to focus on studying architecture. Following his education his first job as an architect included designing buildings for McDonald's to which he recalls "Rather than flipping burgers, like most people my age, I was flipping plans."

On today's show, he tells us what comprises building contracts, the different types of clients he encounters, and a few tips to keep in mind if you are building an investment property or for profit.

"Don't jump into the idea of building something without doing due diligence in every regard as far as cost goes." – Stephen Royal

 

In This Episode of Property Secrets:

• You'll learn about the subtle yet significant difference between a building designer and an architect.
• It's important to know your budget before designing your initial plans.
• It's better to engage your own designer before meeting with a builder so that you maintain copyright of your plans and have more control of the building contract. 
• Always customise your plan to suit your allotment - many people get into the trap of deciding on a builders' generic plan before they have decided on a block of land and often this leads to cost blow outs and the land not being utilised efficiently

 

Stephen's Insider Property Secrets:

1. It's easier to have one point of contact throughout the building process. Talking to multiple departments can lead to miscommunication.
2. Get the design right in the beginning. The plan that you create in the first five or six hours will have a tremendous impact on what happens a year after that.

 

Reach Out to Stephen Royal:

• Royal Green House Official Website