Excepting initial meetings to establish our respective bona fides, everything done online. As a professional, I'm registered with Local Councils to lodge DA/CC applications online which is a big improvement and time saver in the process of seeking approval. The primary aim is to give clients good advice at an affordable price and to get approval with a minimum of fuss.
To be efficient I normally wheel and deal with surveyors, engineers and certifiers (councils or private) as required online. If structural work is required, then I would obtain quotes from engineers to pass on to my client. I supply the architectural drawings electronically to the engineer chosen.
The design and approval stage is the most important phase of the process as you will have to live with the end result for a long time! Advice: el cheapo minimalist drafting jobs may not be the best choice for the long haul, but that is your choice. Architects may charge anywhere between 8% and 20% of the deemed value of the proposed construction - higher for small jobs, lower for big jobs.
My service involves plenty of creative ideas and good advice where required. I do much the same job as an architect, minus unnecessary bells and whistles and at about 1/10 to 1/5th of the price of an architect. Only the essential documentation cultivated; e.g. Bush Fire Reports (RFS), Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), BASIX and Shadow Diagrams if required. Consider that my costs would be only a small percentage of the total job cost, especially when compared with those of an architect.
Plenty of good references available. Feel free to ask for job samples to have a look at. Email or phone any time & I'll get back ASAP.
Best wishes
Jim Bailey
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