How was your year? We continued to build beautifully across the region and got used to the new normal that is occurring in the construction industry. Shortages, prices, delays at the bank, we've lived it all with our esteemed clients and can share some insights with you here.

PROJECT START DATES:

A busy industry fuelled by strong growth in the property market as well as the effects of COVID policies on supply and finance, we are finding that while it used to take 3 months to plan and get a build started, that timeline has now doubled:

• It takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks to cost plan, that is for us to return a price to you.

• Reviews may take up to 4 weeks for your architect or designer to re-draw.

• Our price review then takes another 2 to 3 weeks.

• Contract negotiating and bank financing is notoriously slow at the moment so please allow 6 weeks.

• We require 4 to 5 weeks from a contract signed for the build to establish site.

You can see how it can take up to almost 6 months to complete the process.

What you can do to speed it up:

• If self-funded consider a construction management arrangement. Without all the hassle back and forth of securing fixed prices in rapidly changing markets we are able to start sooner. Contact us to discuss today.

• Ensure your architect or designer is transparent about their deliverable dates and that they are open about the expected costs and budgets within the build and that you share these with us. You can include us in your correspondence.

PRICES HAVE GONE UP, BUT IT'S NOT ALL BAD:

The industry figures are in and we can confirm from our own projects, building prices have increased 20-25% since 2020.

There are a myriad of reasons for this. Yet we are builders, not economists so we are still here to get your project built and keep your dreams flowing.

How do we do that? There is no longer a one-size fits all contract solution. Our team will assess your project and look at where risks can be reduced. Chat with Charles today about your options.

NEED YOUR PROJECT PRICED:

Our cost planning service continues to be a true strength in navigating ever changing prices which in turn has challenged feasibility on some projects.

We can currently only offer two spots per month for our cost planning. Book here - the quicker you do, the quicker the build might start.

Any renovation project that needs to be completed by next Christmas we recommend starting in March 2022.

Our new Sunshine Coast team will be fully operational by May 2022.

Thanks for reading and all the best from Charles and the team!