Every building designer claims to be the best choice to bring your vision of a dream home to life. It’s up to you, as the client, to figure out whether or not they are the right designer for your needs.

So, how do you know who is ‘best’? Below are six questions you should ask before you make your decision:

1. Is your building designer engaged in continuous professional development?

Building designers are required to do at least 25 points worth of continuous professional development (CPD) each year to keep their membership to the Building Designers Association.

This is important because just like any industry, there is always a better way of doing things, plus there are new ways to use materials which can be more sustainable and cost-effective.

Have a chat to your designer about how they upskill and what the latest design best-practices are to gauge the value they place on learning.

2. Does your designer have the right affiliations and insurance?

While they do not need to be licensed in NSW, it’s recommended your building designer is affiliated with the BDAA (Building Designer’s Association of Australia).

Members of the group are expected to always perform at the highest professional level and are bound by a strict code of ethics, so you can expect excellent results from them at all times. You can check if your building designer is a member of the BDAA by visiting www.findadesigner.com.au.

If your designer has BDAA membership, they should also have Professional Indemnity Insurance but double-check all the same.

3. Is your home designer familiar with the latest building rules and regulations?

Failure to comply with current building rules and regulations means penalties for you—that and your home won’t get built.

Be sure to only work with a building designer who understands state regulations and the bylaws of your local area.

Read more: Building a new home: what’s required

4. How many successful projects does your designer have under their belt?

Results speak for themselves. Be sure to check your designer’s past works before you make your decision.

Here are some things to check out:

• How many projects has your designer worked on?
• Do they have experience across the industry (having building experience is a big plus)
• What style do they favour?
• How many projects have they worked on in your local area?
• What size buildings do they generally work on?

It is an added bonus if any of your home designers work has been recognised and awarded by their industry body.

Find out more about Distinct Building Design’s award-winning service. 

5. What do their past customers say about them?

If you can, talk to past clients to get first-person testimonials about your building designer.

After all, just looking at the finished projects won’t really tell you anything about what happened during the design phase. It is important to work with someone who is friendly and interested in getting to know exactly what you’re after before they get started.

If your building designer is confident about their work they will be happy to put you in touch with a past client.

6. Is your home designer easy to work with?

At the end of the day, while past works and testimonials definitely help, only you can say whether or not you’ll enjoy working with a specific home building designer.

Be sure to ask a lot of questions and make a lot of suggestions early on. Check how easy it is to contact your designer and if they actually listen to what you have to say during your initial meetings.

Your project’s success depends on your decision

If you want to avoid headaches and costly mistakes as you design and build your home from scratch, be sure to take your time in choosing the right building designer for your project.

Get to know your designer, look at their past work and don’t rush the decision. When you choose wisely, you’ll end up with a home you absolutely love for many years to come.

Ready to get started choosing a Port Stephens building designer? Contact Distinct Building Design to find out how we can start the process to create your dream home.