What Is a Building Designer?
A Building Designer is a qualified professional who prepares detailed design plans for your home — tailored to your site, your lifestyle, and council or certifier requirements. They take your ideas and turn them into plans that can be used for approvals, certification, and construction.
They can also coordinate with other consultants (like engineers, town planners, and BASIX assessors) to ensure your design meets all planning and technical requirements.
What Does a Building Designer Do?
Your Building Designer will complete works according to your agreed scope of works.
Typically, a Building Designer will:
- Review your site, vision, and budget
- Develop detailed floorplans and elevations
- Create plans suitable for DA or CDC lodgement (NSW only)
- Coordinate with surveyors, engineers, and other consultants
- Prepare documentation for building approval
- Adjust the design to meet bushfire, flood, or estate guidelines if needed
They stay involved through the design and documentation phase, ensuring your home is practical, buildable, and approval-ready.
What Makes a Good Building Designer?
A good Building Designer will:
- Have a strong portfolio of similar residential projects
- Communicate clearly and respond promptly to questions
- Be familiar with local council requirements and CDC rules (NSW only)
- Offer a clear, staged process from concept to approval
- Be open to collaboration and feedback as your plans evolve
A good building designer must produce documents based on best practices. Click the button to download Build Buddy's
Building Design and Documentation Standards.
Before You Begin: What You'll Need Ready
To get quotes from Building Designers, you’ll need:
- Your completed Architectural Design Brief
- Site survey or Due Diligence Report (if available)
- Any estate or developer guidelines
- Reference images or style inspiration (optional)
Tip: Don't Rush These Decisions!
Your designer will be your guide through one of the most technical and important parts of your build.
A well-prepared set of plans will save you time, reduce stress, and help avoid rework or compliance issues down the line.
Look for someone who explains their process clearly and understands your priorities, not just someone with the lowest quote.
Average Timeframe
For this task, Pros typically provide quotes within
7-10 business days.
When Can I Expect Quotes?
Timeframes often vary based on demand and the type of Pro you're engaging (e.g. a plumber). If additional communication or clarification is needed is needed, the quoting process may take longer.
Don't be alarmed if you don't receive quotes or communication from any Build Buddy Pros straight away. Some work is more complex and the Pro may need time to comprehend your documents or scope of work. Depending on the job, there may even be some work required by the Pro before they are able to quote (e.g. a site visit might be required).
If the average timeframe indicated here has passed, and you have not received any messages or quotes, please feel free to contact the Build Buddy Expert Guidance and Support team for an update on quoting for this task.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a Building Designer and an Architect?
A Building Designer often has a similar skill set to an Architect but may focus more on residential work. They’re usually more cost-effective and often just as experienced in designing homes for DA/CDC approval.
Can I go straight to a private certifier instead of getting plans?
No. Whether you go DA or CDC, you’ll need complete, compliant plans to get certified — that’s what your Building Designer produces.
Could you please let me know the approximate price I need the least priced quote
The full design phase usually takes 4–8 weeks depending on revisions and external consultants. Make sure to ask your designer for a timeline when reviewing quotes.
How to Complete this Task?
STEP 1
Review and Adjust the Scope of Works
Timeframes may vary based on demand and the type of Pro you're engaging (e.g., a plumber). If additional communication or clarification is needed, the quoting process may take longer.
STEP 2
Confirm Required Documents Are Uploaded
Check that the following required document(s) are uploaded for this task. These are essential to proceed:
STEP 3
Update the Quality Assurance Checklist
Go to the
Quality Assurance tab in this task and review the checklist. Edit any details to suit your project requirements. Being clear and upfront helps set expectations with the Pro. Updating the checklist before requesting quotes ensures everyone is aligned.
STEP 4
Request Quotes
Click the
orange ‘Request Quotes’ button to start the quoting process.
STEP 5
Review the Quotes
Once you receive quotes:
- Review each one carefully, including the payment schedule and any special terms
- Download attached quote documents for detailed review
- Check each Pro’s profile and read past client reviews
STEP 6
Communicate with the Pro
If needed, message or call the Pro to clarify details or negotiate terms.
STEP 7
Accept a Quote
Choose the quote that best suits your needs. Once you accept a quote, any other pending quotes will be automatically declined. An agreement will automatically be generated.
STEP 8
Complete the Tasks In Your App
New tasks will appear to guide you through this job — follow each step carefully. Make sure to use the
Quality Assurance Checklist, and refer to your
contract and
final Scope of Works whenever needed.
NEED HELP?
Reach Out to Your Build Buddy Pro
If you have any questions or need a hand, your Build Buddy Pro is your best first contact. They’re a licensed expert in their field and can understand the ins and outs of your project. You can message them via the platform, or you can call them directly.
If you have already contacted your Build Buddy Pro and still need further assistance, the Build Buddy Expert Guidance and Support team are here to help. They will be able to guide you on your next steps or help you find answers to any questions you may have.
