It’s your most significant financial and emotional investment, so it only makes sense to want your home to be created in the simplest and best way. If you’re feeling unsure about engaging a Builder or an Architect without assistance, or you want to delegate the work involved to an experienced industry professional, using the services of a building consultant/broker may be high on the agenda for you. The role of a building consultant/broker is to help the client manage and organise the design and construction of their home extension and renovations, saving them valuable time and money in the process.

Ray Cairns the managing director of Mel Design Build Pty Ltd (M.D.B), a Vermont-based business. Ray has more than 30 years of experience in the industry.
Ray Cairns – “Essentially we help our clients design their extension to create their dream home. Then, using our bulk buying power, we get builders to reduce their profit margins, thereby getting our clients more home for less.”

STANDARD PROCEDURE
Mel Design Build works hard to ensure clients will save money on their project.
“Once the client has engaged our services, they will work directly with our designers to produce a detailed concept design with some 3D images,” says Ray.
“This design will have been based on the client’s brief and taken council restrictions and passive solar principles into account. Our team [members] will carefully explain the ideas behind their design and discuss any changes. We will then continue to work with [the client] with unlimited design time to achieve [the] perfect home – and with Mel Design Build the home will always be within budget.
“We then send [the client’s] completed design out to a wide range of builders, all of whom have received our seal of approval both in quality and service. Once quotes are back, we will then meet with the client to analyse all proposals to ensure complete clarity. [Our] clients know exactly what is included and precisely how much it costs before making any financial commitment to a builder.
“Once the client has shortlisted their preferred builders from the quotes provided, Mel Design Build will then facilitate meetings between the client and each builder. We organise viewings of the builders’ current projects and referrals. Mel Design Build ensures clients have the best results and are able to make a fully informed decision on their final choice of builder. This process means we can guarantee to save our clients’ money.
“Once the client has selected a builder, M. D. B will then begin helping the client sign all the necessary contractual documents.
“During construction, M.D.B remains involved … and any assistance or advice clients require is part of our standard package. Mel Design Build are with their clients every step of the way to ensure a smooth progress.”

MONEY TALKS
There are two big finance-related questions when it comes to building brokers: how do they make money, and how much do they save the client?
“Building brokers are generally paid a commission based on the value of the home,” says Ray. No different to a building designer working for a builder, they are all on commission. New homes designers are all on commission. Architects are paid as they go and some have a percentage of the job paid to them.
In terms of saving clients’ money, Ray explains that Mel Design Build offers a significant amount of work to a large pool of builders and “therefore the savings are greater”.
With Mel Design Build, a minimum saving for our clients on the overall costs of a one-off professional extension design is 10% to 15%. This is a great saving, you end up with a quality builder and you have Mel Design Build holding your hand from start to finish.
Further, Ray explains, “All our builders quote on exactly the same floor plan, elevation [and] client specification, which … will have been completed with Mel Design Build guidance prior to tendering. All builders provide us with written confirmation to show they have included all items as per [the client’s] specification and floor plan.”

BYO
In addition to working with a long list of Melbourne finest builders, Mel Design Build is “more than happy for clients to nominate any builder they wish to be added into the tender process,” Ray explains.
“In fact, we actively encourage our clients to seek additional quotes from independent parties, as the comparison … serves to show the huge savings we make on the client’s behalf.”

“We always felt comfortable that Ray offered good sound advice to our clients and professionally presented the absolute best options available to him in terms of quality and price”
Click to read more

Richard McHenry
Sales and Marketing Manager at Home Builders Advantage

You love your home,  but you want to give it the updates it needs without losing the charm of a beautiful Period Home. Creating living space and making your home more functional, creating a flow from your front door to the new living area, modernising your kitchen, bathrooms and laundry, turning it into a home where you will be comfortable to live for many years to come.