10 Questions to Ask Any Building Designer Before You Hire Them

Choosing the right building designer is one of the most important decisions in your renovation project. The right designer will save you time, money, and stress. The wrong one will cost you all three.

Most homeowners assess designers based on portfolio and gut feel — both of which matter, but neither of which tells you how a designer will perform when the project gets complicated, the council issues an RFI, or the builder’s quote comes back $80,000 over budget.

Here are ten questions that will give you a much clearer picture.

1. Can I see examples of projects similar to mine that have been approved?

A portfolio of beautiful renders is not the same as a portfolio of built projects. Ask specifically for examples of projects in your council area, with a similar scope to yours, that went through the approval process and were actually constructed. Ask what the approval timeline was and whether there were any RFIs or issues.

2. What’s your process for the feasibility stage?

A designer who jumps straight to design without a thorough feasibility assessment is taking your money to solve a problem they don’t fully understand yet. Ask how they assess planning controls, what they look for, and how they communicate feasibility findings to clients.

3. How do you handle budget?

Ask how the designer incorporates your budget into the design process. Do they have a feel for construction costs in the current Sydney market? Do they adjust the design if an early builder’s estimate suggests the project is over budget?

4. Who actually does the work?

Some practices carry a single experienced designer at the front end and hand the documentation to junior staff. Others are sole practitioners who handle everything. Understand exactly who will be doing your project and how much of their time you’re getting.

5. What does your documentation package include?

Ask specifically what’s included in the drawings that will go to the builder. Are structural details included or coordinated? Is there a schedule of finishes? How are joinery and windows specified? Vague documentation costs you money in variations.

6. How many projects are you running at the moment?

A designer who is handling twenty projects simultaneously is a different experience from one with six. There’s no magic number, but you want to know that your project will receive the attention it needs — particularly during the documentation stage, which is where most projects under-deliver.

7. Have you worked with council in my area before?

Councils vary significantly in their assessment culture, the specific weight they give to their DCP controls, and the format they prefer for DA documentation. A designer with experience in your council area will navigate the assessment process more smoothly than one who is encountering it for the first time.

8. What happens if council issues a Request for Information?

An RFI is a request from council during assessment, asking for additional information or design changes. It’s common and not necessarily a bad sign — but it can add weeks or months to your timeline if handled slowly or poorly. Ask how the designer typically responds to RFIs and what their track record is.

9. How do you manage the relationship with my builder during construction?

Some designers disappear after the documents are lodged. Others remain actively available during construction to answer builder queries, assess variations, and ensure the design is being built as intended. Ask which model applies to their practice.

10. Can I speak to a recent client?

There’s no substitute for a reference from someone who has been through the experience. Ask for two or three clients from the last two years whose projects have been through the full process — from brief to build. A designer confident in their work will provide them willingly.

At Plan Land, we’re happy to answer all ten of these questions — and we’ll give you references from clients whose projects will speak for themselves.

📍 Plan Land — residential building design and documentation across Sydney. planland.com.au