SERVICES · THREE HAT BUILDINGS
Where you start depends on where you are.
Most building mistakes happen quietly, early, before anyone realises what they mean. The right starting point is the one that finds those assumptions before they become expensive.
HOW IT WORKS
People arrive here at different points.
Some have an idea that's starting to feel real. Some have a number in their head that isn't quite adding up. Some are already moving and have that quiet feeling that something hasn't been properly resolved yet.
The starting point is different for each of them. What follows is a description of each option: what it is, what it costs, and what it's actually for.
30 Minutes with Alexander.
You've got a project in mind or a question you can't quite resolve. This is a focused conversation to get a clear read on where things stand.
Not a sales call. Not a pitch. Alexander will tell you honestly what he sees, what the right next step looks like, and whether that involves him or not.
Book 30 minutes →
Just tell Alexander what you're working on, where you're up to, and the best number to reach you.
$150 · Credit applied to Second Opinion if you proceed
Second Opinion
A short, independent second opinion on your project. Delivered as a site-specific diagnostic of your brief and its risks before momentum takes over.
Building Blocks finds those assumptions before they become expensive. Not design. Not drawings. A clear read on whether the project holds together (and where it doesn't) while there's still room to act on it.
What's included
Building Block A — Brief & Assumptions: structured consultation and formal written brief
Building Block B — Site, Risk & Feasibility: site visit, regulatory review, preliminary cost indicators
Written decision summary on completion
Three valid outcomes: proceed, pause, or step away and rethink.
$5,500 · Credit applied to Full Service if you proceed
Full Service
One person. Every stage.
The complete path, from your brief and site strategy through concept, documentation, permits, construction, and handover.
Most projects change hands multiple times between concept and construction. The brief, the site knowledge, the design intent, the builder relationship is held by one person, throughout. That's rarer than it should be. And it's where most projects either hold together or quietly come apart.
The person making the early decisions is still there when the builder starts asking difficult questions.
Find out about Full Architetcural Service →
Scope and fee confirmed through your Building Blocks
Find Your Way Home.
Two decades of observation on how residential projects succeed — and where they quietly go wrong before anyone notices. Written for homeowners who want to understand the process before they're inside it.
If you want to understand how Alexander thinks before you speak to him, this is the right place to start.
Start with the Book →
$39.95
Pricing
“So, how much will my new house, renovation, or extension cost?”
It’s a fair question. It’s also a difficult one to answer with precision. There are simply too many variables. Location, design, level of finish, site conditions, consultants, approvals, and the way a project is managed all play a role. No builder, architect, or estimator can give a fully reliable number at the very beginning. There are too many moving parts.
What you can have, however, is a well-informed range.
Most projects don’t run into trouble at the end. They begin slightly off course at the start.
An initial assumption is made about cost. It feels reasonable. The project moves forward. Over time, that assumption is tested, and often, it doesn’t quite hold. By then, decisions have been made, and adjusting course becomes more difficult than it needs to be.
Before engaging a builder or progressing too far into design, it is worth answering one question with some clarity: are you broadly in the right range?
This page is designed to provide that clarity. Not a precise figure, but a reliable starting point for making informed decisions.
For some, it is more useful to test their own project and see where it is likely to sit. The calculator allows you to do this, giving you a quick estimate of your total project investment based on the size and level of finish you are considering.
At this stage, a precise number is not possible… However, a well-informed range is both achievable and valuable.
The calculator focuses on the total investment, not just construction, and is intended to provide a grounded reference point.
Estimated Construction Rates $ / m2
Building a custom design home will likely cost you around $3,500 - $4,900+ / m2 (x9.29 to convert to square feet)
Architecture, design or pre-construction fees
If you multiply your estimated construction cost by 8% - 15% that will give you the typically range of fees you may expect to pay subject to your project's type, budget, and complexity.
Consultants & Specialist
Trades
If you multiply your estimated construction cost by 3% - 5% that will give you the typically range you could expect to spend on these services.