We’ve put a list together of the most common questions we’re asked, along with the answers.
If you have a question that isn’t covered here, feel free to contact us here: https://brownhillhomes.com.au/contact/
We build across Melbourne, mainly the eastern suburbs and bayside area. Our local knowledge allows us to design homes that respond to both the area and the individual site.
We provide a complete turnkey service, managing everything from land assessment through to construction and final landscaping. Our approach is design and cost-led from the outset, allowing you to make informed decisions about your home, inclusions, and overall investment, without the risk of budgets and designs falling out of alignment. Unlike many builders, we do not rely on square metre rates. Instead, we price based on a detailed understanding of what is required for your specific home and site. This ensures greater cost accuracy and helps avoid budget blowouts. Every home is architecturally designed and tailored to your needs, with a strong focus on collaboration. We work closely with you throughout the process to ensure the outcome reflects your vision, while remaining practical and achievable within your budget. The result is a more controlled, transparent process with greater certainty around cost, design, and delivery.
You should engage Brownhill Homes as early as possible, ideally when you first start considering building. Early involvement allows us to provide guidance on site selection, feasibility, and how to align your goals with your budget from the outset. If you already own the land, the right time is as soon as you begin planning your build. As design and construct specialists, our role is to educate you on what is achievable, what is required, and how your budget aligns with your design. This approach avoids the common “design first, tender later” process, which often leads to misalignment between expectations and cost. We also provide clarity around the full project cost, including items often overlooked such as landscaping, external works, and other associated expenses. Drawing on our experience, we proactively identify and discuss potential hidden costs early, areas that are frequently excluded or not clearly communicated by other builders. As a full turnkey builder, we support you through every stage, ensuring your design, budget, and overall project scope remain aligned from the beginning.
The first step is a conversation. We take the time to understand your vision, your block, and your priorities before guiding you through the next steps.
We follow a structured process to keep your design, site conditions, and budget aligned.
We only progress at each stage once you are completely comfortable with the design and cost.
Your level of involvement can be as hands-on or hands-off as you prefer. We understand that most clients are managing busy schedules, so we tailor the process to suit your availability. Our role is to do the groundwork for you, providing clear information, options, and guidance based on your feedback so you can make informed decisions with confidence. We also aim to reduce the stress often associated with building by simplifying decisions and presenting solutions that align with your goals and budget.
All we ask is that you:
From there, we manage the process and guide you through each stage.
Changes can be made during construction through a formal variation process. However, changes, especially those involving rework, can affect both cost and timelines. For this reason, we place a strong focus on resolving design and selections before construction begins, so you have certainty moving forward. If changes are required, we guide you through the implications so you can make informed decisions. Our goal is to ensure the finished home reflects exactly what you want, without avoidable compromises.
We ensure your design is buildable by involving the right people from the very beginning. Our process is built around a collaborative team approach, where our designers, consultants, and construction professionals work together as a cohesive unit. This includes early input from specialists such as engineers, surveyors, and other key consultants. Unlike a traditional process where design and construction are separated, we integrate both from the start. We also carry out the necessary site checks and report upfront, including critical items often missed, such as trees, services, and Water Authority discharge points, before design begins. By asking the right questions early and maintaining constant communication across the team, we ensure the design is practical, compliant, and aligned with your budget. The result is a coordinated process where design, cost, and construction are considered together, reducing risk, avoiding rework, and giving you confidence that what is designed can be delivered without compromise.
The level of finish and inclusions is entirely tailored to your preferences, it can range from well-considered, cost-conscious selections through to high-end, fully customised specifications. Our role is to guide you through what is available and help you understand the options in a clear, practical way. We then align your selections with your budget to ensure everything integrates seamlessly into your overall design. You remain in control of the level of finish, making decisions based on informed advice, so the end result reflects both your vision and your investment expectations.
Your budget will depend on the size of the home, the level of inclusions, and your overall requirements. At Brownhill Homes, we start by understanding your budget first. From there, we guide you on the size of home that can realistically be achieved within that range and then refine the design accordingly. In some cases, clients choose to reduce the size of the home to allow for higher-end inclusions. In others, the focus is on maximising size with more cost-effective finishes. The right balance comes down to your priorities, both for how you want to live now and how your needs may evolve in the future.
Yes. We offer fixed pricing, with the process built around your budget from the very beginning. During the design phase, we work collaboratively with you to ensure the home is designed in line with what you want to achieve and what you’re prepared to invest. Because we are involved throughout the entire design process, pricing is considered and refined as the design develops. Once the design and scope are finalised, we provide a fixed price contract, giving you clarity and confidence in your investment. While our process is structured to minimise the need for changes during construction, we understand this is your home. If you wish to adjust along the way, we will work with you to accommodate them where possible. By designing with cost in mind from the outset, we reduce uncertainty and deliver a home that aligns with your vision and your budget, supported by a fixed price contract.
Yes. We can work with your existing land and have years of experience across a wide range of sites. We design homes specifically for your block, considering orientation, slope, access, and surrounding context to ensure the outcome is both practical and well resolved. Our team is experienced in working with complex and challenging sites, and we are always prepared to take on projects that require careful thought and planning to achieve the desired result. This can also include working around existing elements such as pools and established gardens, incorporating them into the design through a carefully considered approach. The focus is to design and deliver a home that responds to the site, maximising its potential while ensuring it is buildable, efficient, and aligned with your vision. Challenging sites don’t limit the outcome; they shape a better, more considered design.
Yes, we can assist with both finding land and assessing a site before purchase. We start with an initial discussion to understand what you’re trying to achieve, including your lifestyle requirements and how you want the home to function. From there, we guide you on key factors such as site orientation, block size, and how these elements influence your design, particularly in relation to light, layout, and usability. We also assess site conditions and potential costs early, including factors like slope. For example, a steep block can increase construction costs, but with the right design, it can also create opportunities for views and a more unique outcome. Understanding this upfront allows you to make informed decisions before purchasing. In addition, we help you understand the likely build cost early, so you don’t overpay for land and then find your budget no longer supports the home you want to build. At Brownhill Homes, we focus on the total project cost, not just construction. Our role is to align the land purchase, site conditions, design, and budget from the outset, so you can proceed with clarity and avoid costly compromises later.
We incorporate energy-efficient design principles and can tailor your home to include sustainable features that enhance comfort and performance.
We offer a complete end-to-end service, managing everything from design and approvals through to construction and final delivery. At Brownhill Homes, there are no limits to our service when it comes to your home. We work with you to achieve the desired outcome, tailoring every aspect of the process to suit your needs and how you want to live. Our goal is to make the entire experience as stress-free and hassle-free as possible. From coordinating consultants and approvals through to construction and completion, we take responsibility for the process, so you don’t have to manage it yourself. Anything that supports a better outcome, we will work with you to deliver. You only need to ask. We also strongly encourage landscaping to be included as part of the overall contract. By completing the home and its surroundings together, we ensure the final result is cohesive and ready for you to enjoy from day one. The result is a fully considered, turnkey outcome, designed, built, and delivered as a complete home for years of enjoyment.
A custom home and a knockdown rebuild are essentially the same, the difference is simply whether there is an existing home on the property. If you already own a property with a home on it, a knockdown rebuild involves demolishing the existing dwelling and then building a new custom home in its place. If the land is vacant, it’s simply a custom home build. The decision often comes down to where you want to live. If you are looking to live in an established area, a knockdown rebuild is typically the path forward. Many of our clients choose this approach because they already know what works on their site, whether it’s views, sunlight, or existing trees they want to retain. These elements can be brought into the design, allowing you to build a new home while continuing to enjoy the aspects of the property you already value. At Brownhill Homes, we guide you through both options, assessing your site, goals, and budget to ensure the right approach is taken. It’s not about choosing between the two; it’s about choosing the right outcome for where and how you want to live.
Yes. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your project and explore how we can bring your vision to life. Contact Us.
