Benefits of Well Considered Design Solutions
Why should you invest in expert home design?
Great question!
Whilst people often associate architects with grand, beautiful homes, the value of effective design solutions goes much deeper than just looks!
Although there are too many benefits of architectural home design for me to explain in detail here, I have decided to focus on 3 of the major benefits of great home design.
Let’s get into it!

Increased Energy Efficiency
One of the major benefits of using an experienced architect is increased energy efficiency of your home.
Oftentimes when people think of climate benefits, they think of environmental friendliness.
Although this IS one of the benefits that energy efficient design offers the home owner, this isn’t the only benefit it provides!
In addition to being friendlier on the earth, energy efficient designs are also friendly to your bank account!
To elaborate on this further, let me first explain how a home is judged for energy efficiency.
NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme) is how the energy performance of homes in Australia is judged.
Currently, the minimum energy rating a newly built home is required to meet is a 6-star rating, however on the 1st of May there are new changes coming in that will bump the minimum NatHers rating to 7 stars.

Since these rules only apply to new homes, the average energy ratings for QLD homes would be much much lower than 6 stars!
Although 6 stars to 7 stars may sound like a somewhat small difference, the Climate Council reports that a 7 star home represents an average $450 per year cost saving when compared to a 6 star home.
Additionally, this difference also represents a 25% reduction in emissions.

Now, if the actual average energy performance of QLD homes is much lower than 6 stars, you can probably imagine the difference that energy-efficient renovation design can make to both the bank accounts and energy emissions of those living in older homes!

Potential for Increased Resale Value
Now, I want to start by saying that we are architects and not financial advisors!
With that being said, we are uniquely placed to provide an opinion on the resale of architect designed homes as a result of our interview with Brisbane real estate legend Darcy Lord a few months ago!

When we asked Darcy about the resale value of architect designed homes, here is what he had to say:
“Yes it does.
I personally think that everyone, in one way or another, appreciates good architecture. They may not know how to explain it properly – but everyone knows the feeling and intention that is perceptible when you walk into a home which has been designed by an architect.
Because of our online nature of consuming photographs, floor plans, information on fit outs, as well as the massive help of social media – I find that the interest in architecturally designed homes is moving faster and faster into the online process”.

It is worth noting that there are other factors that influence a home’s value, however our architects are equipped to provide advice on other factors that may influence your home’s value in our Design Advice Service.
That being said, assuming all things are equal, an architect designed home will typically be nicer than other homes to live in, more energy efficient, and generally have more desirable traits than the average home!
Other things that need to be considered in order for your home to hold value are:
• The suburb of your home
• The street of your home
• Desirable site features (Does your home have a nice view? Riverside location? Etc)
• Whether your chosen design style is very niche and personalized to your tastes, or something that suits your needs whilst still appealing to a wide market.
Hopefully you can now see the value that having an architect design your home can bring to your investment!

Lifestyle Benefits of Architect Designed Homes
Now onto what is, in my opinion, the greatest benefit of using a client-focused architect to design your home – lifestyle benefits!
Although this is quite a vague sounding term, it is actually fairly simple to understand.
In basic terms, every single design feature of your home will have an impact on your lifestyle.
Are you a big entertainer, who loves having guests and family over?
If so – a well designed outdoor entertainment area will mean that your home allows you to enjoy entertaining even more than before!
Are you entering a new stage of life? (Retirement, Children, etc)
If so – these are things that need to be considered in your design as they will make your life easier and more enjoyable down the road!
It is worth noting here that not all architects are equal when it comes to lifestyle-focused home designs.
The key here is to really research any firms or architects you are considering for your project.

Some architects will have a distinct style that they will refuse to stray from, whilst others will be happy to put your aesthetics and needs before their own design preferences.
The main practical advice I can give here is to make sure you understand what it is that you want from an architect, and then ensure that any shortlisted firms have a design philosophy that aligns with your project goals and philosophy towards the design process.


By now you can hopefully see why it is important to get an architect involved in your project!
When you decide to use a client-focused architect to design your home, you are investing in your lifestyle!
We can also ensure that your home is 110% tailored to your exact needs and lifestyle!
Need an architect to assist with your project? You’ve come to the right place!

Whether you are looking to undertake a renovation or new home project, we are experts in a range of residential architecture styles!
With over 30 years experience, you can rest assured that your project is in safe hands.
Want to learn more about the benefits dion seminara architecture can bring to your project?

Contact us today!
https://dsarchitecture.com.au

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