The step people often miss — But our Mount clients say made all the difference

“There are so many good builders in the Bay — it’s almost overwhelming.” — Catie, Super Creative podcast

One of our clients, who also happens to be a celebrated podcaster, shares her insights into how one simple decision made the process easier …

“Full disclaimer - I’m a friend of Thorne Group and a new client. We’re at the very start of our build (at the Mount), and I’m asking the questions that matter to my husband and me.” — Catie

We’ve taken excerpts from Catie and Aaron’s podcast conversation and probed a bit deeper.  It’s not a sales pitch, it’s unpacking the challenging questions that cut through, exploring the critical early step that many people miss, and explains how that one decision shifted the entire process.

The critical step not everyone takes

To feel more in control — and knowing Thorne Group would have their back — Catie and her husband chose a different approach. Instead of following the traditional sequence of designing first and worrying about who would build it later, they brought their interior designer, architect, and the Thorne Group build team together from the very beginning.

“A house build, it’s a big project. And so, when it comes to pricing, there’s a lot of fear around that because you know that you’ve got a certain amount of money,” - Catie.

That early collaboration changed the arc.  With design and pricing working in tandem, there were no nasty surprises — just a few tweaks to bring the budget into line while the design stayed true to what Catie had imagined.

“I felt like we got a gold star… there was so little we needed to change in the end.” — Catie

The principle of early collaboration draws everyone together with a single goal and removes any roadblocks.

“Everyone knows where they stand… we’re very transparent up front. If we feel like you’re at risk of going over budget, we’ll be straight up and say — ‘This is now back in your court. Do you want to carry on or do you want to pause and adapt?’” — Aaron Thorne

The model behind the approach

Most people assume shopping around and putting plans out to tender will deliver the best price. In reality, opportunities for meaningful savings diminish significantly once drawings are fully complete.

Thorne Group co-director Gavin Morrow works with architects to refine detailing for complex builds — optimising structure and labour without compromising intent.

“Pricing is done when there is sufficient detail on the plans, but you haven’t yet reached a point of no return.  The architect can still refine the design (to meet budget), and we can provide input into details (that you won’t necessarily see) that could save on materials and labour.” — Gavin Morrow

“We essentially have two clients,” Aaron says. “The homeowner and the architect. Both want the design protected and the budget adhered to.  Without early and ongoing pricing checkpoints, it’s almost impossible to know where things will really land.”

Experience behind the calls

Thorne Group’s wrap around service brings architects, designers, and construction together from day one, so modifications happen while the design is easy to adjust — not once it’s too late. It’s a service backed by nearly twenty years of continuous improvement across coastal and rural projects.

“That’s the good thing about in-house experience — we’ve built all these homes over the years and collectively, there’s 80-plus years of knowledge just in-house, so we know what works and what doesn’t.” — Aaron Thorne

“Every build teaches us something,” adds Gavin. “We carry forward these lessons into the next project, constantly evolving and improving.”

Trust matters

Catie and Aaron also talk about how trust needs to be earned and is built over years.  Having the assurance that you are getting sound, straightforward advice is essential - even if it might mean missing out on a job - because long-term trust matters more than a short-term win.

“We’ve had people that have built with us two or three times at least, because they’ve had such enjoyable process with us. A lot of it does come down to trust, because when you’re giving us the task of handing over your biggest asset and saying, look, deliver on our dream here, and that can be a really scary thing.” — Aaron Thorne

Interested in finding out more?

Connect through to the full conversation to learn about major factors that influence price, how to compare square-metre rates and key questions to ask before selecting a builder –👉 [Watch the full podcast here]

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