Concept plans for $400
For $400 in total, HAJA draws a first concept of your project and checks the council rules for your lot. It starts with a free site visit from Timothy Hajnady, a registered architect. If you go ahead within three months of payment, the $400 comes off HAJA's fee.
Why start with a first concept
Most of the big decisions on a house are made in the first drawings, when changes cost the least. Full design is a bigger step. The first concept is a small, fixed step before that. It shows whether your idea works on your lot.
What you receive for $400
- One concept for the part of the house you want to change. It is a sketch plan, with a section or sketch view where it helps.
- A one-page planning note. It covers the council rules for your lot, the approvals and consultants you are likely to need, and the next steps.
- A walk-through of up to an hour, at the studio, on site or by video.
- HAJA's written fee for the next stages.
What the concept plans are for. They let you see whether your idea fits the lot and the council rules, test it against your budget, and talk it through with family or a lender. Then you can decide whether to go ahead, and what to change first.
These are not construction drawings. Concept plans are sketches to test the idea. They cannot be built from, priced by a builder or lodged for approval. Those need construction drawings, engineering and approvals, which come in later stages.
How it works
- Free site visit. You sign a one-page agreement first. Timothy then visits for up to an hour. You talk through how you use the house, what is not working and what you want to spend. He takes rough measurements of the part that would change. The visit costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
- First concept. If you want to go further, ask in writing and pay the $400 invoice. HAJA then draws the concept and writes the planning note.
- Walk-through. Within two weeks of payment, Timothy takes you through the concept and HAJA's fee for the next stages.
After the concept plans
If you go ahead with HAJA, the $400 comes off the fee and the project moves through HAJA's usual stages. The fee proposal from the walk-through sets out the cost of each one.
- Concept design. The idea is worked through for the whole project and tested against your brief and budget.
- Developed design and approvals. Materials, structure and engineers' advice are added. Where council approval is needed, HAJA prepares the application.
- Construction drawings and pricing. The drawings a builder can build and price from, and a certifier can approve.
- Construction. The builder builds. HAJA can visit at key stages and answer the builder's questions.
Not every project needs every stage. The Services page explains each one.
The price
$400 in total. Travel and printing are included, and includes GST. If you engage HAJA for the next stages within three months of payment, the full $400 comes off HAJA's fee. Further options, surveys, engineering, approvals and 3D renders belong to later stages. HAJA quotes them in writing first.
Who you work with
Timothy Hajnady is a registered architect in Queensland (No. 5563) and leads HAJA. Before starting HAJA he spent more than five years at Hogg & Lamb. HAJA works on houses, renovations, additions, kitchens and interiors across Brisbane and South-East Queensland. See Springwood House and other projects on the Work page.
Questions
Can I build from the concept plans? No. They are sketches to test the idea, not construction drawings. A builder cannot build or price from them, and they cannot be lodged for approval.
What if I don't go ahead? You keep the concept and the note, and can use them for this house. The $400 pays for that work.
Can I use the concept with someone else? Yes, for this house. You can show it to family, a lender or a builder, or give it to another designer to develop. It cannot be used for another property, or built from as it stands.
Do I need plans or a survey first? No. Existing plans or photos help if you have them.
Is GST added? No. $400 is the total.
What if I change my mind? HAJA refunds the $400 in full if you cancel before the walk-through.
Can I see more than one option? Yes. HAJA quotes any further options in writing before starting them.