When you’re considering building a new home, it’s natural to want to know the cost straight away. Many people ask for a price on a pre-designed plan or a square metre rate to quickly judge if a build is feasible.
At first glance, it seems simple. But in reality, an upfront figure without context can be misleading, especially for a home designed and built above the minimum building code. That’s why we start with a meeting: it gives you certainty around feasibility and expectations, instead of relying on ambiguous figures or guesswork.
Why a Single Price Can Mislead
Two homes of the same size can vary significantly in cost depending on:
- Site conditions such as slope, soil, or location
- Design choices like roof form, finishes, or glazing
- Performance priorities including insulation levels, airtightness, ventilation and window choices
- Lifestyle needs such as design changes for extra space, the internal layout, or accessibility
If we gave you a figure without context, it risks being inaccurate for your unique situation & needs, and homeowners may end up comparing plans on price alone rather than value, inclusions or specific to your location.
Why We Meet First
Instead of handing out a price upfront, we invite you to meet with us first. There is no obligation, but it allows us to:
✔️ Understand your goals, site, and priorities – what is important to to you
✔️ Explain how variables affect cost and performance
✔️ Answer your questions which can clarify pathways earlier
✔️ Discuss other options that may better suit your lifestyle, budget, or site
This way, you get clarity and context…..not just a number on a page.
The Value Conversation
A high-performance home isn’t just about the initial build cost. It’s about the long-term comfort, health, and energy savings that come from doing it right. By understanding your needs first, we can help shape a design that balances budget, performance, and lifestyle or a feasibility insight into what can be achieved.
In Summary
We don’t avoid giving prices, we avoid giving misleading ones.
By starting with a conversation, you gain confidence that your build is feasible, realistic, and tailored to your priorities.
Stop guessing and let’s meet to talk about your dream home.
AUTHOR
Claire Chatterton works alongside her husband Brent at Chatterton Homes, where they focus on delivering genuinely healthy, comfortable and energy-efficient homes. Claire is closely involved in guiding clients through the early stages of the design and build process, ensuring transparency, clear communication and a carefully managed experience. Their work is grounded in building science principles and a commitment to creating homes that perform as designed while protecting both lifestyle and long-term investment.
