Want to know how to get the best from your design process?
Aaron Wailes from GreenCoast Building Design, shares more on the PAC Process, and how it works as the designer in the process.
Hello! This is Episode 203.
In this episode, I speak with a building designer who is using the PAC Process with his residential clients to improve the design process, and the client experience in their project.
If you’ve been a long time listener of the podcast, you’ll be familiar with this building designer, as I had him as a guest in Season 4 of the podcast, which was called Know Your Team.
His name is Aaron Wailes, and he’s always been a big supporter of Undercover Architect, so it’s great to have him back here as a guest again.
Now, this is the third episode I’m doing about the PAC Process. So, if you haven’t listened to Episode 201 or Episode 202, be sure to do that now, because this episode will make a lot more sense with that background information.
Remember, our PAC Process, is where you bring a builder on to be Paid As a Consultant during the pre-construction phase.
They become a collaborative member of your design team, working alongside you and your chosen designer, to provide input on cost and buildability as your design develops and gets resolved.
Aaron has some great insight to share about how he sees this process working for homeowners in real life, plus tips to help you get the most from the process and your design experience. And some really great ideas about building the right team for your reno or new build.
Aaron Wailes is the Founder and Owner of GreenCoast Building Design, a residential design practice focused on delivering form, function, personality and lifestyle to residential housing.
Their design and planning services include the design and construction management of new homes, renovations and additions to existing homes, interior design along with the design of functional pool and landscaping solutions.
Their design studio is located in the Bayside suburb of Wynnum in Brisbane, Queensland and whilst the majority of their work is located in South East Queensland, from the Gold Coast through to the Sunshine Coast, they are also engaged by clients all over Australia to carry out design and planning commissions.
Aaron Wailes is a qualified Building Designer, a member of the Building Designers Association of Australia and registered with the Queensland Building Construction Commission as an “Open Class Building Designer”. He’s been working in the industry since 2007, and running his own business since 2009.
In my conversation with Aaron, I really wanted to hear how, from his first-hand experience of working with builders in the PAC – or Paid As a Consultant – Process.
He also shares some great tips and insights, so you can understand more how this PAC Process might help you.
You’ll also learn more about the details of the PAC Process, so you can know what you’re looking for when finding professionals you want to work with in this way.
I’m really looking forward to sharing this conversation with you, because I know it will help you get a really great understanding of the PAC Process from the designer’s point of view.
I think it will also give you some really good ideas about how to approach your design process generally, and what type of relationship you should be seeking with your chosen designer to get the best results for your project.
In this episode, Aaron and I discuss:
- GreenCoast Building Design and how things have changed since the last time he was on the podcast.
- How many builders he works with using the PAC Process
- What happens as part of the initial query (when a client first gets in touch)
- The most common questions and concerns from clients about the PAC Process
- The main things Aaron has to be aware of as a designer, knowing he’s working for, and commissioned by the client
- The greatest source of confusion in this process
- Plus his big tips to get it right when using the PAC Process
We cover a lot of ground in this chat! Listen to the episode now.
RESOURCES:
Listen to the other episodes in this series about the PAC Process:
Episode 201 | Episode 202 | Episode 204 | Episode 205
Access my free online workshop “Your Project Plan” >>> FREE WORKSHOP
Check out what you need to ask any potential builder in this mini-course >>> CHOOSE YOUR BUILDER
Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my flagship online program >>> HOME METHOD
Are you a builder who would like to use the PAC Process in your business? Learn more about how to do that here >>> PAC CHALLENGE
FIND AARON WAILES and GREENCOAST BUILDING DESIGN HERE:
Website >>> https://greencoastdesign.com.au/
Instagram >>> https://www.instagram.com/greencoastdesign/
With over 30 years industry experience, Amelia Lee founded Undercover Architect in 2014 as an award-winning online resource to help and teach you how to get it right when designing, building or renovating your home. You are the key to unlocking what’s possible for your home. Undercover Architect is your secret ally
Hi Amelia, not sure if this is a silly question or if I missed this covered somewhere in in your podcasts on the PAC process, but if in the really unlikely case you don’t proceed to a building contract with the builder at the end of the PAC process, who has ownership of the design and construction drawings please?
As I imagine you would need these to get another builder to quote if you don’t proceed with the builder involved in the PAC process?
(Although, from the way you describe the process, I imagine you would have sorted out fairly early on that you don’t fit together well as a team and the relationship would not have progressed very much past the fist couple of meetings – but it could happen???)
Thanks Amelia
Hey Jodie
Thanks for your question.
Ownership of the design and construction drawings will be dependent on who has created them, and the agreement in place as part of that process. In the PAC Process, clients are working with a designer / architect AND a builder – and are separately commissioning each. So, the ownership / copyright / licensing of the drawings will be covered in the relationship between client and designer / architect.
Hope that helps!
– Amelia, UA