Our 5 Step Process

Building costs depend on your location, design, specifications and site. A rate per square metre gives a rough guide, but homes of the same size can cost different amounts because of their shape, roof, glazing, finishes and foundations. Smart design can make your budget go further through efficient layouts, well-chosen materials and considered specifications. See our pricing page to find out more about what affects the cost.Once we’ve seen your section and talked through your ideas, we can give you a realistic starting point for your budget. Get in touch to arrange a free site check and ballpark estimate.

Yes. Tell us your overall budget early, including land and other project costs, so we can design towards it. Efficient layouts, a considered building shape and well-chosen materials and specifications can help your money go further. We’ll discuss your priorities and explain the trade-offs as the design and pricing develop.

Start with your budget, your ideas and a conversation with your local Sentinel team. These five steps will help you get underway:1. Set a comfortable budget. Talk with your bank or mortgage adviser about what you may be able to borrow, allowing for land and the full project cost.2. Think about how you want to live. Note your must-haves, collect a few ideas and consider where you’d like to build.3. Talk to your local Sentinel team. Bring your ideas, indicative budget and any land information. We’ll help you explore what’s possible.4. Check the section before you commit. If you don’t already own land, get in touch to arrange a free site check before buying. We can help identify issues that may affect design and cost.5. Explore design and pricing. We’ll discuss suitable options and preliminary costs, then explain the design work, investigations and approvals needed.

The time from your first meeting to moving in depends on your site, design and the approvals needed. Before construction, we assess the section, develop your design, confirm pricing and finance, and obtain the necessary council approvals.Your local Sentinel team will map out the full programme: site investigations, design and selections, pricing, finance, council approvals, construction and handover. The pre-construction stages can take several months or longer, depending on the site, design and approvals. Subdivision also involves services and titles and needs its own programme. Ask your local team for a realistic timeframe from enquiry to moving in; construction time alone does not cover the whole process.

Yes. Sentinel generally offers fixed-price contracts ‘from slab up’: once the foundations are poured, the price for the agreed remaining construction work is fixed, subject to the contract’s terms.Ground conditions can reveal work that could not be confirmed beforehand. We’ll explain the groundwork and foundation estimate, allowances and responsibilities before you commit.Client-requested changes, exclusions and other adjustments allowed by the contract can still affect the total price. We’ll take you through these details before signing.

Yes. Get in touch to arrange a free site check and ballpark pricing, with no obligation. This gives you early guidance; a detailed feasibility study, specialist reports and final building quote come later. We’ll explain any paid investigations or design work before you commit.