The Best Luxury Home Builders in Perth
March 29, 2023
Builders in Perth
March 29, 2023
Boutique Builders vs Large Perth Construction Companies, What’s the Best Option?
When choosing a builder, there’s no question it’s a big decision. With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to know which way to go.
What’s the difference between a Perth boutique builder with a small close-knit family run team, as opposed to a large company with a more standard approach?
In this blog post we’re going to break down the key differences, and review the biggest reasons we believe you should consider a boutique builder to build your next home.
The Number 1 Reason: Attention to Detail.
With a boutique company, you generally deal directly with the director.
From the very first meeting to the key handover, it’s the director who’s physically responsible for every expectation set and every item delivered.
That attention simply isn’t there with a big conglomerate builder because there’s a management structure you’re dealing with.
Upper management, middle management, and lower management – then client facing.
Ultimately you’re at the bottom of the hierarchy, dealing with a person who has the least responsibility and power. Unfortunately they are so far removed from the actual execution of the building of your home, it’s impossible to pay attention to the details.
As a result – the agenda is usually driven by what’s best for the big company from the top down, not you.
Here’s a typical scenario with a big conglomerate builder:
Inevitably upper management says to middle management “Hey, KPIs aren’t being hit, what’s going on?”
Generally, middle management comes back and says, “Well this client has stalled, and this client wants to do a bit more design, and this one has delays with making selections.”
The response from the top will ultimately be: “Well, we need our KPIs.
So the middle management goes back to the lower management and says, “Hey, sell this to the client, give him this incentive and get the deal done.”
It’s a rushed process, because it becomes more about data, numbers and KPIs.
The Boutique Experience...
The experience with a boutique builder is very different from the outset. For instance, at Trendsetter Homes, if a client wants to do a design 10 times then that’s what they do.
A quality focused boutique builder won’t move ahead until the client is absolutely 100% ready and comfortable.
As a boutique builder in a smaller organisation, you won’t slam fists on the table saying “I want numbers to come in, do whatever you need to do to make it happen…”
Because at the end of the day, the director of a boutique building company (who you’re dealing with directly) is going to be personally responsible for the outcome.
You’re also far more likely to have a boutique builder ask for your feedback throughout the process, to ensure you’re comfortable and on track – and the good news is it will actually be implemented to ensure you get what you want.
The Number 2 Reason: Accountability
When dealing with a big builder with a management structure, the person you’re working with is likely an employee who doesn’t have a lot of skin in the game.
Most likely they’re a staff member who could get another job next month and disappear halfway through your build.
A large builder simply doesn’t have the same custom processes, and are incentivised by management to push deals through.
When you work with the director of a boutique building company that’s been in business over 25 years, it’s a very different experience, because they are absolutely accountable for every step of the process: from quoting, design, selections, budgeting and the build process – they have to ensure you’re on the same page at every step.
Bottom line: the buck stops with the owner, as opposed to up to 10-15 different team members in a large conglomerate builder.
Beware Of The Cookie-Cutter Approach
When 10 – 15 people are involved in passing messages back and forth, there’s far more room for error, which is why big companies are more likely to build cookie cutter homes.
That’s because it’s impossible to employ someone with the same skill sets as an experienced builder, and with the same commitment as a CEO.
This is the advantage of working directly with the owner of a boutique builder.
They will work with a hand selected team (they can’t build an entire home on their own), but they will take responsibility for moving your project comfortably through the process every step of the way.
Where to next?
Now that you’ve got some insights into the way different builders operate, we hope it helps you make an informed decision on what to be aware of when choosing a builder to build your next home.
We’ve covered the 2 key reasons boutique is better: attention to detail and accountability, and also how a big builder is structured including the “cookie cutter” approach you’ll want to avoid.
But choosing a builder is simply one step in the process – we’ve written extensively on the many things you need to consider when building a custom home in Perth. So please check that post to learn more. The lessons apply to any level of home you’re thinking of building: traditional, custom or luxury and we have 3 award winning building divisions within our company umbrella.
If you have any questions or would like more info on any step of the process (even if it’s just to bounce ideas around with an experienced builder) please give Trendsetter Homes a call on
08 9446 2822
