Consultancy

The Locspec Consultancy Service

If you’re planning a new custom home build or renovation project and want to eliminate uncertainty, the Locspec Consultancy Service (LCS) is designed for you. This tailored service is about providing clarity, structure, and expert guidance from day one, ensuring you’re not pouring time and money into plans that may never be built.

Through a collaborative approach with your chosen building designer or architect, the LCS gives you a clear picture of real-world construction costs, site-specific considerations, and material options — all before construction begins. By identifying potential challenges early and aligning your design with your budget, we help you shape a project that’s not only inspiring but achievable.

Our building partners

We start with a discovery session to understand your goals, budget, site, and vision. Whether you already have plans or are starting from scratch, this step ensures we’re aligned and can recommend the best approach moving forward.

Locspec will work as a Building Consultant, alongside the chosen designer, to ensure
that buildability aligns with your vision. This collaboration sets the foundation for a well-
executed project.

Following initial design concepts, preliminary costings are assessed, and necessary
modifications are made to ensure alignment with your budget and expectations. This
phase ensures the final design is practical and financially feasible before approvals are
sought.

We coordinate site reports, inspections, and assists you in engaging required professionals such as engineers, town planners, and building certifiers. With their input, costings are updated to reflect the final project scope, ensuring financial clarity. We also assist with selecting materials that align with your values and budget. Final plans are then prepared for approval, incorporating all design, structural, and material decisions. During this stage, we review authority requirements and guide you toward the appropriate approval pathway—CDC or DA.

Once the final plans and selections are confirmed, Locspec engages our network of trusted trades and suppliers to obtain detailed pricing.

We then prepare a comprehensive proposal that outlines all inclusions, exclusions, and relevant project details. This step is designed to remove any budget uncertainty and provide full transparency before moving toward contract finalisation.

Once the proposal is ready, it’s presented and reviewed with you—either in person or via Zoom. This allows time to discuss every element, address any remaining questions, and ensure all expectations are aligned—setting the foundation for a smooth and confident transition into the construction phase.

With a deep understanding of your project already in place, the transition into construction is seamless. Our team carries your vision forward with clear communication, careful planning, and a commitment to quality craftsmanship — delivering a home that’s built to last and tailored to your lifestyle.

Throughout the build, we conduct regular site inspections and meetings to keep you informed every step of the way, ensuring there are no surprises.

With construction complete, we now reach one of the most rewarding stages — handover. This is when your vision becomes a finished home, ready to be lived in and enjoyed.

Before this moment, we take the time to walk through the home together, ensuring every detail aligns with your expectations and our quality standards. At handover, we provide all the key documentation — including compliance certificates and maintenance information — to support you as you settle in.

Why Choose Locspec?

Locspec offers a unique approach to the entire building experience for their clients – an experience where the client engages with Locspec before any plans or designs have been drawn. This allows for Locspec’s clients to have an experienced builder’s perspective and input from the very beginning of their building journey.

Locspec is dedicated to producing homes that exceed industry standards in efficiency, health, and longevity.

We pride ourselves on our boutique approach to building, where every client is valued and treated with individual attention, while delivering an unrivalled quality finished product.

Our processes and systems has been designed to ensure that we create and deliver realistic schedules, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for Locspec’s clients.

We’re committed to using the latest building technologies, materials and sustainable practices available. Through constant industry education and development, we can ensure that we offer our clients a product of the highest standard.

We are a second-generation builder based in the Illawarra, brining over 20 years of experience within the local building industry.

Related Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn how Locspec’s consultancy services save time, reduce costs, and set your project up for success—before the build begins

Why should I have to pay for pre-construction services?

Pre-construction is the most critical stage of any building project, as it provides the opportunity to identify and address potential issues before committing to construction.

Locspec’s pre-construction services go beyond providing a quote – we spend time with you, your designer, essential professionals, such as engineers, to ensure your project vision is completely understood. This structured approach minimises unexpected expenses and on-site changes—leading to a more confident, streamlined build where every detail is carefully considered for a satisfying and affordable outcome.

What kind of services does Locspec provide?

At Locspec, our services are tailored to support you through every stage of your project journey. Depending on where you’re at, we can assist with:

Feasibility assessments to determine whether your ideas are practical and achievable for your site and budget
Site surveys and coordination of engineering reports, soil testing, and geotechnical investigations
Collaborating closely with your designer or architect to help shape your vision—starting from initial concept sketches through to detailed construction-ready plans
Providing cost analysis and itemised proposals, including provisional allowances, trade input, and realistic market rates to ensure your project is financially informed before moving forward

Our goal is to bring clarity to the process early on, helping you make well-informed decisions that align with your goals and investment.

I already have approved plans, why would I engage the Locspec Consultancy Service?

Even with approved plans, Locspec adds value by refining costs and clarifying your project’s exact needs before committing to a construction contract. Many builders rely on standard industry averages for quoting, which can overlook finer details. Locspec, however, reviews your selected materials and finishes, meets on-site with your design team, and ensures a thorough understanding of the project’s scope. This approach can uncover any hidden or additional preconstruction costs, preventing unpleasant surprises down the track. Ultimately, you benefit from a more accurate, transparent, and cost-effective quote tailored to your specific project.

Why should I use the Locspec Consultancy Service instead of just getting a builder’s quote?

A typical builder’s quote is based on finalised plans, which can cost thousands to produce and approve. By contrast, the Locspec Consultancy Service provides realistic budget guidelines early in the process using provisional designs, site visits, and decades of industry experience. This approach allows you to refine your design, helping prevent cost overruns, before committing to a design you can’t afford.

Does Locspec only build High Performance homes?

While most of our clients choose to build high-performance homes, Locspec can still build homes that don’t fall under that category. Even in these instances, we consistently build to exceed industry standards. Whether you’re after a high-performance build or something more conventional, our focus remains on quality, longevity, and craftsmanship.