Need help customising your new home? Reach out to our experts!
How your home design becomes yours
Sit down with a G.J. Gardner New Homes Consultant and they’ll walk you through how we take a home design from the catalogue to something distinctly yours. It’s a structured process, considered at every step, and shaped around your block, your taste, and the way your household actually lives.
- Our building designers work in detailed 3D, so every home design gets considered room by room before a slab is poured. Proportions, flow, finishes: all worked through before the home gets built.
- Each home design is refined long before it ever reaches you. Light, flow, day-to-day usability, buildability: all worked through by professionals, so nothing is left to guesswork.
- Designs are reviewed each year against what’s working locally and what’s shifting globally, so your new home feels current well past handover. Explore the latest design trends for inspiration.
FAQs
- How much does it cost to build a custom home?
Cost depends on the home design you choose, your block’s characteristics, the finishes you select, and where in Victoria you’re building. Local conditions like soil type, slope, and council requirements all play a role. G.J. Gardner Homes works on fixed-price contracts, so once your design is finalised, the number doesn’t move on you. Your first step is a conversation with a New Homes Consultant, who’ll walk you through costs and options against your specific situation. You can learn more about the cost to build a home on our learning hub.
- What can I customise in a G.J. Gardner home design?
You have flexibility across the whole brief. Floor plan layout, room sizes, facade style, internal finishes like benchtops, cabinetry, flooring, and tiles, plus fixtures and fittings. Outdoor living, garage configuration, and energy efficiency features can also be tailored. Every change runs through a structured process with your local Victorian building team, so nothing falls through the cracks.
- How long does it take to customise an existing home design?
Two to four weeks is typical, depending on how far you take it. Straightforward adjustments like resizing rooms or changing finishes sit at the shorter end. Structural changes or anything depending on council approval can push the timeline out. Your G.J. Gardner team runs the schedule and keeps you across every stage, so there are no surprises.
- What questions should I ask when customising an existing home design?
Walking in prepared makes a real difference. Useful questions: What’s included in the base price? What can and can’t be changed structurally? How will my changes affect the build timeline? What energy efficiency options are available for my area in Victoria? Can I see 3D renders of my customised design before we proceed? And what happens if I want to change something after the design is signed off? These questions help you stay informed and confident throughout the process.
- How do I get started?
Your first step is a conversation with one of our New Homes Consultants. They’ll talk through your goals, your budget, and your block, then recommend the home design that suits your situation. From there, you’ll have guidance through every stage, from plan refinement and colour selections through to council approvals. Contact your nearest G.J. Gardner office to book your initial consultation and start shaping a home around you.