Tips for a Successful Prestart Meeting

Besides the fact that we love creating, building and designing, we are also dedicated to adding value to everything we do. Not only do we add value in the homes we build, we also add value for our clients. One way we love to do this is by sharing with you our tips you may find useful when building and designing your new home. Today, we are sharing with you our tips for a successful Prestart meeting. The purpose of these tips is so that you walk away feeling accomplished and confident with your interior and exterior design decisions and choices.

What goes on in a Prestart Meeting?

Every Prestart meeting and the process involved can be different, but at Shelford Quality Homes, we especially love this process and want to make sure it’s streamlined and stress-free for you.

So, what goes on in a Prestart meeting?  Firstly, you would have already received your “My Shelford Home Portal” login and arranged a private Prestart meeting at our Shelford HQ Selection Studio. During this time, the Selection Studio is exclusive for you, so you can choose from our vast collection of stylish fixtures and finishes, all in one convenient space. Our Prestart Consultants will work closely with you and expertly guide you through the process.

For a successful Prestart meeting, here are some effective tips from our Shelford Quality Homes Interior Design team.

1. It pays to be organised and prepared

This is the number one best practice that our whole interior design team agrees to. Before the Prestart meeting date, remember to prepare everything you need to bring and/or talk about with the consultants. Confirm your selections in your “My Shelford Home portal”, visit our preferred tile and flooring suppliers, gather your favourite Instagram or Pinterest photos, and other inspiration samples you love, and create a mood board or scrapbook to bring to the consultation. Do some research on your items in mind and how much they cost. Better if you have a spreadsheet with your budget already set up.

Create a mood board or scrapbook of inspiration for your new home.

2. Go through your “My Shelford Home Portal” 

Your Shelford Home portal has been customised to you. Once you have logged in you’ll be guided through a list of choices from our preferred state of the are suppliers and there are plenty of choices. It is important to remember that selection in your portal need to be made prior to your scheduled Prestart meeting at our Selection Studio.

Take notes on the items that would suit the style of your home.

3. Get inspired

We love it when people bring in photos, images, even items that inspire their look. It gives us an idea of how we can personalise your home. We’ve talked about creating a mood board of inspirations and colour selections. You can also visit our display homes as well our preferred tile suppliers. When you do your research, you’ll get to narrow down the look, style, and colours you’re going for and you start to get a clear direction of your interior style.

Doing research before your prestart meeting will give you a clear direction of your interior style.

4. Visit our preferred tile and flooring suppliers

A list of tile suppliers is included in your home portal. It is important you take the time to visit, so you can touch and explore colours, shapes and tile products for your Kitchen splashbacks, main flooring option, Ensuites, Bathrooms, Powder Rooms, Laundry – any wet room of your home design, floor and wall choices. Please remember to complete and sign the selection form with your preferred store and bring a copy and/or samples to your pre-start meeting.

Flooring, benchtops and cabintery colours are big- picture items that will set the tone of your home and we highly recommend you start with this first by visiting our tile suppliers who can help you bring this together and provide you with samples

Visit suppliers and stores for design inspiration such as colour schemes and textures.

5. Consider layouts and measurements

It helps to think about the furniture layout you want and make note of measurements. If you have some appliances and furniture that you want to take to your new home, take your time and work on the furniture layout of your house plan and take measurements. Look at ways you want to position your items. Measure the depth of your fridge and washing machine to ensure your cabinetry comes together effectively.

Measure the size of your existing appliances such as your fridge.

6. Review your electrical plan

Pay close attention to the location of your power points. Indicate on your electrical plan any additional power points, light points and pendants you would like to include. You can visit lighting stores for some ideas and inspiration. Visiting showrooms allows you to see different styles and lighting options in person. Please remember to make notes of any additions or upgraded items you would like to include.

Visiting lighting showrooms will give you ideas and inspiration.

7. Set up new gas and electrical accounts

Contact your preferred energy providers, such as Synergy, Alinta Energy, or Kleenheat Gas, to open your accounts for your new home. You can either call them or contact them via their websites. Make sure to set up your account before the Prestart meeting.

Set up your energy providers before your prestart meeting.

8. Organise your own supplied items

With our flexibility, we allow certain owner-supplied items to be included, which would have been communicated and referenced in your addenda. All details and specifications need to be itemised and provided at your pre-start meeting. These items are not covered by the builder’s insurance, so you will need to arrange a separate cover.

We allow certain owner-supplied items to be included, from fixtures to flooring.

9. Bring finance and settlement information

To finalise your building contract, we will require a copy of your Certificate of Title or settlement letter together with finance approval.

When everything is ready, we can finalise your building contract.

10. Enjoy the process!

It really pays to be organised as it makes the rest of the process easier and more enjoyable. Once you arrive prepared for your Prestart meeting at our Selection Studio,  everything will all come together smoothly.

We aim for you to have a personalised private experience from the moment your park your car in your reserved parking bay at the front. The showroom is exclusively yours for you to explore, touch, and feel and with the assistance of your dedicated Consultant.

The showroom is exclusively yours to explore.

Experience the Shelford difference

At Shelford Quality Homes, we are here to make your Prestart meeting up to the completion of your home as streamlined and stress-free as possible. Contact us now to know more about Pre-Start and how we can elevate the stress of building your dream home.