Updated August 2026
Before construction drawings, engineering and permits, most Tamlin clients move through a Preliminary Design Stage. This is where the ideas for your home begin to turn into a practical, workable design.
During this stage, you work closely with Tamlin’s Project Advisors and Designers to discuss your goals, priorities, site conditions and the way you want to live. Together, they help translate those ideas into a home design that works for your property, your needs and the realities of construction.
The preliminary design stage is where many of the key decisions about layout, site fit, architectural features and project requirements are worked through before moving into final engineering and permit drawings.
Start With the Right Design for Your Project
Many clients begin with one of our customizable home designs and adapt it to suit their site, lifestyle and design preferences. Others come to us with their own ideas, anything from a rough “napkin sketch” to a complete set of architect-prepared plans.
Our Project Advisors and Designers work with you to understand the intent behind the design and help translate it into a practical plan that works with Tamlin’s building system, your property and your project requirements.
Once a starting design has been established, the next step is to determine how it will work on the actual property. A site survey provides information about property lines, elevations and topography, helping our design team position the home and identify any adjustments that may be needed.
From there, the design can be customized, whether that means adding a garage or basement, mirroring the layout, changing room sizes or modifying other elements to better suit the property and the way you want to live.
Get a Firm Cost Before You Commit Further
One of the biggest benefits of preliminary design is that, once the design is complete, Tamlin can provide a firm quote for your customized prefabricated home package, delivered to your site.
That means you are no longer working from an early estimate or trying to budget around an undefined design. Your home has been developed around your property and requested changes, giving you a firm package price to use for the next stage of project planning.
Before moving into final engineering, permits and ordering your home package, you can use that information to make more informed decisions about other project costs, including site preparation, foundations, local labour, subtrades and construction scheduling.
Get Ahead of Approvals and Planning
With preliminary plans in hand, clients are often in a much stronger position to begin confirming the approvals that matter most for their project.
Depending on the location, this may include development approvals, zoning requirements, building guidelines or HOA approval in the U.S.
At the same time, other practical considerations, such as subtrade availability, site preparation, local building costs and overall scheduling, can be investigated before you commit to ordering your home package.
Identify Potential Issues Early
Every property comes with its own set of considerations.
During preliminary design, Tamlin works with you to identify items that may require additional attention, such as geotechnical or soils reports, environmental considerations, site access, zoning requirements or other property-specific conditions.
Identifying these issues early gives you more opportunity to address them while the design is still being developed, rather than discovering them later when changes may be more difficult or costly.
See What Your Home Will Really Look Like
Preliminary design is not only about technical drawings. It also gives you the opportunity to see and understand your home before moving into final engineering and construction.
Floor plans and elevations help define the technical design, while 3D renderings provide a much clearer picture of the home’s proportions, architectural character and overall appearance.
This is particularly helpful when reviewing important design elements such as rooflines, window placement, exterior materials, timber features, decks and how the home relates to your property and views.
Move Forward With Fewer Surprises
While final structural engineering and permit drawings come later, the preliminary design stage gives you a much clearer understanding of what you are building, how it will work on your property and what your customized Tamlin home package will cost.
By resolving key design decisions, identifying site requirements and establishing firm package pricing earlier in the process, you can move into the next stages of your project with significantly more information and fewer unknowns.
If you would like to learn more about what comes after preliminary design, visit our Design Process page.
Find the Right Starting Point for Your Home
If you are still exploring ideas, browse more than 70 customizable home designs in Tamlin’s Home Design Finder. You can compare designs by size, bedrooms, storeys, architectural style and home type, and save the plans that interest you.
Once you have found a design that fits your vision, Tamlin can help you determine how it can be adapted to your property and project requirements.
Contact Tamlin to learn more about our Preliminary Design Process and the benefits of a Tamlin home package.