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What Is a Prestart Meeting? A Simple Guide for B1 Homes Clients

11 February 2026

Prestart is one of the most exciting milestones in your building journey.

It’s the moment your house plans start becoming your home.

If you’re a B1 Homes client (or preparing to become one), this guide will walk you through:

What a prestart meeting is
What to expect on the day
How to prepare properly
What happens after
And how to make the most of it

Let’s break it down.

What Is a Prestart Meeting?

A prestart meeting is where we sit down with you and go through your home in detail, room by room, item by item.

It’s your opportunity to:

Review your working drawings with your Prestart Consultant
Understand your inclusions
Ask questions
Make minor. non-structural adjustments
Finalise your internal and external selections

Can I Make Changes at Prestart?

Yes, with some limits.

At prestart, you can request minor modifications, such as:

Additional power points
Relocating existing electrical points
Cabinetry adjustments
Extra tiling
Upgrade selections

However, structural changes are not permitted at this stage. By the time you reach prestart, your structural design has already been finalised in your contract drawings.

If you’re unsure whether something is structural, just ask. We’ll guide you.

What Happens During the Meeting?

Your prestart meeting is usually split into two parts:

1️⃣ Reviewing Your Plans

We walk through your house plans in detail, explain everything clearly, and highlight what’s included and where things are situation in your house design.

You’ll see:

Your nominated inclusions
Upgrade options
Opportunities to personalise

Any requested upgrades or changes are costed, presented to you, and signed off once approved.

2️⃣ Reviewing Your Inclusions and Selecting Your Finishes

✨ This is where it gets exciting ✨

You’ll select everything required to build your home from the ground up, right through to the finishing touches.

This includes:

External colours
Cabinetry finishes
Benchtops
Tiling
Flooring
Tapware
Electrical placements
And more

It’s a big day, but a fun one!

How to Prepare for Your Prestart Meeting

The better prepared you are, the smoother (and more enjoyable) your meeting will be.

Here’s how to get ready.

1. Know Your Budget

This is crucial.

Be clear on:

What you can comfortably afford (speak to your broker or lender!)
Understanding what is a
- Must, you would like to include vs
- Want, you’re happy to leave as standard and upgrade down the track once you’re ready!

Upgrades and changes made during prestart must be paid for prior to site commencement, so understanding your budget avoids stress later.

It also helps protect your finance approval.

2. Visit Our Suppliers

We may ask you to visit suppliers such as Crosby Tiles, where you can view the full range of tiling and cabinetry options.

Our prestart room can’t house every possible selection, so viewing the full range in person gives you more clarity and confidence.

3. Do a Mock-Up Electrical Plan

Think about how you live now, and where you wish you had extra power.

Consider:

Bedrooms

Lamps
TVs
Charging stations
Provisions for future wall or ceiling pendant lights
Ceiling fans

Study/Home Office

Devices
Lighting
Connections

Kitchen

Appliance needs (coffee machine, toaster, kettle etc)
Pendant lighting

Theatre/Games Room

Surround sound
Rear speakers
Electric recliners
Gaming devices

Laundry/Linen

Stick vacuum charging
Robot vacuum charging station

External Areas

Garden lighting
Reticulation
Outdoor power
High-pressure hose

Future-proofing now is much easier than changing it later.

4. Gather Inspiration

Start building your vision before the meeting.

Use:

Check out our Display homes online or in person!
Pinterest
Instagram

Having a general “vibe” in mind (modern, coastal, neutral, bold) helps make decisions easier.

5. Explore Your Client Portal

Have a play on the portal before your appointment.

When Will My Prestart Be Scheduled?

To book your prestart, we require:

Signed building contracts
A full set of working drawings

Once those are in place, we prioritise based on:

Land titles
Finance readiness
Documentation completion

As soon as everything aligns, we’ll schedule your meeting.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Prestart

Here’s how to make the day enjoyable (not overwhelming):

✔️ Come prepared
✔️ Know your budget
✔️ Bring inspiration
✔️ Think through (or better yet, create a markup) your electrical plan before your prestart meeting

What Happens After Prestart?

Once your meeting is complete:

Any upgrades or changes are costed by our estimating team and sent to you for approval/sign off- this mostly happens on the day of your prestart
Our Drafting team updates your working drawings
Your prestart consultant finalises your addenda (all selections listed)
Final working drawings and final addenda are issued to you for a final review and sign off via Docusign
Payment for any prestart upgrades is requested prior to site commencement

From there, we move into the approvals stage (depending on land titles and documentation readiness), which may include:

Planning approval (if required)
Engineering approval
Energy efficiency approval
Certificate of Design Compliance (CDC)
Building permit from the local council
Developer approval (if applicable)

Every step moves you closer to site.

Final Thoughts: Prestart Is Where It Gets Real

Prestart can feel like a big milestone, and it absolutely is!

But when you come prepared, it becomes one of the most enjoyable parts of the journey.

It’s the day your home stops being a plan… and starts becoming yours.

If you have questions before your prestart meeting, reach out to our team. We’re here to make the process clear, smooth and exciting from start to slab, and beyond.

BE ONE