The Times Australia
Small Business News

.
Times Media

.

Can a Building Designer Work Virtually?

  • Written by Stephen Atcheler


The COVID-19 pandemic changed our lives permanently, including our attitude toward remote work. About one-third of Australians will continue to work remotely over the long term, according to a survey in the Sydney Morning Herald. These remote workers fill various professional roles, including building design.

A Virtual Building Designer

A building designer is one type of property management virtual assistant and a vital member of the property development team. While a building designer's duties will vary depending on the company, typically, the designer will

  • - Recommend designs based on budget, trends, building purpose, and building site

  • - Produce plans for approval

  • - Provide cost estimates for their designs

  • - Interact with the rest of the design team

Software and communications tools make remote building design possible. As with any transition to remote work, companies may need to acquire some of these software tools. They also will need to get their design teams on board with the change.

Benefits of a Virtual Building Designer

For many Australian property development firms, the benefits of a virtual building designer outweigh any of the initial challenges.

Cost

Australia ranks 14th for the highest living costs in the world. Because the cost of living is so high, wages for a building designer in Australia are also high.

With remote work, however, Australian property managers can hire a building designer who lives in any part of the world. Several Asian Pacific countries have significantly lower living costs yet still have highly-skilled building designers available to hire. The Philippines is one example. The Philippines is a popular real estate BPO (business process outsourcing) destination. Filipinos speak English fluently. The Filipino government also offers several incentives to encourage workers to continue their education. The result is a highly-trained workforce.

Fewer Hassles

Because destinations such as the Philippines are conducive to real estate virtual assistants, real estate staffing solutions firms locate there. Australian property development firms can contract with these staffing solutions firms. The firms will recruit building designers from their vast networks and present the Australian company with a short list to interview and consider. They'll also handle payroll details and compliance with local laws.

A real estate staffing solutions firm can also provide tips on the software and communications technology you'll need to make your virtual relationship successful. And they can help you develop a strategy to integrate the virtual employee into your team.

Better Employee Satisfaction

Many small property development firms employ only one building designer. Without the professional stimulation of being around others who do similar work, some designers become dissatisfied and less productive.

A real estate BPO firm will place building designers working for several companies together in a central office. They can discuss best practices, find solutions to challenges, and feed off each other's creativity. The result is a more satisfied employee who is more likely to stay with the company.

Final Words

So, building designers can perform their duties virtually. Moreover, many Australian companies will reap great benefits by working through a real estate staffing solutions firm to hire an offshore designer.



Stephen Atcheler is an entrepreneur in the Real Estate space. He has grown multiple businesses, including a Real Estate Agency, and an online Real Estate Advertising business, and is currently the founder and driver of the fastest-growing Real Estate BPO in the Philippines. If you would like to connect or get in touch with Stephen, he is very active on LinkedIn and always happy for a new connection. 

The Times Features

New study suggests weight loss drugs like Ozempic could help with knee pain. Here’s why there may be a link

The drug semaglutide, commonly known by the brand names Ozempic or Wegovy, was originally developed[1] to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. How...

Maintaining Your Pool After a Marble Interior Upgrade

After upgrading your pool with a marble interior, it’s crucial to understand that maintenance is key to preserving its elegance and longevity. You’ll want to regularly skim for d...

Labor using explanatory document to hide true powers of Misinformation Bill

The opinions and commentary of individuals could be deemed misinformation under Labor’s proposed legislation changes, according to James McComish of Victorian Bar. Appearing in...

Hotel Indigo launches limited-edition candle collection inspired by local neighbourhoods across ANZ

Hotel Indigo, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts' luxury and lifestyle portfolio, is releasing a limited-edition candle collection inspired by the unique neighbourhoods its hotel...

Kyndryl ANZ appoints new Head of Strategic Partnerships and Alliances

Former Head of Marketing to lead and grow Kyndryl’s local channel ecosystem and bolster technological capabilities Kyndryl has strengthened its local leadership team with the ...

Posh picnics the Sunshine Coast helicopter picnic tour

Oceanview Helicopters launches Picnic on a Peak celebrating Sunshine Coast local food and views Oceanview Helicopters has launched a new tour in preparation for the upcoming s...

Business Times

Kyndryl ANZ appoints new Head of Strategic Partnerships and Allia…

Former Head of Marketing to lead and grow Kyndryl’s local channel ecosystem and bolster technological capabilities Kyndr...

Copyrighting Your Work in Australia

As the digital world evolves, it's more important than ever for creators and businesses to know how to protect their intellec...

Ai Group congratulates Queensland's new Premier, David Crisafulli

National employer association the Australian Industry Group congratulates David Crisafulli as Queensland's new Premier.  ...