Hey Mikeann,
Met colour consultant for exterior prior DA lodgement with council. It wasn't included in my tender so paid $200 from memory for one hour. Didn't have a colour consultant for internals. We also got our landscape plans drawn prior to DA as Pemulwuy / Holroyd has strict guidelines. Due to Christmas holiday period took 2.5 months to get approval. Contract signed a couple of weeks after that.
After contract signing we went to suppliers to make our selections as requested by project manager at the relevant build stages. The project manager notified each supplier of what was included per tender/contract. We went to Dilorenzo a few weeks earlier than needed to get rough idea on tiles.