What to Prepare Before Hiring an Architect: A Homeowner’s Complete Checklist
Planning an extension, renovation, loft conversion or new-build home? Here's everything you need to know before speaking with an architect.
Whether you're dreaming of a larger family kitchen, a loft conversion, a better connection to your garden or a complete transformation of your home, every successful project starts with a conversation.
You don't need detailed plans, technical knowledge or a fully developed brief before contacting an architect. A little preparation can, however, make that first meeting even more productive. If you're considering a project in Sussex, Surrey or Kent, these are the key things worth thinking about before you take the first step.
1. Start With the Problem, Not the Solution
Before thinking about extensions, loft conversions or room layouts, consider what is driving the project. Ask what isn't working, what frustrates you about your home and how you want it to support your lifestyle. Perhaps you need more family space, the kitchen feels disconnected from the garden, the layout no longer works, the house feels dark, you need space to work from home or you want to improve energy efficiency. By focusing on the problem rather than the solution, you give your architect the opportunity to identify ideas you may not have considered.
Case Study: Looking Beyond the Original Brief
A recent client approached us after living in their home for eight years. Set within approximately one acre of garden, the property had enormous potential, but the family felt increasingly frustrated by aspects of the layout. The kitchen felt disconnected from the garden, ceiling heights varied and upstairs circulation meant family members had to walk through their teenage son's bedroom. The original brief focused on opening up the rear and improving the kitchen, but understanding how the family actually lived revealed opportunities to improve movement throughout the home, strengthen the garden connection, increase ceiling heights, rationalise floor levels and improve the first-floor layout. What began as a straightforward alteration evolved into a more comprehensive solution focused on how the family wanted to live over the next twenty years.
2. Decide What Type of Project You're Considering
You may be considering a single-storey extension, two-storey extension, loft conversion, renovation, internal remodelling, listed building alterations, barn conversion, new-build home or outdoor living improvements. It is useful to have a starting point, but many projects evolve significantly once the possibilities and constraints have been explored.
3. Identify Your Must-Haves
Create three simple lists: Must Have for essential requirements, Would Like for important but non-critical priorities, and Nice To Have for elements that could be included if budget and planning allow. Your list might include a larger kitchen, additional bedroom, utility room, home office, better storage, a stronger garden connection, an en-suite bathroom, improved accessibility or more natural light.
4. Think About How You Want Your Home to Feel
Good architecture is about more than floor area. Think about whether you want your home to feel bright and airy, calm and relaxing, contemporary, traditional, connected to nature, family-focused, flexible or adaptable. Collecting images that inspire you can be useful because visual references often communicate aspirations more effectively than technical descriptions.
5. Establish a Realistic Budget
Think beyond construction costs alone. A project may also involve architectural fees, measured surveys, structural engineering, planning application fees, Building Control fees, specialist consultants such as ecology surveys and landscaping works. Being open about your budget helps your architect develop solutions that are realistic and achievable from the outset.
6. Consider Your Timescale
You may be planning around a growing family, school changes, retirement, seasonal deadlines or financial milestones. Allow time for design development, surveys, planning approvals and construction. Good projects rarely happen overnight, so discussing your ideal timescale early helps establish realistic expectations.
7. Gather Information About Your Property
Useful documents can include existing plans, previous drawings, planning approvals, Building Control records, property information and details of previous works. Don't worry if you do not have everything. Your architect can help identify what is needed and fill in the gaps as the project develops.
8. Understand Planning Constraints
Your property may be affected by Conservation Area status, Listed Building status, National Landscape designations, the South Downs National Park or previous planning conditions. An experienced local architect can help identify these constraints and advise on the most appropriate route forward before too much time is invested in a particular idea.
9. Think About Your Garden Too
Some of the best projects improve both house and garden. Consider sunlight, views, privacy, outdoor dining, family activities and entertaining spaces. A successful design should treat the property as a whole, creating a relationship between internal rooms and the landscape rather than considering the building in isolation.
10. Consider Sustainability From the Start
Think about opportunities to improve insulation, natural daylight, ventilation, energy efficiency, thermal comfort and the use of sustainable materials. Considering these issues at the beginning of the architectural process usually provides more opportunity to integrate them successfully into the design.
Daylight, thermal comfort and the character of existing architecture can all be considered together from the earliest design stages.
11. Agree How Decisions Will Be Made
If multiple family members are involved, discuss priorities early, identify non-negotiables and understand where compromises may be acceptable. Clear decision-making can make the design process smoother and helps ensure that the eventual solution reflects the needs of everyone who will live in the home.
12. Decide How Much Support You Need
Architects can assist with design, planning applications, Building Regulations, technical drawings, tendering, site inspections and contract administration. Some clients want support through planning only, while others value professional involvement throughout construction. Thinking about the level of support you would find useful can help shape the scope of architectural services.
Why Homeowners Choose Karenna Wilford Architects
No two homes, sites or families are the same. Clients often come to us because they have outgrown their home, do not want the disruption of moving, are unsure what is possible, have planning constraints, own a listed or period building, or want confidence before investing significant money. Rather than starting with drawings, we start with understanding how you live, what frustrates you about your home and what would genuinely improve your day-to-day life. This allows us to develop thoughtful, practical and creative solutions tailored specifically to you.
Ready to Explore What's Possible?
If you're considering changes to your home, you don't need completed plans, a detailed brief or all the answers before getting in touch. An initial consultation is an opportunity to discuss your ideas, understand planning considerations, explore options, talk about budgets and timescales, and gain clarity on the next steps. Whether you're planning an extension, renovation, loft conversion, listed building project or new-build home, we'd be delighted to hear about your ideas.
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