Layout Design

The success of the build process and the relationship with your builder relies on the information you provide them. With our experience, we can help you to provide your builder with just the right amount of information to get the job priced and built.

• At this stage we will provide advice with regards to Building Control, structural design and utilities (inc. water authorities) 

• This platform is not designed for the most complex types of builds. Your candidate contractor should be capable of handling most if not all technical aspects of the build.

• If more support is required, we will advise and we are of course happy for you to use a local technician or your builder’s drafts-person to produce the drawings (for example, many loft companies do this). We will be able to help you brief them and comment on the drawings they produce, to get the best out of the design and add our experience.

• We will advise on Party Wall matters and if they relate to your project. We can assist you with draughting agreements yourself using templates, or on appointing the right professional.

• We will provide you with contacts for other consultants required, including building control inspectors and structural engineers. We will provide you with templates for briefing them and provide advice.

Interior Design

The finishes of your home are essential to the success of the space. We provide years of experience and expertise in interiors, to help decision making in this stage feel less overwhelming.

• We will provide you with design guidance ideas to get the best out of your interiors. This can be in the form of mini-design reports focusing on either one room/area or multiple ones. This would be charged based on an hourly rate and we can tailor our output to your design budget.

• We will introduce you to our Fixtures, Fittings and Finishes template schedule document, that will assist you in managing and organising everything you need for your project.

• We will advise you on the benefits of having clarity between what you will supply and what your builder is to source for the build.

• We will provide guidance on all items to make sure everything has been considered and is compatible with the design.

• Sustainable design and healthy environments are important to us and we will provide you with design advice to make the right choices to improve air quality in the home and reduce the impact of your renovation on the environment.

Getting quotes

What’s important in this stage is knowing how to get a competitive price from your builder, which is accurate and reflects what you need. From years of experience tendering, analysing and negotiating with builders, we will help you get to the stage where you feel confident to sign a contract with your chosen builder.

• We will advise you on what information is required for sending to builders and what process to follow when getting competitive quotes.

• We will review all the information that has been put together to send to the builders for any final amendments.

• We can provide you with advice of what background checks you should do first.

• We will advise on what questions to ask when getting references for your builders and what to look out for.

• We will advise you what to send to them prior to them visiting your property for the estimate and what to ask them when they do.

• We will review the quotes with you in a meeting and advise on next steps.

• We will advise you on how to narrow down your choice to one builder and what final amendments to make before moving forward to signing a contract.

Construction

This is the stage of a renovation or building project that can be the most intimidating and it can feel like you are at the mercy of your builder. Having a qualified architect available by your side will help to ensure the build goes as smooth as possible.

• Before starting a build, we always recommend having a written contract with your builder.

• We will assist you with setting up a contract between you and your builder, using a simple template designed for homeowners.

• If required, we can have an online mobilisation meeting with you and your builder. We have found this to be an essential element of successful projects and allows the builder to ask us any key questions before starting.

• We will provide you with advice in relation to your responsibilities as a client and to health and safety regulations and what you will need to have in place.

• With the help of AI software, we will advise you how to set up an analysis document to analyse the builders valuations to make sure you are protected at all times and only release the money requested as and when it is required.

• We will advise you on the benefit of retention sums, withheld from your builder, until any final defects in the build have been dealt with.

• We will be on hand to advise on how to deal with any situations arising due to unforeseen site circumstances or delays.

• Sometimes the most useful thing to have is somebody keeping an eye on the design vision. You can book our online meetings for an on-site video meeting, to discuss progress with you and the builder, and to problem solve live on site.