Choosing an architect: what are you actually paying for?

When you start thinking about extending, renovating or remodelling your home, it is natural to compare fees. But comparing the number at the bottom of a quotation only tells you part of the story. Different professionals offer different levels of service, and two apparently similar quotations can cover very different things. Before choosing who to work with, it is worth understanding exactly what you are paying for - and what you are not.

Drawings are only part of the service

For some projects, you may only need drawings for a planning application or building regulations. For others, the design process can involve much more.

An architect can help develop the brief, assess the existing house, explore different options, consider planning constraints, develop the design, coordinate information and produce the drawings and specifications needed to take the project forward. Depending on the service agreed, they may also help obtain competitive prices from builders, coordinate consultants and provide support during construction. These are different levels of service, and naturally they come with different fees.

The important question is not simply: “How much does the architect cost?” It is: “What am I getting for that fee?” Are you comparing like with like?

A lower fee can look attractive when you are comparing several quotations. But it may reflect a more limited scope of work. For example, one service might provide a set of planning drawings and leave you to progress the technical information, building regulations, structural coordination and construction details. Another might take the project much further, developing the information needed to obtain accurate building prices and support the project through construction.

Neither approach is automatically right or wrong. It depends on your project, your experience and how much responsibility you want to take on yourself.

The important thing is to understand the difference before making a decision.

What happens after planning?

Planning permission is an important milestone, but it is not the end of the design process. A planning application needs to demonstrate what you are proposing and how it relates to the surrounding area. Construction information has a different purpose. Builders need to understand how the building is to be constructed, what materials and products are required, how elements come together and what standards need to be achieved.

At SOLV, we pride ourselves on producing concise but detailed information packages that identify the key elements of the design clearly. The aim is to leave as little as possible for builders to interpret or guess, giving them a much clearer basis for pricing the work and helping provide greater cost certainty before construction begins.

The more information that is developed before construction, the clearer the basis for pricing and building the project can be. This is one reason why two architectural fees can look very different even when the initial drawings appear similar.

Think about the whole project

The cost of architectural services is only one part of the overall investment in your home. A design that is well considered from the beginning can help identify problems early, test different options and make decisions before they become expensive changes on site. It can also help you decide where your budget is best spent.

Sometimes the right answer is a smaller project. Sometimes it is worth investing more in the design and construction because a particular change will make a substantial difference to how the house works.

Good design is not necessarily about spending more.

It is about making informed decisions.

Ask what is included

When comparing architectural services, it is worth asking some straightforward questions:

• What stages of the project are included?

• How much design development is included?

• Will different design options be explored?

• Who deals with the planning application?

• What drawings and information will be produced?

• Is building regulations information included?

• Are structural engineers or other consultants coordinated?

• Will there be detailed construction drawings?

• Will builders be invited to price the work?

• Who helps assess the quotations?

• Is there support during construction?

• What happens if the project changes?

There is no single level of service that is right for every homeowner.

But you should be able to understand what you are buying.

Choosing the right level of service

For a straightforward project, a limited service may be exactly what you need. For a more involved extension or renovation, particularly where the existing house is being substantially remodelled, the design and coordination required can be much greater. The key is to choose a service that matches the complexity of your project and the level of support you want.

At SOLV, we work directly with homeowners throughout the process, from understanding the initial brief and exploring ideas through planning, design development and, where required, construction. The aim is to give you clear advice and help you make informed decisions at each stage.

Because ultimately, choosing an architect is not just about choosing who will draw your project.

It is about choosing how much support, design thinking and responsibility you want behind it.

If you are considering an extension, renovation or new home in Winchester or Hampshire, we’d be happy to talk through your ideas and explain how we can help.