FAQs

Timeframes for a build can vary a lot – it is likely to take at least 6 months before works start and you start the design works with your architect, however this could be subject to planning approvals and any other consents you need. If you are working to a critical timeline such as new baby or life event it is important that this is discussed at the outset and this can be considered to suit.  The build is likely to be upwards of 16 weeks and a lot of this will be dependent on the complexity of the project and how many critical decisions have been made at the outset to allow for the build to run smoothly.

We take great care to match you with the right architect, based on several important factors. Above all, we want to ensure your brief is understood and that the architect is the right fit for your specific project. They’ll bring extensive experience working in your area, so you can feel confident they understand the local planning requirements and the small details that help make the process run more smoothly. All of our architects are highly experienced residential specialists, carefully selected and thoroughly trained by Architect Your Home – so you can trust you’re in expert hands.

Yes, absolutely. We start every project with a Vision Sketch Sprint — an initial design consultation designed to make sure you’re fully informed and in the best possible position to decide how to move forward. Your architect will explore multiple options with you, explain the implications of each one, and be there to answer any additional questions you might have, so you can move ahead with clarity and confidence.

Architect Your Home’s architects are part of our carefully selected network. Each one applies to join us and goes through a rigorous selection process, where we assess their portfolio, residential design expertise, and on-site experience. We provide our architects with full back-end support – handling invoicing, administration, and more – so they can focus entirely on what they love: designing and delivering great projects like yours. We believe this is the most efficient way to ensure the right skills are focused where they matter most – on successful project delivery. Every architect we work with is highly experienced and has completed an intensive training programme to ensure you receive advice and guidance of the highest quality.

The big difference is flexibility, transparency, and accessibility. With a traditional architecture practice, you’re often expected to commit to a full service package upfront – even when the design isn’t yet defined – which can feel overwhelming and expensive, especially if you only need help with part of the process.

At Architect Your Home, we break things down into clear, manageable steps, with a transparent menu of services. You stay in control, deciding how much or how little support you want, and you only pay for what you actually need.

We also provide fixed fees for each stage, based on the time required, so you can budget confidently at every step. This clarity comes from first defining your project’s intent through our Vision Sketch Sprint, ensuring you know exactly what’s involved before committing further.

Perhaps most importantly, we’re built around making expert architectural guidance accessible and approachable – no jargon, no intimidating processes, just straightforward, high-quality advice tailored to homeowners. Whether you want creative input, help navigating permissions, or support all the way through to the end, we meet you where you are, at your pace. It’s architecture designed around you.

We don’t believe that a quick, free drop-in conversation can deliver anything truly constructive. Our initial visits are carefully designed to kickstart your project as efficiently and effectively as possible. What might normally take six weeks of back-and-forth between a client and an architect can now be achieved in one of our focused Vision Sketch Sprint sessions.

We offer two options: a four-hour session (£699 + VAT) or a seven-hour session (£999 + VAT), both offering great value for the depth of insight, creative thinking, and clarity they provide. Our goal is to simplify the process, offer transparency at every stage, and ensure you feel fully involved and in control right from the start.

That said, our Head Office team is always available for an initial phone call to help you understand the process and guide you through the first steps.

It really depends on the size and complexity of your project. For a single-floor project or relatively straightforward changes, the four-hour session is usually enough. But if your project involves multiple rooms – for example, combining a kitchen and living space plus adding a bathroom, or undertaking a two-storey renovation – we recommend the seven-hour session to give enough time to cover everything properly.

If you’re unsure, don’t worry – our Head Office Account Management team is always on hand to help recommend the best option for your needs.

And remember: any unused hours from your initial session are credited toward later services, so nothing is ever wasted.

We know that starting a home project can feel overwhelming – full of unknowns, questions, and worries about making the right decisions. That’s why we created the Vision Sketch Sprint: a focused, hands-on design session that helps cut through the confusion and gives you a clear, confident starting point.

During the session, your architect will spend time getting to know you and what you want to achieve – not just in terms of space, but how you want your home to feel and support your lifestyle. You’ll explore different design options together, assess what’s realistic, and understand the implications of each approach, so you’re no longer left guessing what will or won’t work.

Your architect will take detailed measurements and prepare an accurate floor plan of your current space. With that in hand, they’ll create initial design sketches right there with you – helping you visualise how your ideas can come to life. You’ll work closely together, giving input and feedback, until you land on a proposal that truly reflects your needs, your vision, and your budget. And importantly, these sketches are yours to keep as a valuable reference, helping you stay on track as the project moves forward.

The Vision Sketch Sprint is designed to replace weeks of uncertainty, anxiety, and scattered ideas with clarity, direction, and expert guidance – all in just a single, highly productive session. By the end, you’ll feel informed, empowered, and ready to move forward with confidence.

We know that after the excitement of the first design session, many homeowners start to wonder: What now? How much will this cost? What should I do next? That’s why we’ve designed the next steps to be as clear, flexible, and reassuring as possible.

At the end of your Vision Sketch Sprint, your architect will recommend any additional services that fit your project – drawn from our transparent Menu of Services. You’ll receive a clear, tailored list of what’s available, along with the associated fixed costs, so you can decide exactly how much or how little further support you want. There’s no pressure, no locked-in package, and no risk of signing up for things you don’t need.

These next steps might include developing detailed design drawings, submitting planning applications, or overseeing work on site – but the choice is always yours. Our approach is designed to help you avoid the overwhelm and uncertainty that can come with large, all-or-nothing architecture contracts. Instead, you stay in control, moving forward at a pace and budget that suit you, with expert guidance there when you need it.

To learn more about the services we offer, visit our Services page.

We understand that choosing someone to help shape your home is deeply personal – you want to feel confident they “get” you and the style you’re aiming for. That’s why all of our architects are highly experienced residential specialists, comfortable working across a wide range of design styles. Rest assured, our Head Office account manager will carefully match you with an architect whose experience and approach align with your brief.

Every project starts with a Vision Sketch Sprint – an interactive design session where you and your architect explore ideas together, with you offering input and feedback at every step. This ensures the end result reflects your preferences and aspirations, not someone else’s imposed style. It’s also a valuable chance to get to know each other and confirm the architect is the right fit for your project – before you commit to the full journey.

Your detailed design drawings form the essential foundation your builder needs to price, plan, and deliver the work accurately. While concept sketches set the overall direction, it’s the detailed drawings – showing exactly how everything comes together – that help avoid misunderstandings, unexpected changes, or costly surprises during construction.

Before any work begins, we recommend reviewing these detailed plans with both your builder and your architect to make sure everyone is clear on what’s required and how it will be delivered. If any parts of the project involve particularly complex or bespoke details, Architect Your Home can prepare additional, specific drawings to ensure nothing is left to chance.

Investing time and care into developing these details upfront can often save you money during the build by reducing the risk of delays, mistakes, or last-minute decisions on site.

Our goal is to support you throughout the process, helping to make sure you – and your builder – have everything needed for a smooth, successful build.

After your Vision Sketch Sprint, we’ll provide you with a tailored proposal outlining the recommended next steps, drawn from our clear and transparent Menu of Services. Each stage is costed as a fixed fee, based on the time and work involved, so you’ll know exactly what to budget – no surprises or hidden costs.

Because your architect will already have developed a sketch design during the Sprint, they’ll be able to define what the next stages will cost accurately and specifically for your project. As a general steer, planning-stage drawings typically start from around £3,000 + VAT – but this can vary depending on the complexity of the project and what’s involved. Once you have the sketch design in hand, your architect can give you a clear, detailed cost for the next steps.

This approach allows you to move forward at a pace that suits you and your budget. Whether you want to continue with design development, planning submissions, detailed construction drawings, or on-site support, you can choose the services you need without feeling locked into a big, all-or-nothing package.

We’re here to help guide you through each stage, ensuring you stay informed, in control, and confident as your project progresses.

We know one of the biggest worries homeowners have is, “Will we be able to afford everything we want?” The reality is, the cost of a building project is very difficult to predict accurately before the design has been fully developed. Many factors can affect the price – including your location, the size and scope of the work, the complexity of any structural changes, and the level of finishes you’re aiming for, just to name a few.

Your architect will be able to give you a rough guide to costs when you discuss your project goals, based on their professional experience. But we know rough figures only go so far. That’s why, once you have your initial sketches, we offer an additional service where our cost consulting partner can prepare a detailed budget cost plan, tailored to your specific design choices and level of finish.

This gives you far greater accuracy and confidence, helping you avoid surprises and make informed decisions before any work begins. And if you’re seeking borrowing or extra funding, it provides the certainty and clarity you need to move forward with confidence.

Going straight to a builder means you miss out on an important layer of design expertise. It may sound obvious, but builders are specialists in constructing things, while architects are specialists in designing spaces. By working with Architect Your Home, you get a home designed specifically for you – one you’ll love living in. We also help ensure your investment is maximised, and that the finished project adds value to your property; a poorly designed extension, for example, can sometimes reduce a home’s value.

Whether or not you need planning permission depends on the size, scope, and nature of your project – and it’s something your architect will help you assess early on. Some smaller works can be done under permitted development rights, while others (like larger extensions or major external changes) will require a formal planning application.

Rest assured, your Architect Your Home architect will guide you through this process, advising you on what permissions are needed and helping prepare and submit the necessary applications if required.

The timeline for a project can vary depending on its complexity, scope, permissions, and often when you want to carry out the work. After your Vision Sketch Sprint, your architect will outline the expected timeline for the next stages – from developing detailed designs to submitting planning applications and moving into the construction phase.

Sometimes timelines are shaped by budget constraints, where you may choose to phase the work over time. Other times, they’re influenced by life events – like planning around a new baby, children’s exams, or holiday schedules. If we know these factors upfront, we can help shape the timeline to meet your needs, so the process works with your life, not against it.

We also understand how stressful it can feel to not know how long things will take or to worry about unexpected delays. While smaller projects can often move quickly, larger or more complex ones (especially those needing planning approval or significant structural work) naturally take longer – but we’re here to make sure you have a realistic, transparent picture of the road ahead. Our goal is always to keep you informed, supported, and confident, so you feel prepared at every stage, not left in the dark.

Architect Your Home specialises in residential projects – everything from home extensions, refurbishments, loft conversions, and internal reconfigurations to basement projects, new builds, and even specialist Passivhaus designs. Whether you’re looking to create more space, improve functionality, boost energy performance, or transform how your home feels, we have the expertise to guide you through the process with clarity and confidence.

In addition, we also work with SME developers and on mixed-use sites, applying the same flexible, step-by-step approach to help navigate more complex projects. If you’re a developer looking for tailored support, feel free to get in touch – we’d be happy to explore how we can assist.

Not sure if your project fits? Contact us – we’re always happy to discuss whether we’re the right fit for what you have in mind.