Selecting Your Home Extension Architect or Designer - How To Plan For The Design Process Of Your House Extension - A clients guide.

Time spent interviewing and selecting your home extension architect or designer is the first and probably the most important part of the process. Unfortunately most homeowners just go by the first recommendation they receive from family or friends which may not be the best method.

Christopher Hunt MCIAT is not an Architect or a member of the RIBA but a Chartered Architectural Technologist being a professional building designer specialising in residential development from home extensions to new builds including conversions and refurbishments. He is a full member of CIATwhich is a different and alternative qualifying body for professionals dealing with building design.

A homeowner wishing to extend and remodel their home first needs to assess the level and range of services they require from their home extension architect or designer. The services and experiences of any designer varies enormously and you need to be sure that you have selected the right person that meets your unique expectations. There is no one size fits all method or approach.

The levels and range of services are discussed elsewhere on this web site.

Once you have decided the level of service you require from your home extension architect or designer (bare bones to full services) you need to interview at least three to determine who will be best suited to your needs.

Simply telephoning them for 'a price' is inadequate and fishing blind. Get then round to view the site to explain your requirements or vision. They should then be writing to you confirming your requirements and offering a fee proposal for each design and support stage of their services.

Some experienced and busy home extension architects and designers will charge for this initial site meeting service as I do. Others less busy or trying to establish themselves will do this for free.

This on site interview time will provide you with a good idea as to how they are suited to your needs, timings and design fee budgets. Some will offer you to visit their offices or show you examples of their work with recommendations from past clients. Do take the time and effort to check these out as well if you are inclined to favour a good sales pitch.

They should all be enthusiastic and pro-active for your project but do not be put off if anyone is also negative on your own vision. It has been my experience that many homeowners can get side tracked or have sub-conscious agendas that impact their initial plans (cant see the wood for the trees).

Therefore if a visiting architect or designer expresses an alternative option or thinks that you are making a mistake, do take a step back and give it some thought as this is what they do all the time so consider what they have to say very carefully.

The time spent on this 'designer selection' process can take between 2 to 4 weeks.