Meeting with an architect should feel like you are having a structured conversation and that they understand your vision. What you want, what’s attainable and the next logical steps. For Residential Architects London, visit https://www.rbddesign.com/architects-design/residential-architecture-london/
Most architects will cover:
Your wishlist: more room, a different layout, bigger and brighter rooms, a home office.
The good, the bad and those things that might crop up (mould, tricky layout flow, low ceilings).
Your budget range, even a ballpark figure informs the design sensibly.
Your timeline: important dates (new baby, moving in together, end of a tenancy/start and finish date for school term).
Planning and restrictions: Permitted development, conservation areas, neighbours and access issues (plus parking). Usually affects which side the building an extension can be on, as well site limitations, for example.
How they operate – phases, costs, what it covers and who does what.
You can also discover early ideas such as extension options, loft conversion types or if a knock-through is worth it.
What you will need to bring (or send earlier)
If you can, bring:
Front, back and key rooms photos
A master list of your deal breakers and attractive features
Any existing plans (good enough if you have the estate agent floorplan)
Your postcode (So that they can check what the local planning context is)
Inspiration images (screenshots are perfect)
A typical budget range or how you plan to get it funded.
One tip that saves time
An honest budget and priorities from the beginning allows the architect to design something you could actually build.