Whenever you undertake building works within the home, at one point or another you will need to have an architect visit your home to take appropriate measurements of the space. This is typically called a site survey, and may be done by a surveyor first, before an architect then completes a measured survey of the space taking more accurate measurements and details. It can be difficult to know what you need for these home visits, so here we have outlined what you need to know to prepare for them.
When you start thinking about a home improvement project it is best to get all of your ideas down in one place. Take a look at the existing space and note what more you want from it, whether that is more space to entertain guests, a larger kitchen area, or another bedroom in the house. Take notes on what particular details you want, with the type of doors, windows and fittings you want in the space.
Once you have an idea of what you want from your space, the purpose and the details, it is time to think about budget. You need to be realistic with how much you are willing to spend on your project, as it is unproductive to have an architect design your ideal home that you could never afford to make into a reality. Prepare a realistic budget, which allows you a 10% leeway for if there are any snags in the building process or you want to make any last-minute changes. With Simply Architects, your architectural design package is affordable and fast, allowing you to spend money on the more exciting parts of your build.
Once you have collated all of this information, it is best to speak to your neighbours about any Party Walls that you share. You will need to obtain a formal Party Wall Agreement before construction can begin but start off by having a friendly chat with them about what you plan to do and why. If there are any immediate issues that your neighbours bring up, you can discuss this with your architect at your home visit to find suitable ways to deal with the problem straight off the bat.
These are the main organisational details that you need to prepare before an architect visits your home to take measurements and discuss your project with you. In terms of physically preparing your home, it will depend on the type of project you are wanting to undertake. Your architect will need to take measurements of the appropriate rooms, so just make sure they can reach the necessary points around the room to take accurate measurements. If you are unsure what they need to get to on their site visit, feel free to give your architect a quick phone call beforehand and they will be able to tell you what they need access to.
If you need fast and affordable architectural plans, contact Simply Architects on 0800 917 0335 today.
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