I need to extend my home, where do I start?
This is a very common question for residential homeowners and one that very few are prepared for. Where do you go to gain an understanding on what you actually need to do?
Maybe you have been living in a home that you have outgrown and need to extend, have just purchased a home that is in need of extending, renovating, or even knocking down (to rebuild). Your next step may seem like a small step in this process but will be one of the most important decisions you will make.
Where do I go to find out what I need to know…?
Their will be many articles online advising you on what you need to do, you may speak to builders who may guide you on what they think you should do, and then there is your local planning department where (if you are lucky enough for them to pick up the phone), might guide you on where to start looking.
Many people typically start their journey by:
Searching for an architect, architectural practice or other construction professional with experience and demonstratable ability online via search engines like Google or Microsoft Edge, or local business directories like Yell.com.
Searching social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram to see what people are doing and which practices did them.
A recommendation from a friend or neighbour.
A development you may have seen in your street or elsewhere.
Looking at local planning decisions via your local authority’s record/website.
Searching for local architects via the RIBA ‘find an architect’ service.
How do you know if this company, practice or architect is the right fit for me?
Selecting the right company will be determined from a range of deciding factors:
Affordability - A smaller or lesser experienced company or Architect will typically charge less which may be more appealing to you (though not always for the right reasons and very much subject to the terms that the company or architect is appointed under).
Demonstratable ability in delivering similar schemes – This will provide confidence for prospective companies and architects.
Actual planning experience – A good understanding of your planning obligations from the get go will also enable a better understanding on how your requirements can be addressed from inception stage.
Attentiveness – Have you been listened to? Were you comfortable with the kind of responses or level or engagement you received?
A good company or architect will not present you a fee proposal without discussing your needs and visiting the site first. When responding to your enquiry, any architect, architectural practice or construction company will not leave you in limbo for weeks with no response.
A busy practice may not be able to respond immediately but will manage your expectations on when they can respond. At times, this can be the sign of a good company that is busy (for good reasons) and capable of addressing your enquiry, whilst managing and prioritising their commitments with clients.
Details in Service and Fee Proposals – Professionals do not commence works without outlining what their service will address. This in summary will include the following as a minimum:
A brief - which may be an initial brief that will be subject to a degree of exploration and discovery prior to being finalise.
A summary of discussions had to date – to document any prior advice given, or concerns that are worthy of noting (typically addressing planning matters/viability, client expectations or other).
A scope of works – the range of services that are to be undertaken to address the brief.
A financial breakdown – an outline of costs against services proposed or
A confirmed hourly rate – depending on the works and level of service required, services are proposed on an hourly rate. At MSK Design, where we present costs on an hourly basis, we supplement this with an anticipated programme of works to detail the amount of time expected for each work stage. This route is often critical for complex schemes or schemes that involve a high degree of design.
A payment schedule (on fixed fee works) or confirmed programme for payment drawdowns (for hourly rate works)
Confirmation on ownership of copyright for documents that have been prepared on behalf of the client.
Details of expected external consultants and (if possible) potential costs.
Details of any associated costs or, expectations of costs typically for statutory submissions (may not always be known at this stage).
Any limitations in the level of service to be provided (eg. where the client is to either issue data to be utilised for services or name consultants to be used).
A summary of required follow-on services that may be required to take a scheme to build and completion if a full turn-key service is not provided. Not all will provide this but we would expect a reference to be made on what you may need to do next.
An appointment form that is to be signed, with terms and conditions attached to it.
Compatibility – You may find many companies, architectural designers or architects that tick all of the above and be left wondering how to select the right company. Some people will be tempted to go with the cheapest company based on costs, others may choose the most experienced, this is your home and with all of the above we urge you to consider this as a personal choice.
The connection you had with the person or company is key here, do you really want to endure a working relationship with an architect, designer, or company that is unable to understand your requirements with ease? If you have found a company, designer or architect that is as enthusiastic as you are with your development – why not ask them what they think they can do for you…in my opinion, a genuine response will be focussed on what can be done in the space for you and your family.
Do not become duped with companies that promote their 100% record…..or any record above 90%!
Successful developments (planning permissions) that get what you want and really push the boundaries of planning policy are not for the feint hearted or vain! If you are speaking to a company that takes price in publishing their “100% record on planning permission”, remember that this is far more important to them than getting the most out of your home.
We have seen many companies like this, operated by people who do a good job at creating basic spaces that are simple and limited in design flair. This type of company will often provide very affordable services because they focus on delivering basic core services and treat clients like a production line in a car factory. Working with such a company is never (in our opinion) a personal choice that will connect with clients on a personal level however, if you want to be part of a production line – opting for such a company may be perfectly fine for you.
A word of warning when opting for such a company, many may only provide limited services. If you are seeking for a company that will take you through all the RIBA work stages…or a similar process that is coordinated to handover – this will not be the right company for you.
You need to feel comfortable and confident in your choice
Take your time to find the right fit…a good company, design professional or architect will welcome questions. This is a personal choice that will address your personal needs for your home.
Please bear in mind that this is the beginning of a long working relationship to create your home. A place where you will:
live - in the living room with that perfect seating arrangement, kitchen that is set to your cooking preferences with bedrooms that seamlessly integrate wardrobe storage, ensuites and that size of bed you always wanted
relax - with a well designed bathroom that allows you to switch off, or infront of that wide screen TV in your living room that doubles up effortlessly as a home cinema
raise a family – in a well co-ordinated home that is adaptable for members of the family of all ages, with options to have open plan spaces that allow you to monitor children at those younger ages and when needed, to close of areas or go to that second living room when they bring their friends around
entertain guests and host parties – in a home that can be adapted in seconds with movable furniture and hidden pocket doors to change parts of your home into a place to bring all the family together when hosting parties, birthdays and celebrations
provide sanctuary and safety – seek for you and your family to be safe with provisions to promote security.
Do not leave the creation of these spaces and your home in the hands of someone that you are not comfortable with. This may sound obvious but at times architects, designers or construction professionals (who may be very capable) are selected for the wrong reasons. No matter what experience they claim to have or qualification they may hold – when working on such a personal space if you have no connection with your architect, designer or construction professional, it will be felt by all in the end result.
You have met an architect, planning consultant or any other design professional that is capable of carrying out the works. Consider who you met and what you was asked.
Consider:
Was this a member of the team or the director?
How well did you get on with this person?
How long did they take to understand your needs?
How engaging and/or enthusiastic where they about your project?
Did you feel that you was listened to?
Though not all enquiries can be handled by a company director, if a salesman is preparing your project brief we would recommend you ask to speak to a member of the team that would be handling your project, otherwise you will not be able to gauge whether you would like to work with them.
As mentioned above, compatibility and connectivity is key when selecting the right company. Salesmen are trained to be welcoming and trustable and have a role to play that is more useful in other areas like purchasing a car or buying clothes. Unless you want to be treated like another client on the production line, consider this with the same level of integrity as you would with your heart surgeon, and look for the confidence that will enable your scheme to flourish.
The right professional advice can come from an architect, architectural designer, technologist, planning specialist, designer or even combination of a few.
Good planning advice can come from a range of disciplines. Architects are not trained to understand the intricacies of the Town and Country Planning Act (they will learn this through experience), planning specialists are not trained in designing beautiful buildings.
Going back to our analogy of the heart surgeon, if you are looking to have heart surgery at your local hospital; a qualified surgeon is a great starting point but nobody wants to be the surgeons first patient. Experience and the ability to demonstrate the capability to deliver is sadly key when considering who your surgeon is, this should also be the same if you are seeking confidence and comfort when considering who is going to guide you on your residential development from inception to completion.
Am I being dramatic in my analogy?...This is a great topic for discussion that I would welcome from anyone. Lets look at this from another point of view. Investing in a house extension, conversion or rebuild will be the biggest investment most people will make after purchasing a house. Some people would have spent years saving or, are going to commit themselves to years of borrowing. When it comes to investing in a home development, the level of preparation in selecting the right professional to guide you on your journey should not fall short of the effort that it has taken to get you there.
I have found the right company/architect/professional and wish to appoint them, what do I do?
When engaging in the services of a professional, the following must be declared and agreed between both parties as a minimum:
An outline of your requirements (brief),
Scope of works to be carried out with an anticipated timeline for delivery (where possible as timelines will often be subject to planning and other matters),
Terms and conditions of the service,
Payment structure and schedule,
This is often presented in a Service and Fee Proposal document (or one of a similar name) which has an appointment form attached to it.
Regardless of whether you are working with an Architect, an architectural designer, technologist, or any other construction professional that may (or may not) be under RIBA, RICS, CIAT bodies, a clear document detailing your requirements, what services are required to deliver these services, how much the service can cost, how you are expected to pay for the service and the terms and conditions that all parties are to abide by must be agreed and signed before any works commence.
Is MSK Design the right fit for me?
MSK Design is an energetic design-led practice that since 2007 has been delivering successful homes and living spaces by (and not limited to) listening to the needs of their clients.
Located in Barnet North London and delivering projects across London and the UK, MSK Design know that no two projects or two clients can ever be the same.
When encountering a complex site or a client that simply wants more than what planning policy dictates can be done, MSK Design will often adopt complex planning strategies to test and push the planning department into getting what their clients want… At the end of this process, MSK Design have often satisfied if not exceeded their clients’ expectations in maximising their development potential.
At MSK Design, core services offered to all clients integrate several disciplines from inception stage to enrich their design process. Their process coordinates a number of key considerations across the work stages to enable schemes to be aligned with client expectations and budgetary requirements. MSK Design focusses on delivering buildable schemes (even when adopting new technologies or challenging structures) and seeks to manage all of our developments to completion/handover.
Note from the author
Part of our success at MSK Design is built upon our experience in preparing well written planning feasibilities and carrying out conceptual financial viability assessments, both of which are offered to our clients service packages and tracked alongside our design process.
Before embarking on your journey, why not give us a call to decide whether MSK Design is the right fit for you.