Extension virgin, meeting an architect to start it all off - what do I ask, tell, show, expect?

[SixImpossible]

Never done a extension oak or work on my house before. Meeting an architect this week for the first time. We want to totally gut and remodel the kitchen, and build extensions on either side.

What should I expect?
What should I prepare?
What are the important questions I should ask?

Is it like with plumbers, electricians, etc, and I should interview other architects, too?

Yes definitely interview other architects and look around your neighbourhood to see things you like. You can then ask the owner or look up the planning portal to find the architect.

In preparation for your meeting I would have lots of photos or magazine pictures showing what you like. Original floor plans will be useful to them too. Look on Pinterest or Houzz.

Hiya, we too are planning an extension to the back of our house. We are using a friends husband to do all the plans etc (he is an architectural technologist, having seen the work he's done to his own house recently, we're more than happy to just go with him and havent interviewed any other architects).

Anyhow, I too was a complete extension virgin, but here's how I understand it / how its working for us:

(1) Architect visits for initial chat (1hr) - we spent alot of time looking at the back of house in terms of where we wanted to extend. Architect came up with a whole new idea we'd never even considered or thought possible just during this initial meeting, so we were super pleased with that! We also had been collecting loads of pictures from house mags and showed him some of the things we liked. He also said we'll do some minor remodelling of the downstairs rooms to make the new space flow / fully usable with the rest of the house.

(2) Architect has now revisited our house and done a full survey - took him 4 hours, measured absolutely everything, used one of those things that stands on legs and you look through like a telescope (to get right levels / measurements etc).

(3) He is now using the survey to draw up plans for us based on our ideas / chats / his extensive measurements.

(4) Once we've all agreed on final design, he takes it all to planning for us (he knows all the local planners at the council so will handle all the planning application etc)

(5) Once planning is through / approved, he then draws up building reg plans - these are the plans that we apparently take to the builders to ask them to quote for the work (although we can take the planning application plans and ask for rough quotes, but they do ultimately need the building reg plans).

(6) Engage builder, build extension, pay builder, sit in new extension and weep at the cost of the remortgage

Ha, sorry, couldn't resist number 6! Seriously though, we are letting our architect guy lead us along the way really, he's the expert, we just tell him what we like / what we want the extra space for and how it'll be used. They're so bloody clever at coming up with brilliant things that me and DH would never even dream of (we're very undesigny people!).

GOod luck, hope all goes well!

When do you start paying? Is the first meeting a Let's See If We Can Work Together interview, or something that I have to pay him for?

I don't have any plans, and I don't have any examples of what I want - because I haven't seen anything that is like what I want - but I do have a very clear idea of what I want. I think.

BTW, point 6 is not facetious!

So our guy is charging us in 3 stages:
(1) Survey
(2) Planning
(3) Building regs

He's not raised invoice yet for survey so afraid can't say how much it cost yet....

An Architect or Architectural Technician will have a fee structure they can quote to you. Expect to pay more for the former as they are a fully qualified architect, not a technician. However, a lot of extensions do not need an architect but might if interpreting your ideas is likely to be more complex. If you want a 2 storey extension to match existing it will not take that much effort but a big extension on a period house or complex floor levels, room configuration and access could be more demanding. I think magazines and other peoples ' houses are a great source of inspiration. You do not want to over spend or have anything too whacky so a professional can guide you in this.

We didn't bother with more than one architect. We went with an architect recommended by two different colleagues. She has a website and I looked on that and liked what I saw. She has done a very good job, as has the builder. I have asked her to come back s couple of times during the build which had been very useful as we were able to make some minor changes. She is charging hourly for this. We are 11 weeks in to the build now and the end is in sight or at least point 6 is

Be clear about your budget. Often architects assume the budget you give them is just for the build. So remember to subtract items such as their fees, mortgage fees, planning fees structural engineer fees, utility move fees, insurance,contingency etc from the amount you tell them. Also be clear does your budget include fixtures and fittings (kitchen's can obv. Varies by thousands of pounds), does it include decoration?

Get references and think about whether you can get on with them. We got on really well with our architect, however he used a colleague for a few things and that guy wound me up something rotten (I presume the feeling was mutual). (PS an architect is not a marriage counsellor, do not use them to take a position on your view vs dh's)

There's a book called 'Do it with an architect: how to survive refurbishing your home' by Barbara Weiss & Louis Hellman which you can get on Amazon for less than £5. It's not the most up to date publication (1999) but when I was in private practice (am an architect) I remember it being pretty good for explaining to clients how the process worked. The is also the RIBA guide to appointing an architect, which you can download, but it's drier than the Sahara....

like sugarhoops I have just been through this process too - today I got the final plans.

I found the architect after looking at a lot online and choosing someone whose style I really liked - depends on your build obviously but I found that style varied massively.
They then gave me their free structure straight away I think - and I have paid after each lump sum - so initial visit (which I know some don't charge for) and then the measuring up survey and then it's broken down into design sketch and doing pre-app talks with council and drawing up proper plans and building regs etc.

I could then use them to put the job out to tender but am not going to use the architect after the design stage to save money.

Definitely try and work out exactly what you want - think about how you use your kitchen - do you want a window by the sink or bifold doors by dining table etc. Think it saves so much time and money having a good idea of what you want. I actually drew the kitchen/dining area out (in very bad sketch).

Having said that I think you also need to keep an open mind as someone upthread said because the architect may think of good ideas you hadn't even thought of.

And yes re budget - be very specific on that.

I think if you are meeting someone you think is good and that you like you don't need to meet others - you just need someone on your wavelength I think. Although if your build is very simple then I guess that's less relevant. But definitely get his costs up front and broken down.

I would definitely see more than one designer, and I would look to architectural technicians rather than architects as they're not as expensive and (in my experience) tend to have more experience of extension type jobs.

Look at the weekly list of planning applications on your council's website. Some agents' names will come up again and again - they are popular for a reason.

Good idea to look at planning applications.

As to budget, we have not set one yet, as we have no idea how much the work could cost. There is no point setting a limit that is too low. Equally, there is no point setting a limit that is very high if its not worth spending so much.

We've been saving for this for years! But if we find that our dream extension would cost too much...then we shall have to drastically re-think.