A new way of working #Architects #Initial #Consultation

initial,consultation,architect,county,mayo,ireland

Although not new for some architects, this is a dramatic departure from the way we used to work regarding the initial and subsequent consultation.

We always found that initial and ‘starting the job’ consultations troublesome as either too much is expected or the client wasn’t far enough along to benefit from the ‘full’ design service.

So in addition to our standard services where we provide the full or partial architectural services from inception to completion; we are also providing smaller chunks of design time that break down into the services outline below. What’s particularly exciting for us is that these services can be paid for online via Paypal (all major credit cards taken, bank transfer or cheque) in the SHOP section of the website:

• Planning or enforcement questions – €50 inc VATbook_now_button

This consultancy option allows you to ask any question concerning the following:

• Planning Applications/Permissions
• Retention Planning
• Statute of limitations
• Compliance
• Enforcement

Upon payment you can email us your question and we’ll give our professional advice of the situation. The price also includes any follow-up questions/answers.


• The Initial Consultation – €150 inc VATbook_now_button

The initial consultation is where we can discuss the outline of your project, it lasts approximately an hour and takes place in our office in Swinford, County Mayo (please contact for on-site meetings where additional travel expenses will need to be calculated).

The consultation evaluates your project; whether it’s a little rearrangement of an existing house, an extension or an entirely new house; we can discuss your ideas and requirements. An outline brief is produced within this meeting together with advice concerning light, space, comfort and budget.

The cost of this initial consultation is included in subsequent costs should you decide to proceed further.

After payment I’ll contact via email or phone to arrange a suitable date/time for us to meet.

NOTE: ‘Full’ designs do not form part of this initial consultation


Half Day Workshop for house remodelling & extensions – €495 inc VATbook_now_button

The Half Day Design Workshop takes the initial consultation a step further into a half-day ‘workshop’ where we meet in your home (within the Connacht region – please contact us for travel costs if further afield) and provide the following service:

• 3 hour home visit (approximately)
• Development of the brief
• Measured survey of the part of the house to be remodelled or extended
• Freehand sketch (to scale) of the existing floor plan.
• Freehand sketch (to scale) of the proposed remodelling/extension and other changes.
• Advice about planning and other relevant regulations.
• Budget cost of proposed works
• Outline of additional services (if required)

This may be all that you need and a local engineer could prepare any structural details that you may require; otherwise we also provide an outline of further architectural services if planning or further design is required.

After payment, I’ll contact you to arrange a suitable date/time for the consultation


Full Day – Design Workshop for new houses – €922.50 inc VATbook_now_button

The Full Day Design Workshop for new houses takes the initial consultation a step further into a full-day ‘workshop’ where we meet at the site (within the Connacht region – please contact us for travel costs if further afield) and provide the following service:

• 3 hour home visit (approximately)
• Development of the brief
• Measured survey of the key site dimensions & levels
• Subsequent 3 hour design workshop (either near site or in office)
• Freehand sketch (to scale) of the site layout
• Freehand sketch (to scale) of the proposed floor plans
• Advice about planning and other relevant regulations
• Budget cost of the proposed works
• Outline of additional services (if required).

An outline ‘sketch’ layout is prepared following the half day analysis and half day design workshop; this sketch may be enough for you to proceed to further services or you can purchase additional ‘workshop’ time in chunks of 3 hours (see below).

After payment I’ll contact via email or phone to arrange a suitable date/time for the consultation.


Additional Workshop time – 3 hours – €395 inc VATbook_now_button

It may be that the initial consultation or half-day workshop whetted your appetite to develop the design futher.

The 3 hour additional workshop time gives you a 3 hour chunk of time that can be offset against any of the following:

• Design Development
• Specifications on insulation/airtightness etc…
• Lighting layouts
• Interior Design
• Elevations
• 3D Views
• U-value calculations
• Photomontages
• Interior wall elevations
• In fact anything…

Working in this way allows you to keep control over how much you are spending on your architectural services whilst at the same time obtaining great service and design.


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