With the Practice having been established for almost 20 years we have vast experience in the design and build of all types of residential properties from the smallest loft conversion to the most luxurious of dream homes.

This experience can be utilised to whatever level you the customer determines.

You may want only to have plans prepared sufficient to obtain the necessary Local Authority approvals or you may want a full design service with every detail inside and out given fullest consideration, both in drawing form and on site.

These two levels of service, and there are many levels in between, require differing inputs of time, and our fee charging will reflect this.

At our initial meeting your desired level of service would be discussed and fees agreed. Examples of our work and the level of detailing which can be provided can also be made available.

If you are approaching more than one architect, ensure that you are comparing like with like. Only qualified architects are allowed to call themselves "architects" and by employing one you will ensure that you will get the benefit of a 7 year minimum training course including two years of practical experience.

Having decided to employ an architect you then need to consider the many different options and levels of service which can be provided.  It is never a good idea to ask for a quotation over the phone.

Our vision of what we intend to provide and your vision of what you are going to get may not be the same and the lowest quote is unlikely therefore to give the best value.  Knowing what you are going to get, and spending more on getting it, is likely to pay dividends in the long term, since:

• a well planned house will be worth more, but it need not cost any more to build.

• with extra attention to detail in the drawing stages the builders, when quoting, will know exactly what they are quoting for.  They will all be quoting for the same thing, and it is therefore less likely that there will be any misunderstandings or claims for extras.  This will also ensure that you employ the contractor offering the best value for money, as opposed to the lowest quote.  A low quote resulting from inadequate specification can quickly escalate out of control as you try to get what you want during construction.

• for a house to be fully detailed involves you in decisions of how you want each room or feature to look.  These decisions are then made at the planning stage instead of, as often happens, on the day when the builder plans to do that particular piece of work.  You therefore have time to consider the options and are more likely to get the best solution and to avoid disappointments.

• leaving the finer details to sort themselves out on site leads either to delays on completion of the work or to unsatisfactory compromises or both.  If the contractor is delayed his profit margin will be eroded and he could claim for that loss.  With this threat you are likely to accept the compromise of perhaps a material you do not want or a solution to a detail which is far from ideal.  Our recommendation therefore is that you appoint us to carry out the full architectural service although we would be happy to quote for any level of service you wish.

Our pledge is that on a like for like basis for whatever level we will not be beaten for value.