Built To Last

Emma Ellson and Kieran Gaffney explain how to find, hire and brief an architect to deliver your building project successfully

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A first-time self-builder comes to you without any knowledge of how to proceed: what is your step-by-step guide?

 I would start off by explaining what each stage of the process involves and giving examples of the likely timescales. I would also direct them towards the RIBA Plan of Work – it’s a great guideline for clients who have never undertaken a building project before and is something our practice, Bespoke, issues from the outset and references throughout a job to help them understand which stage we’re at.

It’s worth taking the time to ensure the client grasps the process from the beginning, as it means they won’t have an unrealistic schedule in mind and be disappointed when their hoped-for move-in date (usually Christmas!) proves impossible to achieve.

Managing budget expectations is critical too. The client must be aware of all costs from the outset. There’s not just the build cost to think about; there are other things to pay for, too – statutory consent and consultant fees, groundwork investigations, surveys and assessments, for example. Complex sites can throw up further costs before the build even commences. We make sure to explain all of these from the beginning so that the client’s entire budget is not simply devoted to the build cost. New-builds have the benefit of being exempt from VAT, but unexpected costs may arise as the work progresses; for that reason, we insist on allowing for a reasonable contingency fund.

What are the most common mistakes made by self-builders – and how can these be avoided?