Don't move, improve: how to get the most from your home

With more and more people in the UK choosing to improve rather than move, the creativity, attention to detail and professional advice of an architect can be invaluable to the success of any renovation project. From expert advice on fittings, materials and fixtures to creative ideas on how to make the best use of space and light, their professional input can give even the most humble of projects the wow factor. But as well as their creativity architects can also offer invaluable guidance to help you through the pitfalls of the planning process and even help to manage your project to ensure that your best laid plans are turned into a reality.

However; architectural services are often seen as an expensive luxury by homeowners who are put off by the cost and confused about when to get architects involved. Many people find the prospect of approaching an architect dauntingly complex. This is mainly caused by the fact that for many people the service traditionally provided is inappropriately cumbersome and badly explained so the customer just doesn't know what they can or should expect. The standard way of using an architect is not only too cumbersome for some people but also too expensive for the project they have in mind. This is disappointing since many people would like to be able to utilise the expertise of an architect to enhance their building project but simply cannot justify the cost. But, there is an alternative in the form of Architect Your Home (www.architect-yourhome.com), a company that has revolutionised the way that people are renovating their homes.

Architect Your Home is the UK’s leading supplier of architectural services for the homeowner market with more than 45 practices nationwide. Launched in 2001 the company was founded by Hugo and Jude Tugman, who after 10 years of running their own architectural practice realised that traditional working methods didn’t always measure up to the needs of the individual homeowner. Architect Your Home has pioneered a unique pay-as-you-go menu of services. This has been specifically designed to meet the needs of a growing number of people who want expert advice from an architect or designer, but are daunted by the prospect and complexity of the traditional full service. The idea behind the company is to encourage more people to use the professional input of an architect for small domestic projects like loft conversions, extensions, or open planning.

Architect Your Home has turned architecture into a commodity that is more accessible to the consumer. The company offers the full range of architectural services from initial ideas and sketches right the way through to detailed design and project management, but rather than offering them as a complete package they have broken them down into individual components. Thanks to the company’s menu of services, people know exactly what they will be paying for and can pick and choose the services that suit them. This means that homeowners with varying budgets can get access to affordable ideas, advice and drawings in a pay-as-you-go style.

The company’s most popular services are the half-day and full-day kick start initial visit, which involves a four or seven hour site meeting. These kick start visits are the starting point of the Architect Your Home service. For £450 for the half-day visit and £750 for the full day, one of the company’s RIBA qualified architects comes to the home and discusses the project personally, before measuring and putting together sketch drawings over the kitchen table. Advice on planning and building regulations, likely costs and pitfalls, your budget and the way forward are all part of this initial session. Customers can then involve the architect for as much, or as little of the project as they want by choosing from the additional menu of services.

As well as the kick start, visits Architect Your Home also offers the full range of services you would expect from a traditional architectural practice including detailed site drawings, project management and planning applications. This gives the customer the flexibility to cherry pick only those services that they need, involving an architect in as much or as little of a project as they like. The choice is theirs.

For more information on Architect Your Home and the company’s menu of services visit www.architect-yourhome.com or call 0800 849 8505.