We will guide you through the full process from start to finish, ensuring a smooth, professional and enjoyable experience.
1. Design & Consultation
Initially, we will arrange to visit you, at a time suitable to you, to discuss what you are hoping to achieve from your development project. Don’t worry if you’re not sure exactly what you want to do – at giraffearchitecture we have the creative skills to help you see the opportunities that can make fantastic improvements to your home even on the lowest budget. We will listen to your ideas and work with you at a personal level to ensure the best solution is achieved.
We’re also available in the evening and at weekends…so there’s no need to take time off work.
2. Appointment
Following our initial consultation, we will prepare a breakdown of your projects requirements, outlining all the fees involved, as well as advising you of any other project specific requirements relevant to your development.
We will then arrange to carry out a measured survey of your property to allow accurate feasibility options to be prepared. Following this we will prepare a series of sketches and drawings, showing multiple options for your consideration, which we will discuss and develop together.
3. Planning
Once you are happy with the proposed scheme, we will preapre detailed drawings, along with the relevant forms and information for your Planning Application. giraffearchitecture act as your agent, dealing directly with the local authorities, and where necessary provide them with additional information in support of your application. At giraffearchitecture we have dealt with various local authorities in Scotland with who we have developed good working relationships, however our professional and experieced approach means that we are ideally suited to liase with your local authority wherever you are.
4. Building Regulations
Once Planning has been granted, we will prepare the detailed drawings for your Building Warrant Submission. As part of this, it is likely we will need to speak to other professionals – in particular a Structural Engineer. At giraffearchitecture we willl know or find qualified and competent Engineers in your area. We’ll liaise directly with them, typically sourcing a minimum of three quotes for you to choose from. Alternatively if you have someone in mind you would like to use we would be happy to work with them, provided they are chartered and appropriately insured.
As before we act as your agent, dealing directly with the local authorities until the application has been granted.
5. Construction to completion
Now we need to find a suitable builder…at a suitable cost. We can assist by producing a series of drawings and specifications which will enable builders to provide estimates for the construction work. You can get as many quotes as you want (we recommend no less than three). We can then help you decide, balancing ‘cost, reputation and timescale’ to make sure the right builder is chosen for your project.
Once a builder is appointed, giraffearchitecture can produce construction information for the builder to refer to throughout the project. We are also available for site visits, where we will regulalry visit your site to inspect the quality of the work.
Once construction is complete, we can liaise direclty with the local authority to obtain the completion certificate…Your project is now complete!