Can I Get Architect Advice Online? How the Kirkwood Discovery Call Works
Yes. Kirkwood’s Discovery Call happens online or over the phone, runs about half an hour, and doesn’t cost anything. There are no drawings to bring, no measurements to work out beforehand, nothing to prepare. You come away from it with a clear read on your planning position, a realistic sense of what your project will cost, and a straightforward idea of what happens next if you decide to go ahead.
What Is the Discovery Call, and Is It Really Free?
Yes, completely free, no strings attached.
The Discovery Call is Kirkwood’s name for the initial conversation, a proper 30 to 45-minute discussion where you get across everything you need to know before spending a penny. It happens by video call, over the phone, or on WhatsApp, whichever suits you.
Here’s what you actually walk away with:
- Your planning position — whether your project sits under permitted development or needs a planning permission application
- A realistic cost range for your specific project, from design right through to the finished build
- A fixed quote covering the design and building regulations package
- A clear sense of what comes next if you’d like to move forward
Plenty of people book a Discovery Call a year or more before they’re actually ready to start; there’s genuinely no pressure to commit to anything.
What Kirkwood Does Before the Call
A common assumption is that a first consultation means starting from scratch, explaining every detail of the property from the ground up. That’s not really how it works here.
Before the call happens, Kirkwood will have already:
- Looked up the property’s planning history on the council’s own portal
- Checked what’s already been built and approved on neighbouring properties
- Had a look at the property itself using aerial imagery and street view
- Checked whether any local planning restrictions apply — conservation status, Article 4 Directions, listed building status
So by the time you’re actually talking, Kirkwood already has a grasp on the planning position, what constraints are likely to apply, and what design routes are realistically open to you. You’re not starting the conversation by filling in background; that part’s already done.
What Actually Happens on the Call
This is roughly how the conversation tends to unfold, though it rarely feels as rigid as a numbered list makes it sound.
- What you’re after. Even a loose idea works fine here: ‘we want to extend the kitchen’ or ‘we need another bedroom’ is plenty to get going. The detail gets built out from there.
- Where you stand on planning. Drawing on the groundwork already done beforehand, Kirkwood will tell you whether your project is likely to sit under permitted development or need a full application. This is one of the more useful things to know early on.
- What’s actually possible on your property. Given the planning position, the shape of your plot, and what you’ve described, Kirkwood will talk through realistic options, including some you might not have thought of.
- Roughly what it’ll cost. Design fees, structural engineering, building regulations, and a build cost range, based on what Kirkwood’s own vetted builders are currently charging across Essex, not a generic figure pulled from the internet.
- Where to go from here. If you want to move forward, Kirkwood talks you through what happens next and roughly when.
| What the Discovery Call covers | |
| Your planning position — PD or full planning? | Realistic cost ranges — design through to build |
| Architectural fees — fixed quote | Structural engineering fees |
| Building regulations and building control fees | Planning application fees |
| Design options for your specific property | Timeline — from first drawing to completion |
| What happens next if you want to proceed | Any specific questions you have |
What Do I Need to Prepare?
Nothing, really. No drawings, no measurements, no photos required. You don’t need to know your exact budget, have a design in mind, or understand a single thing about planning rules; Kirkwood handles all of that side.
The one thing that helps, though it isn’t required, is a rough sense of what you’re hoping to achieve. Something like ‘we want to open up the back of the house and get a bigger kitchen’ is more than enough for a first call.
Kirkwood does the groundwork before the call happens. You just need to turn up.
Online, by Phone, or In Person?
Online, yes, the Discovery Call runs over video or phone, whether that’s Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, FaceTime, WhatsApp, or a plain old phone call. Nothing to download.
There’s a good reason this works well at this stage. Because Kirkwood does the property research remotely beforehand- planning records, aerial imagery- there’s nothing that actually needs someone standing on your doorstep yet. The conversation ends up just as useful as meeting face to face, and it’s a lot quicker to arrange.
The in-person part, the full measured survey, comes later, once you’ve decided you want to go ahead.
Because it’s all done remotely, a call can usually be set up within a day or two of first getting in touch.
What Happens After the Call?
If you decide to go ahead: Kirkwood arranges a full measured survey of the property, and design work starts from there, existing layout first, then the proposed drawings, then planning drawings. You’ll go back and forth until the design feels right, and only then does the planning or permitted development submission go in. Structural engineering and building regulations follow once the design itself is approved.
If you’re not ready yet: Nothing happens. No chasing calls, no invoice landing in your inbox. Plenty of homeowners have a Discovery Call, then come back to Kirkwood months later when the timing’s right; whatever was covered on the call still holds.
Either way, the call itself costs nothing and asks nothing of you, but you’ll finish it knowing exactly where things stand.
Working out where you stand with an extension project shouldn’t mean waiting on a site visit, paying a fee, or having every detail already decided. Kirkwood’s Discovery Call takes about half an hour, costs nothing, and can usually be booked in within a day or two. Kirkwood works across Essex and into East London, covering Chelmsford, Brentwood, Billericay, Wickford, Basildon, Rayleigh, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend, and Hornchurch, along with a full design and build service for whatever comes after that first conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get architect advice online in Essex?
Yes. Kirkwood’s Discovery Call is done online by video call or phone, no site visit needed at the consultation stage. The call is completely free, takes 30 to 45 minutes, and covers your planning position, realistic costs, design options, and next steps. It can usually be arranged within a day or two of making contact.
Is the architect consultation free?
Yes. The Discovery Call is completely free and carries no obligation to proceed. You will receive your planning position, realistic cost estimates from design through to build, and a fixed quote for the architectural package, all at no charge.
What is covered in an online architect consultation?
The consultation covers your planning position (permitted development or planning application), design options for your specific property, realistic cost ranges for architectural fees, structural engineering, building regulations, and build, plus the timeline and next steps. Kirkwood researches your property before the call, so the conversation is specific to your home rather than generic.
Do I need drawings or measurements before the consultation?
No. Kirkwood prepares before the call by reviewing your property remotely using planning records and aerial imagery. You do not need drawings, measurements, photographs, or any preparation. A rough idea of what you want to achieve is all that is needed.
Can I have a free architect consultation by phone?
Yes. Kirkwood’s Discovery Call can be done by phone, video call on Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, FaceTime, or WhatsApp. No downloads are required. Because Kirkwood researches your property before the call, a phone consultation is just as productive as a video call or in-person meeting at this stage.
What happens after an online architect consultation?
If you decide to proceed, Kirkwood carries out a full measured survey and the design process begins. If you are not ready to proceed, nothing happens: no follow-up pressure, no invoice. Many homeowners have a Discovery Call months or years before they are ready to start and come back to Kirkwood when the time is right.
How long does an architect consultation take?
The Discovery Call typically takes 30 to 45 minutes. It covers your planning position, design options, realistic costs, and next steps. A longer first meeting is not usually necessary at the consultation stage because Kirkwood has already researched the property before the call begins.
Which areas does Kirkwood cover for online consultations?
Kirkwood covers Essex and East London, including Chelmsford, Brentwood, Billericay, Wickford, Basildon, Rayleigh, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Hornchurch, Benfleet, Colchester, Braintree, and surrounding areas. Because the consultation is online, it can also accommodate homeowners outside this area.
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