What Happens in an Architect Consultation? What to Expect Before You Start
If you’ve never spoken to a design company before, it’s natural to worry the call will feel like a sales pitch. It isn’t. A Discovery Call with Kirkwood is a straightforward, unpressured conversation, usually lasting somewhere between 30 and 45 minutes, where the goal is simple: help you understand what your project actually involves before you commit to anything.
You’ll come away from it knowing where you stand on planning, roughly what the whole thing is likely to cost, and how long it’s realistically going to take. You don’t need to bring much to the table; a general sense of what you’re hoping to achieve is plenty.
The rest of this guide walks through exactly what happens on the call, the work Kirkwood does beforehand, and what’s genuinely useful to have ready on your end.
The Discovery Call costs nothing
Book a free Discovery Call — no charge, no obligation.
The Groundwork Kirkwood Does Before You Even Speak
Before the phone rings, someone from Kirkwood has already looked into your property. This is one of the reasons the call feels different from a typical first chat with a builder; there’s no starting from zero.
- Pulling up the property’s planning history through the council’s planning portal
- Looking at what neighbouring homes have built and had approved
- Getting a feel for the property using aerial images and street view
- Checking whether local planning restrictions apply, conservation status, Article 4 Directions, that sort of thing
By the time the call starts, Kirkwood usually has a good sense of whether your project will fall under Permitted Development or need a full planning application, whether anything unusual affects the property, and what similar projects nearby suggest about the odds of approval.
That preparation is what makes the conversation useful from the first few minutes, rather than spending half the call on background questions. It’s one of the clearer differences between booking a Discovery Call and simply ringing round for builder quotes.
What Actually Gets Covered on the Call
This is usually what people want to know most. Here’s roughly how a Discovery Call unfolds, though it rarely feels as scripted as a list makes it sound.
- What you’re hoping to achieve. More room for the kids, a proper kitchen-diner, an extra bedroom, somewhere to work from home- whatever it is, you don’t need a fully formed plan. A rough sense of the problem you’re solving is enough to work with.
- Where you stand on planning. Drawing on the groundwork already done, Kirkwood will tell you whether your project is likely to sail through as Permitted Development or whether it needs a Householder Planning Application. Knowing this early changes how you think about timing and budget. Our planning permission guide goes into more detail if you want to read ahead.
- What’s realistically achievable on your plot. Rear extension, side return, loft conversion, going up rather than out- the conversation covers which routes actually suit your house, your garden, and your planning position, not just what you initially had in mind.
- Roughly what it will cost. Kirkwood will talk you through likely costs across design, structural engineering for house extensions, building regulations, and the build itself. These are ballpark figures rather than a fixed quote; you can’t price a build accurately before drawings exist, but you’ll leave with a genuine sense of the budget range. Our house extension costs page breaks this down further by project type.
- What comes next if you want to go ahead. This covers the measured survey, how the design process unfolds, and roughly how long it takes to get from a first sketch to approved drawings.
Calls typically run 30 to 45 minutes. Some people are ready to book on the spot; plenty of others go away and think about it for a few days first. Neither is treated as the ‘right’ response.
What You Actually Need to Bring to the Table
Not much, honestly. The whole point of the call is that it’s a low barrier to entry, but three things do help.
- A rough idea of what you’re after. ‘We need more space around the kitchen’ is a perfectly good starting point.
- Some sense of budget, even a wide one. It helps steer the conversation rather than talking in the abstract.
- Anything you happen to know about past work or planning history on the house, though don’t worry if you don’t; Kirkwood checks this anyway.
Equally worth knowing what you don’t need:
- Detailed measurements or drawings that come later, with a proper survey.
- A fully worked-out brief. Ideas tend to develop as the design takes shape.
- Any grasp of planning rules yourself. That’s what Kirkwood is there for.
- A builder lined up. That conversation happens once the design is finished, not before.
A few photos of the house or even a rough sketch can help, if you happen to have them, but they’re a nice-to-have, not a requirement.
What Happens Once the Call Is Over
From here, things go one of two ways, and both are entirely normal outcomes.
You decide to go ahead: Kirkwood arranges a full measured survey of the property, and from there the design work begins, existing layout drawings first, then the proposed design. You’ll go back and forth on the drawings until you’re happy with them, and only then does the planning or permitted development application get submitted. Structural engineering and building regulations follow once the design itself is signed off. This whole sequence sits under Kirkwood’s design and build service, so it’s managed as one continuous process rather than handed between different companies.
You’re not ready yet: that’s completely normal, and nobody chases you for it. Plenty of homeowners have their Discovery Call, sit on it for months, and come back when the timing suits them better. Whatever was discussed on the call still holds; nothing goes stale.
Whichever way it goes, the call itself costs nothing and asks nothing of you in return. What you get out of it is a genuinely clearer picture of your project, what it involves, roughly what it costs, and what the path forward actually looks like.
Does It Have to Be Face to Face?
No, most Discovery Calls happen over the phone or on a video call rather than in person.
- The research into your property is done remotely beforehand, using planning records and aerial imagery, so there’s nothing that requires someone standing on your doorstep at this stage.
- Planning position, likely costs, and design options can all be talked through without anyone visiting.
- The in-person visit and the measured survey only happen once you’ve decided to move forward.
If it’s easier to jump on video and show Kirkwood around the house or share a few photos while you talk, that’s an option too.
A Conversation First, a Commitment Later
At its core, a Discovery Call with Kirkwood is just a conversation, not a contract, not a hard sell. In half an hour to three-quarters of an hour, you’ll cover planning, design options, likely costs, and rough timescales, and walk away knowing exactly where your project stands.
It costs nothing and commits you to nothing. Kirkwood works across house extensions, loft conversions, and renovations throughout Essex, from Brentwood and Billericay to Chelmsford, Wickford, Basildon, Rayleigh, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, and Hornchurch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in a consultation with Kirkwood?
Kirkwood researches your property before the call, reviewing planning history, neighbouring extensions, and local planning policies. On the call, you discuss your brief, your planning position, realistic design options, and likely costs from design through to build. The call typically takes 30 to 45 minutes and is free with no obligation.
Is the initial consultation with Kirkwood free?
Yes. Kirkwood’s Discovery Call is free and carries no obligation to proceed. By the end of the call, you will have a clear understanding of your planning position, the costs involved, and the realistic timeline for your project.
Do I need to know exactly what I want before the call?
No. A rough idea of what you want to achieve is enough, for example, wanting to extend the kitchen or considering a loft conversion. The design evolves through the process. Kirkwood will ask questions and make suggestions based on your home and your planning position.
Can I have a consultation by phone or video call?
Yes. Most of Kirkwood’s Discovery Calls take place by phone or video; a site visit is not required at the consultation stage. Kirkwood researches your property remotely using planning records and aerial imagery before the call, so the conversation is productive from the start.
What information does Kirkwood need from me before the call?
Very little. Your address, a rough idea of what you want to achieve, and an approximate budget range are enough. Kirkwood checks the planning history and neighbouring extensions before the call. You do not need drawings, measurements, or any technical knowledge.
What happens after the consultation if I decide to proceed?
Kirkwood carries out a full measured survey of your property and begins the design process. Drawings are developed, refined with you, and then submitted for planning permission or permitted development approval. Structural engineering and building regulations follow once the design is agreed.
What if I am not ready to proceed after the call?
That is completely fine. Many homeowners book a Discovery Call months before they are ready to start and come back to Kirkwood when the time is right. There is no pressure on the call and no obligation afterwards.
Which areas does Kirkwood cover for consultations?
Kirkwood covers Essex and parts of East London, including Brentwood, Billericay, Chelmsford, Wickford, Basildon, Rayleigh, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, and Hornchurch. Consultations can be done by phone, video call, or, once a project proceeds, a site visit.
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