Property
Address or postcode, property type, approximate age where known, and whether the building is occupied during the work.
Before anybody prices the work
A better brief produces a better conversation.
You do not need every finish chosen before making contact, but you do need a clear reason for the project and an honest view of what is known.
Tell us where the work is, what needs to change and the best way to contact you.
Begin with the reason
“We want an extension” describes a category, not an outcome. More living space, better daylight, an accessible entrance, reliable parking or a garden that can be used in wet weather gives the project a test against which options can be judged.
Record the starting point
Information
Surveys, drawings, permissions, structural details, drainage records and previous quotations should be identified by revision and date.
Constraints
Narrow access, shared drives, trees, neighbours, working hours, parking and areas that must remain usable.
Responsibilities
Who appoints designers, supplies products, handles approvals and makes final decisions during the project.
Separate budget from specification
A budget is a limit or target. A specification describes what is included. Both matter, but hiding one inside the other creates confusion. Be open about the financial range while keeping product and finish decisions visible.
Where the design is still flexible, identify elements that can change without damaging the outcome. Where a decision affects structure, weathering or services, make it early enough for the team to coordinate it properly.
Know which approvals may apply
Planning permission, permitted development, building regulations, party-wall matters, sewer build-over arrangements, structural engineering and highway permissions are different things. Their relevance depends on the property and proposal. This guide does not replace confirmation from the responsible authority or appointed professional.
Prepare for a site conversation
Define the outcome
Write a two-sentence outcome and a short list of must-haves, preferences and items you do not want.
Inspect the real site
Gather the latest drawings and photographs, but avoid sending sensitive documents through an unagreed channel.
Write the scope
Walk the access route and note widths, steps, parking, neighbouring land and areas that must remain protected.
Agree the next step
List unanswered decisions so the conversation ends with named actions rather than a vague promise to think about it.
Compare quotations properly
Two totals are not comparable if one includes waste, access, drainage, making good and final finishes while the other does not. Compare the scope, assumptions, exclusions, product basis, payment stages and treatment of changes.
Project enquiry
Ready for the first conversation?
You do not need a perfect brief. You need an honest outcome, a location and the current stage of the project.