ABSTRACT
Before contacting an architect, a client will need to draw up the project brief. The focus should be on what the client wants to achieve, noting down all the requirements and highlighting any problems that need solving. The client should also try to establish an overall budget. This will help him/her to discuss costs up front with the architect and avoid disappointment at a later stage. The client should look for a practice with experience of his/her type of project or one that shares his/her aspirations. This may involve checking how many similar projects the architects have built, their contacts with local authority town planners, and their track record of approvals. In addition to the proposed fees and schedule of services, the client should specifically the architect to provide: previous examples of similar projects; the team to undertake the project, including relevant curriculum vitae’s; and a method statement as to how the work will be undertaken.
