Question 1

Where is Home & Maker located?

Accepted Answer

Our head office is in London, and we have offices across England, Scotland & Wales, meaning we can service almost any location.

Question 2

Are you really qualified architects?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Not only are our architects RIBA registered, Home & Maker is an RIBA chartered practice. This means our team have all the qualifications and expertise needed to achieve truly happy customers. You can see our official listing here.

Question 3

Why Home & Maker?

Accepted Answer

Home & Maker is a national online residential architect with seven design studios across the UK. We empower our clients with expert advice and bespoke design at unbeatable value. You can be sure that your home is in safe hands by taking a look at our testimonials and seeing the value we have added to our clients homes.

Question 4

What makes your prices so competitive?

Accepted Answer

At Home & Maker we can achieve truly unbeatable value through our unique service menu approach, which allows you to pick the services that are right for your budget meaning that you get the best deal without the unnecessary extras. We then use our own advanced computerised drafting process to design more efficiently than commercial architect.

Question 5

How does payment work?

Accepted Answer

Your order is payable as per your payment plan. We ask for payment at the start of each phase of our services and a £60 deposit to secure your architect and create your project brief. Our service can be paused or adjusted at any phase.

Question 6

What about construction?

Accepted Answer

While we don't carry out the building work for your project, we have a wide variety of services to carry you through the construction process and beyond. This includes all necessary drawings, specification and submissions to your local authority as well as any agreements, specialist coordination or technical detailing that you may require.

After your project is complete, we can also provide services that can help sell your home and even offer a free 1 year Happy Healthy Home Checkup as standard with every project.

Question 7

What about if the Planners reject my application?

Accepted Answer

If your Local Authority rejects the application, they will most likely give reasons for their decision. We will consider these issues and advise on how best to solve these.

Question 8

How about if I am unhappy with the service?

Accepted Answer

We care about your satisfaction as we know how important your home is to you. If you feel that we haven't met your expectations, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 0330 380 1443 or drop us a message to let us know. One of our founders will work with you directly to resolve your concerns.

Question 9

What can Home & Maker do for me?

Accepted Answer

We pride ourselves on offering a level of service that is exactly suited to your needs. You can choose from any of the below, or more!

Expert Surveying
Interior Design
New Builds, Extensions, Remodelling & Conversion Design
Planning Application
Resolving Planning Disputes
3D Images & Videos
Structural Engineering
Detailed Design
On Site Services
Building Control Packages
Party Wall Advice & Build Over Agreements
Aftercare

We offer plenty of services not listed above, so if you don't see what you're looking for, or would like to talk about something more bespoke please reach out here.

Question 10

How does Home & Maker compare to a local architect?

Accepted Answer

Home & Maker is the go-to choice for a 21st Century architectural service experience. Here are just a few ways that we have brought a centuries old industry into the modern day;

Expertise & Efficiency

Our unique design & draughting process enables us to produce your drawings faster and at a higher quality than our competitors. Our large team means that we had a wide range of expertise, nationwide.

Communication & Collaboration

While we might not be right around the corner to you, we are always on hand with our integrated messaging function. This means that you can send and receive messages whenever suits you, rather than being on someone else's clock. Most of our customers prefer a fast and simple service, but should you want one of our team to visit your site, this can be scheduled at any time that you would like.

Question 11

What about surveys & site visits?

Accepted Answer

We know our customers like to save money and often enjoy being involved with their home design project. Thats why we offer our Self Survey option. You will receive a complimentary Home Measurement kit that has everything you need to take accurate dimensions of your space which we will then use to draw up your new design. Should you prefer for us to take care of this, we will visit your home and perform an Expert Survey for a fee, which can be seen in your quote basket.

If you would like us to visit your home at any other time, we are happy to do so at any stage of your project in either half day or full day site visits. Prices for this can be found in your Drawingboard.

Question 12

Why should I work with Home & Maker?

Accepted Answer

We always recommend working with an RIBA Chartered architect's practice on any alteration or construction project for your home. This is because your home is such a valuable asset to you when faced with cowboy builders, hidden fees, poor advice and unregulated one man bands. With Home & Maker on side, you can minimise your costs, and achieve the following three key benefits;

Protection - we hold Personal Indemnity Insurance
Planning - working with an architect improves the chances of your application being approved
Prudent - architect-led design offers higher quality, meaning less complications down the line

It can seem daunting to work with an architect due to the sometimes confusing jargon, unclear pricing and seemingly slow process. Thats why we offer fair fixed fees, free quotes and consultations up front and work online so that you have full control over every aspect of your project.

Question 13

Will the work completed by Home & Maker be insured?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our professional indemnity insurance has a limit of £250,000. We can offer a higher limit of £500,000 at a premium.

Question 14

How many design changes are included in my order?

Accepted Answer

We include, as standard, one full set of changes or revisions to your drawings at each phase of your project. You can make whatever changes you like to the design as you want, but we ask that you communicate this feedback in one go.

If you would like to include more design changes in your order, you can add this at anytime, and are charged at £300 excluding VAT.

Question 15

What’s the next step?

Accepted Answer

If you’re happy with your quote, confirm by placing your deposit. You can then access your Drawingboard, a place where you can fill out your Design Style Questionnaire, share inspiration with your architect and review your drawings. Your Self Survey kit will soon be on its way to you so that you can start measuring your home.

Question 16

I need more information about Home & Maker

Accepted Answer

If you have questions about Home & Maker and our service, you can email us directly or book a free 30 minute consultation call with one of our team. They are able to discuss any queries you may have.

Question 17

What is a project planning call?

Accepted Answer

At Home & Maker, our project planning calls are an opportunity to get advice on your project and have our expert team help plan your renovation project, phase by phase. This includes the architectural services you’ll need to achieve your dream home, as well as guidance on your project schedule, budget and next steps.

Question 18

Do I need planning permission? Will I be able to extend by 3m?

Accepted Answer

Home renovations are filled with questions like these. To make sure that our calls are as helpful as possible to your specific project, our consultations are always led by you and any questions or queries you may have.

We’re here to guide you through setting up your project, and can often offer advice on whether your project will need planning permission or if it falls into permitted development for example. You can also talk to one of our architects to identify whether your project is feasible, depending on your budget and timeline.

Question 19

Who are Home & Maker?

Accepted Answer

We are online architects who are passionate about creating beautiful, sustainable homes that are tailored to your needs. By offering architect services online, we’re able to deliver projects of all types and sizes at great value, while keeping our focus on smart, high-quality design solutions that make your space work hard for you. With our transparent, pay-as-you go architectural services we can offer you more flexibility and control so that we can design your dream home together, from wherever you are and no matter your schedule. Find out more about our service works here.

Question 20

At what stage of my project do I need to call?

Accepted Answer

Homeowners often find our project planning calls most useful at the very beginning of their renovation, especially if you’re not sure where to start. In these cases, we can help set you up with a project plan to make sure you’ve got all aspects covered. If you’re already mid-planning your build, our consultations are also a helpful opportunity to talk to an architect about any potential issues that you’d like advice on or optimise your projects fees or timelines.

Question 21

How does the call work?

Accepted Answer

Once you’ve booked your call, you’ll receive a confirmation email with all the details you’ll need (please check your spam folder if you’ve not yet received this). At your booked time, our team will give you a call on the number provided to start your 30 minute consultation.

Depending on the information available on your project, we’ll set-up a screen share, which can be accessed via the link in your confirmation email. This is also a great opportunity to share any files that you’re keen to chat through with our team, for example any architectural floor plans you might already have. At the end of your call, our team will then send you a recap of everything discussed and any updates to your quote.

If we call and it’s no longer a good time, that’s no problem - just let us know and we’d be happy to rebook you to a time that’s more convenient for you.

Question 22

How much is an architect consultation?

Accepted Answer

Our consultations are a complimentary, no-obligation, part of our service, and therefore completely free!

Question 23

How can I prepare for my call?

Accepted Answer

It’s helpful to gather as much information you have about your project so far, whether that’s the property’s listing on an estate agent website, or architectural drawings you may already have.

Ahead of your call, we also recommend filling in your scheduler form in as much detail as possible. The more specific you can be about the type of project you’re looking for, your budget and when you’d like to start, the more likely it’ll be that we can assess your plans for the property beforehand, and offer more accurate advice.

Don’t forget to make a list of questions you’d like to ask. If you’re keen to screen-share, please make sure that you’ve got a computer or tablet handy.

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