Renovations or redecorating your space suggest you want to change the current way you live, and upgrade it to a different vision, maybe with more style, efficiency or comfort. 

How do you envision your new space? What new lifestyle do you see for yourself? If a bigger house is needed with more space, then question why? T

his can be for various reasons, and it's beneficial to inform your designer, so they can prioritise the same aspects you do and highlight suitable ideas. A bigger house could be needed because...

• Your family is growing
• Your kids are active and need to be outside with safe supervision
• You don't all want to be on top of each other - but you also want spaces and places you can enjoy being together
  
• You're busy and need to do multiple jobs at once as well as watch the kids
  
• Need a space for family and friends to stay in, so you can entertain and spend time with people
  

How Much Do You Want To Spend?

This is a key consideration for any renovation or redesign. The budget should always be given to the Architect during initial meetings to ensure it can be maintained throughout the project. 

Being unclear with your budget can cause time-consuming problems and disagreements down the line, so make it clear. The designer will meld your needs and wants with the given budget to develop an economic plan that encases the vision you imagined.

If you have no idea how much it's going to cost, then it's best to do some research before meeting with an Architect, just so you have some independent knowledge. 

Ask a friend who recently had some renovation, or speak to various companies to get some quotes. If you still aren't sure, then speak to your selected Architect, they will be able to help with planning and creating a strategy for the project.

Information About Your Property 

Before creating an initial plan, the Architect must know basic information about the space and land. 

Survey drawings, existing plans and service information can provide the relevant information to your designer. The previous homeowners may have passed on some of this info, or more recent surveyors may have created reports. 

Once the Architect has suitable amounts of information, they can create a plan based on the house design and existing structure. 

This information can help determine the need for planning permissions and other council or government-required forms.

Ideas You May Have 

As stated above, mood boards and drawings are a great indicator for the Architect to determine your personal style and vision. 

This could be a collection of photos, quick drawings or detailed sketches on more professional programmes. The designer will use these ideas as the catalyst and further expand on ideas to create a compressive plan. 

However, most Architects won't directly use these images and instead use them as a reference for the design. 

 But don't fret if you lack drawings as you can verbally describe your vision or even tell a story of the magical garden at the Airbnb you visited that you dream of in your home. It all comes together to define your envisioned home and create the structure for the project.

Organise Your Ideas

Before meeting the Architect, spend time finalising your priorities; this can be done using a scrapbook, flash drive or another form. 

Regardless of the size of a project, there will be obvious elements, layouts and styles that you're more drawn to.

Determine your wants and save them so that you can present them to the Architect during the first meeting. The designers' job is to get an overall sense of "you" and your tastes; having organised ideas speeds up this process and minimises potential misunderstandings.

Be Forthcoming About Your Budget

Your budget should be at the centre of planning, and although your Architect may have some exceptional ideas, they may not fall within your given budget and could waste your time. 

Being clear about your budget from the first meeting will make following meetings easier and more effective. Stating something is too expensive is absolutely fine and nothing to feel anxious about as your designer will be able to provide alternative solutions.

Ask Questions

Don't be too shy or nervous to ask your Architect important questions. 

Although you may not know exactly what you're talking about, a good designer will be able to guide you through the process to develop efficient, comprehensive plans. 

It's unlikely you'll have looked at blueprints, so ask for clarification to stay informed and confident with the project.