ARCHITECTURAL PLANS

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Architectural Plans Airdrie

Architectural Plans Ltd provide a domestic and commercial architectural planning service to the Airdrie area.

How to choose an architectural planner for your Airdrie building project

If you are planning on building your own home, renovate or extend your existing Airdrie property, you will probably be wondering if you need the skills of an architectural planner. This will depend on what you want to achieve but generally speaking, anything that requires major renovation or anything complex, then the services and skills of an planner will be more or less essential.

Unless you are a property developer or work within the construction industry commission architectural services, it is unlikely that you will have had the need to choose an architectural planner previously! Making an informed choice is difficult until you have made some tentative enquiries. With this in mind, we have created this easy-to-follow guide about what planners do as well as some common questions to ask yourself about your project…

No two building projects are the same and so you need to make sure you know what you are wanting from your project from the very start. An architectural planner can help you develop ideas but we suggest making contact with an planner early on in the building project. This will help you get the finish and style you want for your Airdrie building project, as well as setting a realistic budget.

Designing your new home or project is an important aspect of any planners's role. They can not only refine your own ideas but also suggest solutions or other possibilities.

An important part of any build is making sure the correct building regulations and permits are in place before and during the build process. Getting approval for aspects of your Airdrie project will be something an experienced architect will be able to efficiently complete on your behalf. Local architects will also have excellent relationships with local authority planning departments and be aware of what is and what is not acceptable for building regulations.

Many customers also maintain their contract with their chosen architect during the building process as they value their input at all stages. However, depending onbudget, some people will then continue on with the building process without the aid of the architect, using detailed plans with the builder. Should you continue to employ the services of an planner at this point, they canact as the lynchpin of the project, engaging trades at various points in the build as well as monitoring the budget.

These are some key questions to ask yourself to help you decide if an architectural planner is needed on your project:

• What will be the main challenges on the build?

Some areas will already, for example, have planning permission restrictions in force meaning that some aspects of your chosen design or ideas may not be conducive to approval.

• What is your budget?

You will to keep a tight hold of your budget as costs can soon spiral! Don't forget to have a contingency budget too (many people set this as 10% of their overall budget) for those unforeseen costs that crop up on every build.

• Local planners for a local project?

Many customers engage local planners for their Airdrie projects, although this is not essential. What it does give you is the opportunity to keep your budget lower and your planner local to the build site - just in case you need an onsite visit.

• Do you need a specialist planner?

Many customers when looking to build their own home are looking for something unique. You need to be confident that the planner that you are working with understands your vision for your property. They should be driven by what you want, not what they think you should have.

• Will you enjoy working with them?

Creating and maintaining a relationship with your architectural planner is key to a successful outcome. Customers often base this on intuition as well as how well they feel the architect interprets their design ideas. You should enjoy working on building or renovating your Airdrie home!

Architectural Plans are a growing planning practice with experience in creating plans for new build properties, renovations and extensions. Local to Airdrie, they can provide you with a competitive quote for your project.