Real Life Architecture
Book an Online Consultation to Help You Decide Between Two Properties
If you cant choose between two properties but you know they each have potential and possible pitfalls, talk to me about them and I will give you my informed, professional opinion on which property best suits your needs.
I will sense check your ideas, timescale, budget and give you detailed feedback on what is, and is not, possible before you commit to buying a property.
45 min
200 British pounds
Online Consultations with Real Life Architecture are available if...
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The properties are in the UK.
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The properties are residential, such as a houses, flats or plots of land.
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You don't intend to create multiple properties, subdivisions, HMO's
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There isn't already an architect involved.
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Consultations are private and confidential. Videos featuring properties from earlier consultations were made with the client's approval. If you don't want your property to feature in a video that's totally ok, I will always ask and it won't affect the consultation if you say no.
Follow this link for the full Terms & Conditions
What can you expect from the online consultation
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The purpose of the consultation is to establish whether the project is feasible and affordable within your budget.
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Identify risks and opportunities for each property
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Refine your ideas and requirements, to make the best use of your property and budget.
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Identify alternative ideas that might achieve a better result for you.
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Advise on pitfalls to avoid during the planning application process.
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Identify requirements of the building regulations relevant to your project.
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Help you understand how to find the right local architect for your project.
The consultation is done online, via a zoom call. Once the consultation is booked I will ask you to email me with specific information about the property. I will need photos, the full postal address and as much information as you can give me on your requirements, including your budget and timescales.
Please be aware I will not provide design services, drawings or specifications as part of the consultation.
I will write you a summary of the consultation afterwards so there is a record of our discussion. The summary email will come with a copy of my Project Guide document.
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Frequently Asked Questions When Choosing Between Two Properties
How do you compare two properties in a single 45-minute call?
Before the call I review the information you send on both properties — addresses, photos, planning history, listing or conservation area status, and your intended plans for each. On the call we work through each property systematically: planning feasibility, likely constraints, estimated cost of the work you want to do, and any red flags that might affect one over the other. 45 minutes is enough to give you a clear professional view on which property is better suited to your plans, and why.
What if the two properties are in completely different parts of the UK?
That is not a problem. Planning policies and designations vary across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but the principles are consistent and I can assess planning feasibility for any residential property in the UK. The key information is the listing status, conservation area status, and planning history of each. I will explain how the local planning context differs between the two and what that means for your specific plans.
One property is cheaper but needs much more work — how do you help me weigh up the true cost?
This is the most common scenario in a choosing consultation. A lower asking price often has constraints that are not immediately visible — a listed status, a previous planning refusal, drainage issues, or structural complications that inflate the true cost of the work. I give you a realistic picture of what each property is likely to cost to achieve your goals, so you can compare them on a like-for-like basis rather than on asking price alone. A cheaper property regularly turns out to be the more expensive option once the full cost of work is factored in.
What if one property is listed and the other is not — does the consultation still work effectively?
Yes, and it is particularly useful in that situation. A listed property imposes additional consent requirements and cost premiums on any alteration work. I can explain what Listed Building Consent is likely to require for the specific work you want to do, and compare that directly with what a full planning application on the unlisted property would involve. Many buyers either dismiss listed properties too quickly or underestimate the cost and complexity. The consultation gives you an honest assessment of both.
Can I send estate agent particulars and floor plans before the call?
Yes — please do. Estate agent particulars, floor plans, photos, and rightmove or Zoopla links are all useful. Any research you have already done on listing status or planning history is also helpful. You do not need professional drawings. The more detail I have before the call, the more useful the 45 minutes will be.
What if I am already strongly leaning towards one property — is the consultation still worthwhile?
Often especially so. Many people come in with a clear preference and leave having confirmed it was the right choice. Others discover a constraint they had not considered that changes the picture entirely. A 45-minute call with an architect is considerably cheaper than discovering after exchange that the property you preferred cannot be altered the way you planned. If it confirms your instinct, that confidence alone has value.