Viewing with an Architect
Buying a house is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make. Whether a property has real potential — or hidden complications — is not always obvious on a viewing. This service gives you an architect’s honest, independent assessment before you commit.
What it involves
At your second or third viewing, I join you for a 30-minute walk around the property. We talk through what you are hoping to achieve: how the house could be extended, reconfigured, or improved to work for your family and your needs.
I can talk through:
- Extension possibilities and the most practical routes forward
- Alteration options, including alternative interior arrangements and reconfigurations
- The prime opportunities in the property — the spaces and moves that would make the biggest difference
- An honest view on whether the house suits your brief, based on a short conversation at the start of the visit
- Planning considerations, including conservation areas, permitted development, and any obvious constraints
- How the site works: orientation, levels, access, and outlook
- What is pragmatic and what may be more complicated than it first appears
This is an independent, unbiased service. There are no referral fees or arrangements with estate agents. The sole purpose is to give you a clearer picture.
What it does not include
I cannot provide accurate build cost estimates from a single visit. There is no written report, though you are welcome to photograph anything useful during the visit and I will summarise key points verbally at the end of the meeting.
This service is not a substitute for a full building survey. Structural defects, damp, drainage issues, drainage layout and dilapidations will not be assessed — a chartered surveyor should always be commissioned before exchange.
I cannot guarantee any planning outcome. Planning decisions rest with the Local Planning Authority and depend on many factors that cannot be fully assessed in a single visit. The planning history of a property and its immediate area should always be independently checked.
I will not have access to the property’s legal title, boundary information, rights of way, easements, or any covenants that may affect what can be built. These should be reviewed by your solicitor as part of the conveyancing process.
How it works
A single visit within a 10-mile radius of Bath is £150, payable in advance. If you are looking at several properties and would like me to accompany you to more than one, get in touch to discuss.
This is a standalone service. Taking it up does not create any obligation on either side, and I may or may not be in a position to take on the project if you proceed with the purchase. The candid comments and discussion from the visit provide a practical basis for making a more informed decision about the property.
Book a viewing
If you have a second viewing coming up and would like an architect’s eye on it, get in touch.
