In order to arrange the initial consultation, please telephone or email us with your details and a brief description of your property and requirements. We will then arrange for one of our architects to contact you to agree a convenient time for the initial consultation.
The initial consultation typically takes between 1 and 2 hours. However, if you do decide to proceed with further design services, your architect can carry out an approximate measured survey after the consultation. This typically takes an additional 1 to 2 hours depending on the size and complexity of the property.
apecLight’s fees have been structured to minimise any unexpected expenditure. Our quoted fees always include VAT, and reasonable expenses for travel, printing, postage and telephone calls, so that you know the exact price from the outset.
Local authorities charge separate fees for Planning and Building Regulations applications. Should any of these fees be payable, you will be asked to pay these fees directly to the relevant Local Authority.
At the moment, apecLight just serves the Birmingham area for several reasons
Travelling costs are included in our fees, and working close to home is therefore the most efficient way of serving our clients.
Having been based in the Birmingham area for forty years, apecLight brings a wealth of local knowledge and experience to projects. This is of particular importance when liaising with local authorities and builders.
Similarly, we have a good knowledge of the local housing market and allied professions.
apecLight takes pride in offering a fully bespoke design service. In order to do so, we can only commit to the fixed fee for the initial consultation. However, this consultation enables us to provide you with a costed menu of options for further work.
From this point onwards, you can decide what you need from your architect. You might only require a conceptual sketch or you might want us to take charge of everything right through to building completion. The choice is entirely yours, and your financial commitment will be clearly defined and agreed before each work stage.
apecLight provides high quality services at affordable prices. This is only achievable if we avoid speculative work. The initial visit can be of significant benefit to you as you will receive a professional view on the viability of your ideas. and expert guidance on the optimum way forward.
Good advice at this stage is invaluable and may well save you the heartache of wasted time and expense later. The fee for our initial visit is therefore money wisely spent.
The usual next step is for your architect to produce conceptual drawings sufficient to show you what might be possible.
After this, more detailed drawings may be produced, ready to take the plans forward to a Town Planning application should this be necessary.
Beyond this there comes working drawings and specifications sufficient to obtain Building Regulation approval and builders tenders.
Ultimately, there is the actual building work, and this can be overseen by your architect if you wish.
The initial consultation fee of £200 is payable at the completion of the visit.
Thereafter, invoices will be submitted at the end of each stage of the work, payment by cheque or bank transfer being due within thirty days.