Prior to your Architectural Professional meeting you on site to get client brief, the following needs doing:

• Collection from the municipality / local authority all the existing house plans on record
• The zoning information for your property
• The Surveyor Generals diagrams
• The title deeds to your property
• Aerial photograph to your property

Whilst you may very well say, but why do they need the information.

A  competent architectural  professional  will  get  all  the  relevant  documentation  in  order  to familiarise himself with the entire property in terms of restrictions, building lines, coverage, title deed restrictions, etc.

They will also compare the aerial pictures to the existing plans.

Your latest house plans are also put onto AutoCAD.

When your architectural Professional meets with you on site, they will know the entire property.

The single biggest problem with alterations and extensions are the roofs. Bear in mind, what may be easy on paper is not always doable in practice.  Often plans are drawn and on site, with no provision made for roofing, resulting in extremely costly exercises to the client to have the roofs done.

What happens during the initial client brief:
The Architectural Professional will request a provisional budget. 
You  will be  advised  on  possible  problems  which  may  arise  as  a  result  of  your  proposed alteration, i.e. plugs in the way of walls been demolished, roofs that are on load bearing wails and which would require specialised beams to support etc.
If  you  want  to  have  a  hassle  free, Construction  Project  do  not  mess  around with  companies  where everything is a “no Problem”.

Construction  can  be  problematic and  the  Qualified Architectural Professional  will  assist  you conceptualise your project and successfully complete it to your full satisfaction.

Construction costs a lot of Money.  Having to do it over will cost you even more.
For more info about us please visit: http://www.buildernet.co.za/builders4u