FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Many of my clients are undertaking a building project for the first time and have never worked with an architect or designer before. The process isn't always obvious, and it's understandable to have questions about costs, responsibilities, timing, and what happens next. These are some of the questions I'm asked most often.
GETTING STARTED
Most people are really unsure who to get involved when, how to start and what they are committing to early on.
These are common questions I get from clients in our first phone conversation that aren't covered on other pages of my website.
01
Do I really need an architect or designer?
Not every building project needs the same level of architectural involvement. Straightforward work may be well served by a builder, specialist supplier, or other professional.
Where a project involves competing priorities, planning or site constraints, significant investment, or decisions that need to work together, early architectural input can be valuable.
If you're unsure, that's a reasonable question to ask before committing to a larger scope of work.
02
What if I am only investigating an idea?
That's often the best time to talk. You don't need a finished brief, confirmed budget, or even certainty that the project will proceed.
Early advice can help you understand what may be possible, identify the questions that need answering, and decide whether an idea is worth pursuing. The First Step Engagement is specifically designed for this stage.
03
What if I decide not to proceed?
That's okay. Sometimes the right outcome is to pause, reconsider the project, or decide that the cost, complexity, or likely outcome doesn't make sense for you.
Finding that out early is far better than discovering it after significant time and money have been committed. There is no assumption that a First Step Engagement needs to lead to a larger architectural project.
Cost and Value
My fees are well covered on our page Fee Guide however there are a few questions that pop up from time to time.
04
Will working with you make my project more expensive?
Not necessarily, but architectural involvement does change where money is spent. My role isn't simply to make a project cheaper. It is to help you make informed decisions about where spending creates value, where complexity may not be justified, and how the different parts of the project work together.
A well considered project may still be expensive, but the aim is that the money is spent deliberately rather than through avoidable decisions, late changes, or unnecessary complexity.
05
When will I know what my project will cost?
A reliable construction cost usually isn't available at the beginning of a project. Early budgets can help establish whether your ideas and available funds are broadly aligned, but greater certainty comes as the design develops and more decisions are resolved.
By Developed Design, the size, form, construction, materials, and key project decisions are usually understood well enough to seek more meaningful cost advice.
My role is to keep cost part of the conversation as the project develops and identify when more detailed pricing advice is appropriate.
Process
Much of the architectural process is covered on my Architecture and Where do I start pages however there is often confusion where our services start and stop.
06
Do you handle consents?
Yes. Where a building or resource consent is required as part of my architectural services, I can prepare and coordinate the architectural information, work with the required consultants, lodge the application, and respond to council queries relating to my work.
External consultants will contribute in areas outside Architecture but with my guidance as to the outcome and expectations.
Consent requirements vary between projects, so I'll explain what is likely to be needed and who may need to be involved as the project develops.
07
Who manages the other consultants?
Most projects require input from other specialists such as surveyors, engineers, planners, or geotechnical consultants.
Where they form part of the architectural process, I can help identify who is needed, coordinate their information, and make sure their advice is considered alongside the wider project.
The consultants usually remain directly engaged by you, but I help manage how their work connects with the design and the decisions being made.
08
Can you help me find me a builder?
Yes. Finding the right builder is an important project decision, and I can assist through a process known as procurement.
Depending on the project, this might involve identifying suitable builders, seeking expressions of interest or pricing, helping compare proposals, and discussing the strengths or differences between potential construction teams.
The aim isn't simply to find the cheapest builder. It's to help find a builder whose experience, approach, and way of working are suited to your project.
09
Can you remain involved through construction?
Yes. I like to remain connected with projects as they move through construction. Questions arise, details develop, and sometimes decisions need to be made quickly. Having access to the person who understands the thinking behind the design can be useful.
The level of formal involvement can be shaped around the project and your needs. Even where I'm not engaged for a comprehensive construction service, I'm generally happy to remain part of the conversation and provide advice when it is needed.
Where more regular site involvement, reviews, or contract administration is required, we'll agree the scope and fees for that work.
10
What happens if my project changes?
This is very common. Projects evolve. Priorities change, budgets move, new information becomes available, and sometimes an early idea leads somewhere unexpected.
I'll explain how a change may affect the design, programme, fees, or other parts of the project before significant additional work is undertaken.
Change isn't a problem. The important thing is understanding its implications before making the decision.
Are we a good fit
I enjoy working on all sorts of projects, from minor interior alterations to multi-million dollar buildings.
Project size or value matters less to me than whether my experience and creativity can add value.
Just as importantly, I enjoy working with good people who are engaged in their project, open to ideas, and enjoy the process of working things through together.
11
Do you only work on high end projects?
No. I work across a range of project types and budgets. What matters more to me is whether there is a genuine opportunity to add value through good advice, thoughtful design, and informed decision making.
A smaller alteration can involve just as many important decisions as a new home. The scale of the project matters less than whether my involvement is likely to improve the outcome.
12
Why work with HWA?
I bring more than 20 years of architectural experience and remain directly involved throughout my projects. You work with me, rather than being passed between teams or levels of staff.
My approach is centred on understanding the project before assuming the answer, explaining the decisions clearly, and keeping the wider outcome in view as the project develops.
If you value experienced advice, direct communication, and an architect who is prepared to ask questions as well as answer them, we're likely to work well together.
What is it like working with a small architectural practice?
The main difference is direct access. The person you meet at the beginning is the person designing your project, coordinating the work, answering your questions, and remaining accountable for the architectural service.
In practice, most architectural projects are delivered by relatively small project teams, even within larger practices. My approach brings more than 20 years of experience directly into that team and keeps it there throughout the project.
As a small practice, my business structure is deliberately simple. More of the professional fee is directed towards the architectural work and experienced involvement in your project, rather than supporting a larger practice structure.
Where specialist or additional support adds value, I bring the right people into the project. But I remain directly involved in the decisions that shape your building.
You are not choosing HWA because it is a smaller version of a large architectural practice. You're choosing a different model: direct access to experience, fewer layers, and continuity from the first conversation through the project.
13
Do you have capacity?
I intentionally limit the number of projects I take on so I can remain directly involved in the work. Before accepting a project, I'll consider the likely timing, scope, and level of involvement required and be open with you about my availability.
If I don't believe I can give your project the attention it needs, I'll tell you.
14
What happens if you're unavailable?
As a small practice, this is a reasonable question. I maintain organised project records and work with a network of trusted architects, designers, consultants, and other professionals who can assist where needed.
For short periods of leave or unexpected absence, I'll communicate with clients and manage priorities around anything time critical. Where a project needs additional resource or specialist support, I can bring the right people into the project rather than pretending I need to do everything myself.
Ready to talk about your project?
You don't need to have everything worked out. Tell me what you're considering and we can start from there.
Enquiries are typically responded to within 1 business day during normal business hours.
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