Get advice from an architect for £35 and help charity!

scottishlizzie

Take a look at the architect in the house scheme. Once a year RIBA (the architects professional body) run this scheme to raise money for Shelter, the Homeless charity. Basically you get the services of an architect for an hour for a minimum donation to Shelter of £35. I have used this scheme twice before and the architects' advice helped me consider and then rule out alterations to our house. I have registered again this year and hope that this time we will actually go ahead with the plans but it's a good opportunity to talk it over informally with a professional, without spending too much and while helping charity.

http://members.riba.org/arch-house/reg.asp

sara2323

Thanks for that, wish it was posted last week as I've just paid £400!! for similar service.

scottishlizzie

Sorry! Mind you, you need to bear in mind that for the scheme you only get them for up to about an hour and they won't necessarily do any sketches or anything for you. The first time I did it I got a young female architect who had loads of ideas ando did some sketches for me. The second time I got an older guy who was much less forthcoming but nevertheless knowledgeable on the practical aspects of what I wanted to do.

You certainly won't get a set of drawings for £35 so don't feel too bad but for other MSErs it is still worth doing if you have ideas that you want to talk over with a professional or if you want their ideas. It's a good first step.

scottishlizzie

And I should add, once you've registered you have to wait a few weeks and then during Architect-in-the House Week (sometime in June) you should get an email from RIBA giving you the name of the architect you have been allocated. It is then up to you to make contact with them and arrange for them to come out. I am a huge fan of this scheme. And of course, they might stay longer than an hour if you are prepared to make a bigger donation!

voucher_queen_3

Thank you very much for reminding me about this - every year I plan to join however am normally on holiday and miss it!! Have just signed up

RL

Just had this message - anyone else been successful ?

Thank you for registering for RIBA Architect in the House
We are sorry but due to an overwhelming interest in the scheme we have been unable to match you with an architect in your area.

If you would still like to consult an architect, RIBA Client Services offers you a free referral service tailor-made to your project at http://www.ribafind.org/tailor.asp

Our database holds information on approximately 4,200 practices and we will send you a list of registered architectural practices with the right skills, expertise and resources for your project.

If you would like to donate to Shelter, please visit https://www.shelter.org.uk/donate


Thank you for your interest in this scheme

Gingham_Ribbon

Aw sorry you weren't matched up. We were. He's coming round when we get back from holiday in the middle of July.

lush_walrus

Yep its a brilliant scheme. We generally get involved with Architect in the House, although we are much too busy this year with other deadlines.

For those of you enroled in the scheme, try to have a good think about what you want to achieve with your house prior to meeting the architect. The clearer you are the more you are likely to gain from the experience. Some architects won't be too concerned about going over the hour, but others will need to rush off. An hour isnt very long to discuss anything, so don't waste it. A couple of years ago I visited a couple for archtiect in the house, and it was a total waste of time, they obviously hadn't discussed anything together before I arrived and so spent most of the time bickering together! So be clear what you want to get from it!

Jo_anne_2

Hi,

We were lucky to be allocated an architect under this scheme and have just had our meeting with him. I found it very helpful as we outlined what we would like from our house and he came up with some interesting ideas that we had not (and would not have) come up with ourselves. He was also very helpful on practical aspects of a potential extension and the situation with local builders (who to consider, who won't do small extensions, who to cross off the list altogether, etc). All in all, a very positive experience.