The first design consultation sets the tone for everything that follows. A well-prepared client gets a more accurate scope, a more useful budget range, and a clearer sense of the process. An underprepared client gets a general conversation that doesn't advance the project.
Here's how to make the most of the first call.
What to Have Ready
Site information. Address or parcel number. If you don't own the lot yet, the address of a comparable lot in the same jurisdiction. Building department contact information if you have it.
Program basics. How many bedrooms and bathrooms? Approximate square footage target? Single-story or multi-story? Attached or detached garage? The answers don't need to be final — but having initial answers focuses the conversation.
Visual references. A Pinterest board, Houzz collection, or even a folder of saved photos communicates faster than words. Architectural style, interior finish direction, and exterior material preferences are all easier to discuss with visual examples. Bring references for things you like and things you don't — both are useful.
Budget range. You don't need an exact number, but a realistic range helps scope the project correctly. A $250,000 construction budget and a $750,000 budget support very different design programs.
Timeline. Is there a hard deadline? A school year? A lease expiration? Knowing the timeline allows us to confirm whether the schedule is achievable before the project starts.
What We Cover
The first call covers jurisdiction requirements (setbacks, height limits, coverage limits), scope of deliverables, process and timeline, fee structure, and any obvious constraints or risks that need to be flagged before design begins.
We will not produce any drawings on the first call. The purpose of the discovery conversation is to understand the project well enough to scope it accurately. A firm that starts drawing on the first call is drawing before they understand the problem.
What Happens Next
Within 24 hours of the discovery call, we issue a written scope of work and fixed-price proposal. The proposal specifies exactly what deliverables are included, the timeline, the revision rounds, and the payment schedule.
There is no ambiguity in what you're paying for or when you'll receive it. If the scope changes, the price and timeline change in writing before the change is executed.
The first consultation is free and takes about 30 minutes. If you leave with a clear picture of the process, a realistic budget sense, and a timeline you can plan around — it was a productive 30 minutes.