What to prepare before meeting an architect

What you need

• A copy of the land-use certificate and the plot's zoning information if available.
• A tape measure or laser meter, and a phone with a compass.
• One conversation with the whole family about needs.

Steps

1. Gather the land papers

   A copy of the certificate, the plot diagram and zoning details: street boundary line, building line, permitted coverage and number of storeys.

2. Measure the plot and the facing

   Re-measure the four sides on site and record the façade's facing as a degree. Real dimensions sometimes differ from the papers.

3. List your needs

   How many people, who needs a ground-floor room, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, an altar room, parking, a ground-floor shop or not, future plans (children, grandparents).

4. Photograph the site

   The front, both sides, the back, the street and the house opposite. Photos show the architect sun, wind, views and obstacles.

5. Pick a style

   Save five to ten photos of homes you like and note in one sentence why.

6. Note birth years for feng shui

   Birth years (with day and month if born near February) of the head of household and members, for birth-year mountains.

7. Prepare your questions

   Coverage, setback, maximum storeys; permit procedure; schedule; what the architect will deliver.

Common mistakes

• Bringing only the dimensions on paper without measuring on site.
• Describing the facing by name instead of degree.
• Not agreeing on needs within the family, so the meeting becomes a debate.
• Not asking about zoning early, then redesigning at permit stage.

Do it in Home Check

1. Tap “Design” and describe the home in one sentence, for example “5×20 house, 3 bedrooms, an altar room”.
2. Home Check returns three scored floor-plan options; pick one as the basis for discussion.
3. Measure the facing on the Measure screen, set polarity and check the feng shui of the chosen option.
4. Export the plan as a PDF to bring to the meeting.

Questions