- What exactly does the offer include? Ask whether the scope includes the architectural concept, the building design, the technical design, construction documentation, specialist designs and coordination. Make sure which studies are included in the price and which require a separate order.
- How does the process work? Establish the order of the stages, how the concept will be presented, the form of consultations and the moments at which key decisions are made. Ask what materials you will receive after each stage.
- How long does the work take? Ask for an approximate schedule and discuss the factors that may extend it, for example changes to the concept, missing documents, additional approvals or administrative procedures. Separate the time of the design work from the time of the official proceedings.
- How are changes made? Establish how to pass on comments, what scope of corrections the contract covers and how changes beyond the agreed scope are settled. This matters so that the expectations of both sides are clear.
- Who is responsible for the formalities? Establish which documents and approvals the studio prepares, what remains on the investor's side and whether the offer includes support in the administrative procedure. Do not assume that every design offer includes an identical scope of service.
- What does cooperation with the specialists look like? Ask which structural and installation studies will be needed, who orders them and how coordination between the trades will be ensured.
- What information should you prepare? For the first conversation, it is worth preparing the location of the plot, the available documents, an approximate budget, the expected floor area of the house and a list of the most important needs. You do not have to know all the answers: some of the assumptions can be refined together.
Before signing the contract
Check that the scope, the schedule, the rules of payment, responsibility for documents and the way changes are introduced are described in an understandable way. If in doubt, ask for an explanation before the work begins.