Why I Get Building Quotes Early (And Why You’ll Thank Me For It)
One of the most important – and often most misunderstood – parts of my process happens long before planning permission or construction begins. It comes right after we’ve developed a design you love. Not at the end, not once you’re emotionally committed, and certainly not once months of work have gone into something that might not align with your budget. Instead, this is the moment we invite the builder in and ask for real numbers. It’s the step that protects you the most.
This January especially, building costs have shifted sharply. Materials, labour and availability have all increased, and some of the estimates landing in my clients’ inboxes have been enough to test even the calmest nerves. When a quote comes back higher than expected, it can feel like a heavy blow. It can momentarily feel as though the project is slipping away. But I gently remind every client of the same thing: this isn’t a setback, it’s clarity. And clarity is power.
By getting quotes early, when the design is still flexible, we give ourselves options. At this stage you already have the vision and the drawings. You understand how your home could flow better, where the light will come from and how your everyday life might change. Adding realistic costs simply grounds those ideas in reality. This is the moment when a project becomes buildable rather than hypothetical, and it’s often where the very best design decisions happen.
Once the estimate arrives, we don’t panic. We sit down with the builders together and go through it carefully, line by line. We talk through each element, looking at what’s essential, what could be achieved in a smarter or simpler way and what might quietly fall into the category of ‘nice to have’. Sometimes we tweak. Sometimes we simplify. Occasionally we remove something entirely. What almost always happens, though, is that the project becomes clearer and stronger. The fluff falls away and what remains are the parts that genuinely transform how you live – better light, better flow, better use of the space you already have. Not simply more square metres for the sake of it, which has never been my approach.
Clients who have renovated before tend to welcome this stage. They recognise it as an essential part of shaping a project into something realistic and comfortable. First-timers often find it deeply unnerving, which is completely understandable. Homes are emotional, and money is emotional too, so seeing the two meet on a spreadsheet can feel confronting. That’s exactly why I don’t leave you to navigate it alone.
My role isn’t just to design beautiful spaces. It’s to guide you through the entire journey. I translate builder language, explain every figure, protect your priorities and adjust the design intelligently so you always feel informed and in control. We’re not cutting corners. We’re refining. We’re making thoughtful decisions that ensure every pound is working hard for you and your home.
Looking honestly at costs takes courage, but avoiding them until later is far riskier. Early quotes mean fewer surprises, fewer sleepless nights and projects that actually get the green light. Because ultimately, a beautiful design only matters if it can be built.
If you’re considering transforming your home, invite the numbers in early. Understand them, work with them and let me guide you calmly and practically through the process until we’re standing on site watching it all come to life. That’s always the goal.