Architect’s Home Visit & Appraisal (AHVA)

The essential first step in our Core Architectural Service

Designing a warmer, quieter, healthier home starts with clear decisions. The Architect’s Home Visit & Appraisal (AHVA) is where almost every Studio CMA project begins. It gives you clarity on what is realistic for your property, budget and timeframe before you commit to full design services. Think of it as your project’s foundation: a short, defined service that captures your brief, tests options, and sets you up for success.

Why start with the AHVA?

• Clarity and confidence – know what’s feasible and how to proceed.

• Early cost and risk visibility – realistic budget ranges and planning risks upfront.

• Sustainability built in – practical, fabric-first recommendations aligned with Passivhaus thinking.

• Tailored direction – strategies suited to your property’s character and your family’s priorities.

• A clear gateway – your AHVA report flows directly into Stage 2 Concept Design of our Core Architectural Service.

Who it’s for

London homeowners planning a sensitive period-home retrofit, a well-considered extension or a low-energy refurbishment who want reliable guidance on feasibility, budget and quality before committing to full design services.

What’s included

1. Discovery Call
   A short online call to understand your goals, budget, timing and location. We confirm fit and provide a tailored AHVA fee proposal.

2. Architect’s Home Visit
   A focused on-site session to walk through the house with you, discuss constraints and opportunities, review priorities, and take indicative measurements and photos.

3. Appraisal Report

   • Written brief capturing aims, constraints and success criteria in your words.

   • Strategic diagrams highlighting layout ideas, thermal upgrades, daylighting and ventilation strategies.

   • Early cost forecast for the scoped works and any wish-list items, with London-area context.

   • Statutory review covering planning routes, conservation, building regulations, party wall and utilities.

   • Budget overview and programme outlining order-of-magnitude spend, allowances and a realistic timeline.

   • Recommendations and next steps with a proposed route into our Core Architectural Service.

4. Follow-up meeting
   A video call to review the report, answer questions and outline the transition to Stage 2 Concept Design.

Deliverables are yours to keep and form the foundation for your full architectural journey.

How it fits into the bigger process

The AHVA is Step 2 of our three-step entry process:

1. Book your Discovery Call – a short online meeting to confirm fit and outline the AHVA fee.

2. Architect’s Home Visit & Appraisal – your tailored feasibility study.

3. Move into Core Architectural Service (Stage 2–6) – concept design through to handover.

Why Studio CMA

• Specialists in period homes across London. We work predominantly in Islington, Hackney, Camden, and Haringey but have also undertaken on project in Wandsworth and beyond.

• Fabric-first, Passivhaus-aligned approach for comfort, durability and energy performance.

• Cost control from day one with pragmatic advice and London-indexed guidance.

• Small, senior team for continuity, accountability and craft-level detail.

Typical questions the AHVA answers

• What is realistically achievable on this site and within conservation constraints?

• Should we extend, re-plan or both, and in what sequence?

• How do we improve insulation, airtightness and ventilation without harming the building fabric?

• What is a sensible working budget and contingency today?

• Which planning route is most appropriate and what are the risks?

• How long might the overall project take from survey to completion?

Pricing

The AHVA is a fixed-fee service, tailored to project size and location. The fee is agreed after your Discovery Call and credited against selected next-stage services when you proceed within an agreed timeframe.

Our prices start from £1,800 + VAT.

Travel within Zones 1–3 is included. For properties outside Greater London, a modest travel supplement may apply.

What to prepare

• Any existing plans or surveys

• Photos of problem areas

• A short wish-list and must-haves

• An indicative budget range and timing constraints

Recent outcomes

• Victorian terrace: re-plan and rear extension tuned for daylight and neighbour privacy, with phased retrofit to manage cashflow.

• Edwardian semi: comfort-first upgrades, MVHR feasibility and thermal-bridge reduction strategy prepared before detailed design.

• 1930s detached: insulation, triple glazing and zoning strategy aligned to future heat-pump upgrade.

(Client testimonials available on request.)