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Planning · 8 November 2026 · 3 min read

What to prepare before your first meeting with an architect

A short checklist that makes your first consultation faster, cheaper and far more useful.

By Acorns team

Construction essentials: hard hat, rolled drawings, brick and stone samples, tape measure and calculator

Your first meeting sets the direction for the whole project. A little preparation goes a long way.

1. Your plot documents

Bring a copy of the land title and, if you have it, the plot's zoning information and a topographic survey. These tell us what can be built and where.

2. A realistic budget range

You don't need an exact number, a range is enough. It lets us propose a design that fits, instead of one you'll have to cut back later.

3. How you will use the building

  • How many people will live or work there?

  • Which rooms matter most to you?

  • Do you plan to extend later?

4. Pictures you like

Screenshots from Instagram or Pinterest are perfect. They help us understand your taste far better than words.

5. Your timeline

Tell us when you'd like to move in or open. We'll tell you honestly what's realistic.

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Have a project in mind?

Tell us about it and you'll get a clear, itemised quotation in RWF or USD, usually within three working days.