Advice / Guide
How to write your building project brief
A useful brief does not have to be long. It needs to explain the property, the change you want to make and the decisions that are still open.
Use the prompts below to prepare an introduction in your own words.
01
Start with the property
Write down the postcode, property type and any relevant context. Are you already living there, buying it or introducing a proposed site?
Make the current position clear rather than leaving it to be inferred from photographs.
02
Explain the problem before the solution
You may already have an extension or refurbishment in mind. Also explain why you want it.
Perhaps the kitchen feels disconnected, a room has no clear purpose or the household needs more privacy. The reason helps communicate what a successful outcome would mean to you.
03
List the proposed work
Describe the work you are considering. Separate definite requirements from ideas you would like to explore.
If several parts connect, include them in the same outline so the overall ambition is visible.
04
Say what information exists
List the drawings, surveys, approvals or professional advice already available. Describe their stage accurately: early sketches are not the same as a developed construction package.
It is equally useful to say when no documents have been prepared yet.
05
Share your priorities
Pick the outcomes that matter most. Space, layout, intended use and the experience of living in the home may all feature in your thinking.
Avoid treating every preference as equally essential. Make the distinction between what the project must achieve and what would be desirable.
06
Explain timing and budget expectations
If you have a preferred start date or indicative budget, include it. If either is undecided, say so.
Present expectations as discussion points rather than agreed commitments.
07
End with your main questions
What would you like the first conversation to clarify? The suitability of the project, the information needed next or the scope you want to discuss?
A short list helps keep the introduction focused.
A simple brief you can copy
- Property location:
- Property type and current position:
- What I want to achieve:
- Work I am considering:
- My main priorities:
- Drawings or other information available:
- Professionals already involved:
- Indicative budget, if known:
- Preferred timing, if known:
- Questions I would like to discuss:
Let’s talk
Start with what you know.
Your first brief does not need to be final. It needs to provide an honest starting point.