Questions to Ask Your Architect Before Signing a Design Agreement

A design agreement looks like a formality, a page or two to sign before the interesting part begins. It is actually the document that decides what you will receive, how many times you can change your mind and who is responsible when the drawings and the budget stop agreeing. Most disputes between homeowners and architects in Mysuru trace back to a question nobody asked at this stage.

The good news is that the right questions are not technical. You do not need to read a structural drawing to ask what the fee covers. You only need to ask before you sign, while both sides still have every reason to be clear.

Below are the questions worth taking into that meeting, grouped by what they protect.

Questions about the drawings you will actually receive

“Complete design” means different things to different offices. Pin it down sheet by sheet.

1. Which drawings are included? A buildable set usually covers a site plan, floor plans for every level, sections, 2D elevations, a roof plan, and door and window schedules. Ask for the list in writing.
2. Are working drawings included, or only sanction drawings? Sanction drawings are prepared for the authority. Working drawings are what the site team builds from, with dimensions, levels and details. Some fees cover only the first.
3. Is structural design part of the scope? Ask whether a structural engineer prepares column, beam, footing and slab drawings, and whether a soil test informs the foundation design.
4. Will I get 3D elevations, and how many options? A 3D view lets you judge the front of the house before it is built. Ask whether you choose between options or receive a single proposal.
5. What about electrical, plumbing and interior layouts? These are often separate. If they are excluded, you will be paying someone else later and coordinating the two sets yourself.

Questions about revisions, time and changes

Changes are normal. Unlimited changes are rarely included. Find out where the line is.

• How many rounds of revisions are included, and what counts as one round?
• What happens after the included rounds? Is there a fee per revision, an hourly charge or a fresh quotation?
• When does the design freeze? Once working drawings are issued and construction begins, changes cost far more than they would on paper.
• How long does each stage typically take? Timelines depend on the plot, the brief and how quickly you respond, so treat any figure as a range. The useful part is knowing what the architect needs from you at each step.
• Who is my single point of contact? Design offices can pass a project between juniors. Ask who attends meetings and who signs off drawings.

Questions about sanction and government approvals

A beautiful plan that cannot be sanctioned is a sketch. Ask how the architect handles the authority side.

• Will you prepare and submit the plan for sanction? Some architects only prepare drawings and leave submission to you or an agent.
• Who handles khata, power, water and sewage connections? These run alongside construction and can hold up occupation if nobody owns them.
• How are statutory fees paid? Government fees should go directly to the authority. Ask the architect to explain which fees apply to your plot, and confirm current amounts with the authority itself rather than relying on an estimate in a meeting.
• Have you checked my plot documents and zoning? Setbacks, permissible coverage and height limits depend on the layout and the authority. A careful architect checks these before drawing, not after.

Questions about budget and who builds the design

This is where many agreements are silent, and where the most money is lost.

1. Will you design to my budget? Share your figure on day one and ask how the design will be checked against it. A plan drawn without a cost target can be very difficult to build within one.
2. Is there a written specification? Floor finishes, window material, plumbing fittings and waterproofing change the cost of the same plan dramatically. A drawing without a specification cannot be priced reliably.
3. Who is responsible if the drawings and the site disagree? When the architect and the builder are separate, a missing detail can become an argument about whose fault it is.
4. What site conditions could change the cost? Rock, extra foundation depth and filling earth are only known after the plot is inspected.
5. Will you visit site during construction? Ask how many visits are included and whether you pay separately for supervision.

How an integrated design and build approach answers these

Uniq Builders works as a useful worked example because architecture, structure, interiors and construction are all delivered in-house, with engineers, architects and surveyors on the company’s own payroll. That means the same team that draws the house builds it, which settles the question of responsibility for the drawings.

Every package includes design and drawings: working drawings, 2D and 3D elevations, and structural design with a soil test. On the architectural design service, you choose the 3D elevation that gets built, and working drawings for all floors come with up to three rounds of revisions. Plan sanction, khata and licences, and power, water and sewage connections are handled by the company, with statutory fees paid directly by the client. Construction follows a written specification shared during consultation, and site conditions such as rock excavation, additional foundation depth or imported filling earth are quoted separately after a free site visit.

Packages start at ₹1,999 per sq ft (Premium), ₹2,499 per sq ft (Gold, with complimentary interiors) and ₹2,999 per sq ft (Platinum, fully customised with interiors included), with terms and conditions applying and the final figure confirmed after the site visit. You can compare them on the packages page, read more planning guides in our architects in Mysuru section, or book a free consultation at our Vani Vilas Mohalla office or on +91 98449 93200.

Whoever you appoint, take these questions in writing, note the answers and make sure they appear in the agreement you sign.

Frequently asked questions

Should I pay an architect before the design agreement is signed?

It is safer to agree scope, revisions and fees in writing before any payment. A signed document protects both sides and gives you something to refer back to when questions come up. If an advance is requested, ask exactly which stage of work it covers.

Is it better to hire an architect separately or a design and build company?

Both can work well. A separate architect gives you independent design advice, while a design and build company puts drawings and construction under one responsibility, which reduces coordination gaps. Compare the written scope of each option rather than the headline fee.

What if my budget changes after the design is approved?

Raise it immediately, before working drawings are finalised. Reducing built-up area or adjusting the specification is far easier on paper than on site. Check how many revision rounds remain in your agreement so the changes are covered.