Architect insight. Before you buy.
Unbiased pre-purchase appraisals to reveal a property’s true potential.
Before you commit to one of the biggest financial decisions of your life, you deserve more than a quick viewing and a surveyor’s report.
A structural survey might tell you what’s wrong — we help you understand what’s possible, and whether it’s worth pursuing.
Whether you’re a first-time buyer, moving home or investing, we provide impartial, architect-led due diligence before you buy. Each Architect appraisal explores a property’s potential and its practical limitations: planning permission, permitted development, building regulations, party wall implications, change of use, and even freeholder consent where relevant.
We help you see the full picture — opportunities, constraints, and likely costs — so you can decide how to proceed with confidence and avoid costly surprises later.
Why choose The Potential House?
We’re not like most architects. Traditional practices focus on design after you’ve bought — often offering early advice as a route to win future work. That can create a conflict of interest, where the goal is to secure a project rather than give impartial guidance.
The Potential House is different.
We do not seek follow-on design or construction work. This means our advice is impartial and focused entirely on helping you decide whether a property is the right investment — not on securing a future project. Our role is to give you clarity at the decision point, so if you do choose to move forward, you can approach the next stage well informed and on your own terms.
Because we’re independent, we can assess a property’s feasibility, planning risks and financial viability without bias — helping you decide whether it’s truly the right investment.
Think of it as an architectural equivalent of a survey — focused on design potential and planning constraints rather than structural issues.
We regularly advise clients not to pursue certain options where they don’t add value — and that impartiality is exactly why buyers use us before committing.
Our only priority is to help you make the right purchase decision — with clarity on risk, potential and value.
Behind
The Potential House
The Potential House was founded by Emily Barnes, an ARB-registered architect and interior designer with over 20 years’ experience working across private homes and residential development projects of varying scales.
Alongside client work, Emily has personally undertaken residential development projects, giving her a first-hand understanding of feasibility, planning risk, cost control and value — not just in theory, but in practice.
Her expertise spans early-stage feasibility, planning and building regulations, cost planning, project management, and interior architecture — including layouts, finishes and fittings. This breadth allows her to assess a property holistically, understanding how early decisions shape design quality, buildability and long-term value.
Emily’s design ethos is rooted in simplicity and refinement, with a focus on light, space and beauty, and a deep consideration of how people genuinely live in and enjoy their homes. Every recommendation is tested against use, proportion, cost and longevity — ensuring advice that is both aspirational and grounded.
The Potential House exists to bring this experience to the moment before purchase, providing clear, impartial architectural insight so buyers can make confident, informed decisions before committing.
Our Services
Whether you’re buying your first home, planning a renovation, or assessing a potential development, we offer clear, impartial architect-led advice at the earliest — and most important — stage of the property journey.
Pre-purchase Architect Appraisal
£550.00
A focused consultation providing professional due diligence before you commit to a purchase.
Ideal for homeowners, buyers, or small-scale investors seeking expert guidance on feasibility, planning risk and design potential.
Includes:
Pre-visit review of property details, planning history, and key constraints
60-minute on-site consultation (in person or video call)
Discussion of permitted development opportunities, likely planning permission requirements, and key building regulation implications
Verbal advice on potential layouts, daylight, access, and possible structural considerations
Short written summary (1–2 pages) including key recommendations and next steps
What to expect:
Clarity on how a property could be extended, reconfigured, or improved — with practical insight into planning and regulatory constraints, and realistic next steps before you buy.
Remote Appraisal
£295.00
A lighter-touch, desktop appraisal for buyers who want impartial, professional advice anywhere in the UK. Perfect if you’re comparing properties, based outside our in-person areas (Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, London), or need quick guidance before making an offer.
Includes:
Review of property listing, planning records and site context
Analysis of design opportunities, regulatory constraints and planning considerations
Written advice (1–2 pages) outlining likely risks, opportunities, and what to check before proceeding
What to expect:
An independent overview of potential and pitfalls — helping you understand planning risk, likely building regulation issues, and financial implications before committing.
Clients typically use this advice to decide whether to proceed, renegotiate the price, refine their brief, or walk away — before committing further time or cost.
How it Works
Simple, transparent steps from first call to confident decision.
1. Book your consultation
Choose a free discovery call or an appraisal service. We’ll confirm your booking and request details of the property and its listing.
2. Share property information
Send any floor plans, photos or estate agent details. We’ll review planning history, local design guidance, and relevant permissions or restrictions.
3. Your architect consultation
We’ll meet you on-site or online to discuss feasibility, permitted development scope, planning and regulatory implications — focusing on creative yet realistic options, not sales pitches.
4. Receive your summary
You’ll receive a concise written report setting out key insights, risks and next steps — helping you decide whether to buy, renegotiate, refine your plans, or walk away — before you commit further time or cost.
Speak to us first
Buying a property is a huge decision — and before you commit, it pays to understand what you’re really taking on.
Our free 15-minute discovery call gives you the chance to talk to an experienced architect about your property plans and see whether a pre-purchase appraisal is right for you.
During the call, we’ll help you:
Understand whether the property has potential — and what might hold it back
Identify any key planning, building regulation or structural considerations
Get clarity on what permissions or consents (planning, party wall, freeholder, etc.) might be required
Decide whether our appraisal service is the right next step — and how best to move forward with confidence.
There’s no obligation — just impartial, professional guidance to help you take your next step with open eyes.
What our clients say…
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I wasn’t sure about the house when I first viewed it - it felt too dark and the kitchen was far too small. I wanted an expert opinion on whether it could ever work for us before making such a big commitment. What I really valued about Emily’s advice was how impartial it was. She actually advised against adding more space, explaining how that would eat into the garden and may not add value. Instead, she suggested clever ways to reconfigure the existing layout and bring in more light. We took her recommendations on board and the transformation has been incredible. I’m so glad I got her advice before buying.
Vicky, Brighton
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As first-time buyers with a new baby, we were nervous about whether the Victorian terrace we loved would be big enough for us long term. Emily helped us see all the ways we could make it work - from a future loft conversion to a side extension, and even walked us through what neighbours had successfully done under planning in the conservation area. That insight gave us the confidence to move forward, knowing the house could evolve with our family over time. We wouldn’t have had that peace of mind without her advice.
Jeremy, London
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I approached Emily for advice on a tired property I was thinking of flipping. What impressed me was her focus on value, not just design. Rather than suggesting costly renovations that would eat into profit, she showed me how to do ‘just enough’ to appeal to the family market - highlighting where small design moves could make a big difference and where not to overspend. Her insight helped shape my offer and ultimately the success of the project. I’ll definitely be using The Potential House again.
James R., Property Developer
Our place in the process
The Potential House offers impartial, pre-purchase architectural appraisals as a stand-alone service.
We do not seek follow-on design or construction work, so our advice remains objective and focused on your investment — not on winning future fees.
It means we can give objective advice, focused entirely on your investment and the practical realities of developing a property.
Our aim is to give buyers clarity and confidence before they buy.
Architect Insight: What Does a House Extension Really Cost?
Understanding the true cost of extending can make all the difference before you buy.
In this 4-minute video, architect and founder Emily Barnes shares data from over 100 UK residential architects — and what it means for your project.
