CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

Each Client has a different experience of working with their appointed professional design team. These experiences are based upon the challenges of each project and the way in which creative solutions are found. A good Client and Design Team relationship transcends individual pieces of work. We have included below short testimonials received from some of our previous Clients, across a range of project types. More specific Client references are available on request:

 

PROJECT     ECO-HOUSE, FINDHORN, MORAY

CLIENT     MICHAEL & MARIA START

APPX. VALUE     £200,000

With regard to our experience working with the Greg and Kathleen Munro of Affordable TM architects. Professionalism and integrity are the two dominant qualities we would associate with them. They each bring different qualities to the design process and what they achieved in terms of empathetic design for us (not the easiest of families) was quite telepathic. 

The project was finely detailed and specified to a very high in the right places,  we continue to appreciate this on a daily basis. The Munro's confidence around the complex planning and tendering issues was very reassuring and brought about the right results without delay or hiccups. 

During the build process we found that they could be totally relied upon to smooth out any problems with contractors and were always a reassuring and approachable presence for builder and client alike".  

MARIA START, MAY 2009

 

PROJECT     MORAY ART CENTRE, FINDHORN

CLIENT     RANDY KINGER, DIRECTOR, MORAY ART CENTRE, A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE BUSINESS

APPX. VALUE  £1,000,000

"I would like to provide my highest recommendation of the services provided by Affordable.TM Chartered Architects. As Director of the Moray Art Centre, I would give unreserved recommendation for the work of Greig & Kathleen Munro as Lead Consultants and Designers for our project.

We built a £1 million centre for the visual arts and we found working with Greig & Kathleen: 

  • friendly and ever-helpful and available  
  • providing services way beyond the scope of the actual project  
  • flexible and good and responsive listeners 
  • innovative thinkers and coming up with smart ideas that always saved time and money  
  • providing beautiful design and accommodation to our brief, a design that is now winning regional and national awards for design flair and sustainable building 
  • making my life easy by liaising with the many contractors with whom we worked 

Our overall experience was one of ease, agreement, friendliness, support and professional quality in everything to which they attended. They provided us with excellent preparatory information, led a design team to look at the best solutions, were available and conscientious during the build and provided and still provide excellent after-care and follow-up, helping us to tie-up all loose-ends. 

They were also excellent in helping smooth the way between other contractors and ourselves as the client. In a word: Excellent. We can search our minds and can find no fault whatsoever with their work or with them on a personal-working relationship. We are friends and business colleagues. We would unreservedly recommend, as we already have to others, using the services of Affordable.TM. Even now, as our project is two years since completion, we know that we can call upon Greig & Kathleen for their expertise and wisdom". 

RANDY KLINGER, MAY 2009

 

PROJECT     STEADING CONVERSION, NEWMACHAR, ABERDEENSHIRE

CLIENT     TOM & MARIE-LOUISE SCOULAR

APPX. VALUE     £450,000

"AffordableTM have served as designer and project manager for us. We live overseas in Egypt and make infrequent trips back to the UK. 

One of Greig’s first steps was to elect on his own behalf to spend the weekend camping at the site in order to assess the site at different times of the day for the design concept. This unusual approach is a good example of the level of commitment that they have given to the project.

With Greig’s support we proceeded to the local planning committee where they overturned the recommendation of the planning officer and approved the design unequivocally. I have no doubt that this was largely due to the quality of the design submitted by Greig, and his attention to detail regarding compliance with the local vernacular.

 

AffordableTM commitment to the project has been considerable. As Client we have relied on updates following communication with the builder and Architects site visits. The installation of a CCTV webcam on site and this has proven invaluable as a means of following the build as well as providing a means of site security.

Throughout the house there are numerous examples of design flair, and desire to make this project just that bit different from a standard steading conversion. Due to the size and complexity of the conversion (total floor area approx 450 sq m) there have been several technical challenges on the project. Greig has willingly adapted his plans to take into account onsite conditions and maintained an excellent working relationship with the builder and trades at all times. Where appropriate Greig has introduced alternative construction materials to either improve the visual aspects of the design, or improve the technical integrity of the structure. The builder has been pleased with these improvements and commented on the depth of knowledge Greig has shown to the construction process.

Recently due to the ongoing economic stress in the building trade, Greig has worked hard to ensure that my financial exposure to the project is minimized and that stage payments are only made at the appropriate time. This has required extensive discussions with both the main contractor and his sub trades to understand exactly the status of  their cash flow, and prevent my payments from getting ahead of the work completed onsite. He has also acted as adviser and effectively arbitrator between myself and the builder to address some recent requests for cost increases outwith the terms of the contract (due to apparent rises in material costs over the term of the project).  This issue had the potential to sour relations between myself and the builder, but Greig was able to successful “negotiate” an outcome that was agreeable to myself and left the builder feeling that his concerns had also been addressed. I doubt that many architects would have the skills or patience to handle this situation in a similar professional manner, and achieve a successful outcome for their client. It was clear throughout the project that Greig’s first priority was to protect our position and put in whatever effort was required to do so.

I have found Affordable TM very competitive and fair in their fees structure. Indeed Greig has been extremely transparent in all costs and volunteered to adjust the fee arrangement without prompting when the original project cost estimate rose significantly following receipt of actual builders quote.

In summary I have no hesitation in recommending Affordable TM for any prospective client. Based upon our experience with the Hill of Middleton project I believe that you can expect a very professional service made distinctive by Greig and Kathleen’s strong flair for design backed up by a very strong practical knowledge of construction techniques. I am happy to be contacted directly to discuss my experiences in further detail".

TOM SCOULAR, MAY 2009