New Home Brief: turn your ideas for a home into a workable brief
The New Home Brief is a one-to-one session with a registered architect for people planning a first or family home. In 60 to 120 minutes we turn your ideas into a brief that can be designed, test it against your plot and budget, and tell you what to settle before design starts.
- 60 or 120 minutes
- From KES 20,000, VAT excluded
- Credited against design
New Home Brief at a glance
| Led by | A registered architect at Aalis Studios (Arch. Vincent Abuya, BORAQS Reg. No. A1867) |
|---|---|
| Price | 1 hour: KES 20,000 · 2 hours: KES 35,000. VAT excluded. |
| Format | Video call, or at our office at Sundial Plaza, Nairobi. On-site option with travel quoted by location. |
| Best length | 1 hour for a clear idea, 2 hours if the brief is still forming. |
| You receive | A Clarity Note with a one-page brief, our verdict (ready, refine first or rethink), an indicative cost band with its date, and a recommended next step. |
| Fee credit | Credited in full against the design fee if you book design with us within 90 days. |
Who is this for?
- Families planning a first or family home
- People with a plot and a rough idea but no written brief
- Kenyans abroad who want to agree a brief before they brief an architect
What does the meeting cover?
- Who will live in the home now and in ten years
- Room list and approximate areas
- Whether the brief fits your plot, and how many storeys it needs
- Budget against ambition, and what to phase
- The approvals route for your county
What do you receive?
A Clarity Note with a one-page brief, our verdict (ready, refine first or rethink), an indicative cost band with its date, and a recommended next step.
Delivered by email within two working days of the session.
What is not included?
- Drawings or approval submissions
- A fixed quotation
How to prepare
- A map pin or address and approximate plot size
- Photos of the plot
- Your budget range and timeline
- Pictures of homes you like
We send a short intake form after you book. You do not need title documents to book.
Questions about the New Home Brief
Do I need a plot before booking?
No. If you have not bought yet, consider the Plot and Land Check first or book a 2-hour session that covers both the brief and what to look for in a plot.
Will I get a house design from the session?
No. The session produces a brief and a verdict, not drawings. The Clarity Note is yours to take to any architect.
Can my spouse or family join?
Yes. Everyone who will take part in decisions is welcome, including from other countries by video.
How much does it cost to build a 4 bedroom house in Kenya?
Cost depends on size, storeys, finishes, location and the market at the time. Our cost guides explain the drivers, and this session gives you a dated, indicative range for your own brief.
Is the fee credited if I proceed to design?
Yes. If you book design with Aalis Studios within 90 days, the session fee is credited in full against the design fee.
Ready to think it through?
Talk your idea over with an architect before you commit to land, design or a contractor.