House Call by Girard House
An architect’s advice before you commit.
Tell us what you want to add on or build. Your report shows where it could go, how big it could be and what could limit it.
Talk with Chris as soon as tomorrow.
Step 1 of 7
What happens
How a House Call works.
BeforeBy 7 PM the day before
You send the address, your goals and whatever you have. We do the initial research and send you the report to review.
During30 or 45 minutes
On Google Meet, Chris goes over the report with you, you add detail, and he recommends next steps.
After
You know more about your property, with a written recap and the full report to keep.
Know your next step.
Learn what your property allows and get an architect’s advice on what to do next. Then buy, renovate, add on, hire help or walk away, and know why.
Two documents are yours to keep: the report before the call, and the recap after.
After the call
Know what to do next.
Move forward on your own
Your recap sets out Chris’s recommendations and what to do first. The advice is yours to use, whether or not you ever hire Girard House.
Get help
If you’d like help, Girard House will send a proposal for the work ahead.
Talk again
A 30-minute follow-up call for additional questions is $149 for House Call clients. Your property research carries over.
Visit the site
After your House Call, Chris can visit the property. Visits are arranged separately.
Why people call
- Buyers
- “Is this house right for what we want to do?”
- Owners
- “Where could an addition go, and what would limit it?”
- Builders
- “Does this lot work for the house my client wants?”
- Agents
- “What should I tell a buyer who asks about adding on?”
- Anyone else
- “Where can I get an architect’s advice on this property?”
House Call covers any house or property in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
What you’ll get.
- Your goals on page 1, with what we found.
- A lot diagram, shaded where new buildings may go.
- How much room you have to expand.
- Each finding marked ▲ Watch or ✓ Clear.
- A written recap after the call, with what to do first.
- Your agent or partner can join the call.
Pricing
Two ways to book.
One property
$249
Report + 30-minute call with Chris. A written recap follows.
Compare up to 3
$600
Up to 3 reports + 45-minute call with Chris. One written recap follows.
Had a House Call? A 30-minute follow-up call for additional questions is $149.
Talk with Chris as soon as tomorrow.
Calls run 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week. You can reschedule once, up to 24 hours before the call. Inside 24 hours we can’t promise a new time, but let us know what’s going on. You can cancel for a full refund within 30 minutes of booking. After that, the fee isn’t refundable. Site visits are available after a House Call.
About Chris
Your call is with Chris.
Chris Carr is a licensed architect in Connecticut and NCARB certified, with more than 20 years of experience. He holds a Master of Architecture, cum laude, from the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. He is principal of Girard House, an architecture and planning practice in Fairfield County, which he runs with his partner, Shelby Girard. He knows local conditions across the county. The Girard House team prepares your report. Chris reviews every report and takes every call himself.
Questions
How soon can I talk to an architect?
As soon as the next day. Calls run 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week. Your full report arrives by 7 PM the day before your call, so you have time to read it first. If you’re under contract, or in an inspection or attorney-review period, book the earliest open time and add your deadline when you book.
Can a House Call help during an inspection period or attorney review?
Yes. House Calls are built for short timelines, and that matters most to buyers under contract. You can talk as soon as the next day, with your report by 7 PM the day before. When you book, choose “Under contract” and enter your deadline, so we know the date that matters. Send the listing, the inspection report or a survey if you have them. They help, but the address is enough to start. We research the property’s zoning, setbacks, lot data, and flood and wetland maps, and email you the full report before the call. On the call, Chris goes over the report and recommends next steps for what you want to do. Afterward, you get a written recap of what to do first, so you can plan your next step before your deadline.
What’s included in a House Call?
You tell us your goals and send what you have, like photos, drawings, surveys or listings. We research the property’s zoning, setbacks, lot data, and flood and wetland maps, and the Girard House team prepares a full report, which Chris reviews before it goes to you. You get the report before the call, so you can look it over first. On a Google Meet call, Chris goes over the report with you and recommends next steps. Calls are 30 minutes for one property, or 45 minutes for up to 3. Afterward, you get a written recap and the full report. See the sample report and recap.
What should I bring?
The address and what you’re hoping to do. If you have a listing link, photos, plans or a survey, upload them when you book. They help, but they aren’t required. We research the property’s records either way.
Is the call by video or phone?
Calls are on Google Meet, so Chris can share plans and photos on screen. If video won’t work for you, choose phone when you book.
Can I ask about more than one property?
Yes. Up to 3 properties cost $600. That covers a report on each, a 45-minute call and one written recap of all of them.
Can I book a follow-up call?
Yes, once you’ve had a House Call. A 30-minute follow-up call for additional questions is $149. Book it on this page and choose “Follow-up call” in the first step. You pick up where your last call left off. Your property research carries over; new questions may need more.
Can I reschedule or cancel?
You can reschedule once, up to 24 hours before the call. Inside 24 hours we can’t promise a new time, but let us know what’s going on. You can cancel for a full refund within 30 minutes of booking. After that, research has started, so the fee isn’t refundable, including for a missed call.
Can Chris visit the property?
Yes, after a House Call. Site or house visits are arranged separately. Mention it when you book or on the call.
Which areas do House Calls cover?
House Call covers any house or property in Fairfield County, Connecticut.