What’s in a “Site Visit” and Why It’s Critical Before We Start Drawing

When you first reach out to Jane Draws Plans, one of the most important steps happens before any drawings begin: the site visit. While it may sound straightforward, a site visit is a crucial part of the design process and sets the foundation for everything that follows.

A site visit allows us to move beyond maps, photos, and assumptions. It’s how we understand your property as it truly exists, in real scale, real light, and real conditions.

What Actually Happens During a Site Visit

During a site visit, we carefully document the existing conditions of your property. This includes measuring structures, noting grades and slopes, observing drainage patterns, and documenting natural and built elements on the site. These measurements and observations become the backbone of the drawings and ensure that the project starts with accurate information.

We also pay close attention to environmental factors that can affect both design and construction. Things like sun orientation, potential dangers of the neighborhood, and how water moves across the land are often only fully understood by being on site. These details can significantly influence building placement, window locations, and overall layout.

Equally important is understanding the surrounding context. Access points, neighboring buildings, trees, utilities, and views all shape how a project should be designed. Seeing this context in person allows us to design a plan that fits naturally within its surroundings rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all solution onto the property.

Finally, we create a detailed visual and written record through photos, notes, and sketches. These references guide the design process long after the site visit is complete and help ensure consistency between what exists on site and what appears in the final drawings.

Why Renovations Demand a Site Visit

When working on a renovation, a site visit becomes even more critical because the design is built around existing conditions rather than a blank slate. Older buildings often contain inconsistencies that don’t appear on original drawings or surveys, walls that aren’t square, floors that slope, ceilings that vary in height, or structural elements that have been altered over time. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems may have been added, moved, or partially concealed, and these realities directly affect what can and cannot be designed. Being on site allows us to document these conditions accurately, identify constraints early, and understand how the space truly functions today. Without this firsthand knowledge, renovation drawings risk being inaccurate, costly to revise, or difficult to build, making the site visit essential to creating realistic, coordinated plans that respect and work with what already exists.

Why a Site Visit Matters Before We Start Drawing

Starting drawings without a site visit often means working from incomplete information. While surveys and aerial images are helpful, they cannot capture subtleties like steep slopes, drainage concerns, or the true scale of a space. A site visit helps ground the design process in reality, reducing assumptions and potential missteps.

By identifying constraints early, we can anticipate challenges before they turn into costly changes during construction. Understanding site conditions upfront allows us to design proactively rather than reactively, saving time and avoiding unnecessary revisions.

A site visit also enables truly site-specific design. Every property has its own character, shaped by light, landscape, and context. Experiencing the site firsthand allows us to design plans that respond thoughtfully to these qualities, resulting in a project that feels intentional and well integrated.

What This Means for You

For you as the client, a site visit provides clarity and confidence. It ensures that the plans are based on real conditions, that potential challenges are addressed early, and that the design aligns with how you actually use and experience your property.

It also creates a shared understanding between you, your designer, and your contractor. When everyone is working from the same accurate information, the process becomes smoother, communication improves, and surprises are minimized.

The Bottom Line

At Jane Draws Plans, drawing isn’t the first step; understanding the site is. A thoughtful site visit allows us to create plans that are accurate, practical, and tailored specifically to your property.

If you’re wondering whether your project needs a site visit, we’re happy to talk it through. Starting with a clear understanding of the site leads to better drawings and a better overall outcome.