At the first contact, the client expresses his expectations to the architect who helps him to specify his needs and his program to carry out his architectural project in the best conditions. The architect informs the client of the conditions relating to the land, the construction and the functions of the building, any additional expertise to be contracted as well as the administrative procedures required. He inquires about the project owner's budget and possibly provides assistance with the financial arrangement. The architect describes all the services he proposes to provide, the guarantees he provides and the corresponding fees, in agreement with the client. If the latter does not already have one, the architect can also assist the client in the search for suitable land. 

The architect then offers his services for an initial feasibility study and sketch creation mission which summarizes all the requests formalized jointly with the project owner, for a limited cost. If the client accepts the architect's terms, the latter then initiates the classic sequence of stages in carrying out an architectural project.