In Between · 4 November 2026
How is the cost of a spatial experience report determined?
When requesting a spatial experience report for a hotel, restaurant or retreat, budget is one of the first questions. To assess cost meaningfully, you first need to describe which decision the report is meant to support. Evaluating the arrival sequence of a hotel before opening raises different questions from understanding how a restaurant already in use performs at peak hours. This article looks at how to describe your need before a proposal and how to compare scope.
Start with the question you want answered
"We want to improve the space" is a good starting point, but on its own it does not define the boundaries of the work. Is there uncertainty at the welcome point, are shared areas not used as expected, or is the coherence of the experience being questioned during design? For the first meeting, write your core question in one sentence. Then add why you need the answer now: an upcoming opening, a renovation decision or a recurring usage problem. This preparation helps keep many different expectations from blending together in the same conversation.
The main factors that shape the fee
At In Between, fee and timeline are set once the scale of the space, the stage of the project and the scope of the work are understood. Instead of ready-made packages, a project-specific framework is built.
When discussing scope, do not stop at sharing the total floor area. Also list the areas you want evaluated, the hours the space is in use and the information you already have. The difference between a current plan and an outdated one is a detail worth explaining in the meeting. Likewise, a question still at idea level and one close to an implementation decision may not need the same amount of time. These points do not form a fixed pricing formula; they make it easier to understand what a proposal includes.
Separate the design stage from the operating stage
In Between's R1 framework addresses projects still in design, while the R2 framework addresses existing and operating spaces. To see the approach more closely, you can review the R1 and R2 report frameworks.
Consider two hypothetical requests. In a hotel project, the question might be how the journey from the entrance to the room will be read. In an open restaurant, the question might be how the relationship between the welcome and the table layout changes at peak hours. The first request discusses usage scenarios that have not happened yet; in the second, information about the lived experience becomes important. These examples are not service packages or price comparisons; they show that the same word, "report", can cover different decision needs.
Compare proposals on the same scope
Before comparing two totals, write side by side the questions each proposal undertakes to answer. Is it clear which areas will be evaluated, what information is expected, how the deliverable will be presented and what the meetings cover? If on-site work, travel or post-report meetings are involved, ask how they are handled. Rather than assuming an unclear item is included, clarify it in writing.
You can use a simple list for comparison: subject of the work, areas to be evaluated, inputs expected from you, deliverables, timeline and post-report support. This way the budget conversation rests not only on the final figure but on the work defined for it.
Information you can prepare before the first meeting
- Type of space, its location and approximate scale.
- Current stage of the project and the target decision date.
- The areas you want evaluated and your core question.
- Current plans, photographs and short notes on use, if available.
- The project owner, architectural team or operator representatives who will join the meeting.
- A short description of the support you expect after the report.
Not every document needs to be ready for the first meeting. Noting the information you are missing or unsure about can be a sufficient start. Adding which area and time a photograph shows makes the context clear. Rather than turning the first message into a long project archive, prefer a short summary that explains the decision need.
Clarify how the report relates to implementation
In Between offers independent spatial experience consultancy; it does not prepare architectural design or implementation drawings. Post-report support is handled on request. The How We Work page explains the boundaries of this role and the approach.
So in the meeting, also discuss who will use the report. It should be clear which team will review a finding, which decision it is expected to inform and who owns the next step. When planning the budget, thinking of the consultancy work and any later implementation decisions under separate headings makes expectations clearer.
Frequently asked questions about fee and timeline
Is there a fixed report price?
In In Between's current description, the fee is set once the need and scope are clarified; no standard package rate is offered.
Can the delivery time be stated at the outset?
The timeline becomes clear once the project stage and the scope of the work are discussed. Sharing your key decision dates at first contact is helpful.
Is post-report support automatically included?
Post-report support is optional. Clarify your expectations and its place in the proposal at the first meeting.
You can start by sharing the type of your space, the stage of the project and the core question you want answered. Contact In Between to discuss the scope together.