The Advisory
A commercial eye on the
decisions that shape your return.
For developers, investors and hoteliers who want an experienced, design-led commercial eye across their development scheme. The Advisory connects design decisions to the people who will buy, rent or stay, so the return is considered before the expensive choices are made.
What it means for you
The same commercial discipline, matched to your goal.
Developers, building to sell
Protect GDV and sales velocity with homes that answer buyers' emotional and financial objections. Layout, unit mix and specification work together to make the asking price an easier yes, before the scheme reaches the market.
Investors, building to hold
Protect rental income and yield with homes shaped around the people who will live there. Stronger tenant appeal, practical layouts and durable finishes support quicker lease-up, fewer voids and longer stays.
Hoteliers, welcoming guests
Protect ADR, occupancy and operating profit with spaces shaped around the guest experience. A clear concept, thoughtful layouts and operational sense give guests a reason to book, return and recommend.
Who advises
Working in the gap where commercial decisions get made.
Raquel Aparicio
Founder and ARB-registered architect
Raquel brings over 20 years of residential and hospitality experience to one question: will this development scheme perform. Her architectural training connects the technical, the design and the commercial, with the buyer, tenant or guest behind every decision.
The value is in the development scheme that performs, the homes and rooms people choose, and the expensive mistakes that never happen.
The challenge
Developments rarely miss on price.
They miss on early decisions.
Designed for no one in particular
Buyers, tenants and guests are more selective than ever. A scheme without a clear market in mind creates objections where it should create confidence.
Plans that work only on paper
Planning consent does not tell you whether a home is easy to live in or a hotel is easy to run. Those gaps show up later in viewings, voids and guest reviews.
Return decided too early
Layout, unit mix and specification shape your sale price, rent and room rate. Once they are fixed, a misread market becomes far more expensive to correct.
Shibani Talashilkar
Westar Int. Architect
“Most noteworthy is Raquel's gift of being able to extract the best work from all allied teams while seeing the projects to completion within the deadline. Raquel is a formidable leader, contributor, as well as an excellent team player. Her work across multiple casinos, restaurants speaks for immense talent. FF&E, design, CA all form part of her masterful arsenal when delivering projects from concept to handover.”
Common questions
How is The Advisory different from a design engagement?
A design engagement delivers the work. The Advisory offers a senior commercial perspective on the decisions that shape performance, whether or not Mar Design is designing your development scheme.
Is it relevant to new homes, build-to-rent and hospitality?
Yes. The commercial goal changes, but the discipline is the same: design for the people who will buy, rent or stay. For new homes developers that means buyer demand, GDV and sales velocity; for investors, tenant demand and yield; for hoteliers, guest experience, ADR, occupancy and operating profit.
When should we start the conversation?
Ideally before the layout, specification and positioning are fixed, because those decisions set your sales speed, GDV or rate. If you have an active site, or are about to start one, now is a good time to talk. We can also review an existing scheme where the design, market or commercial assumptions need a fresh perspective.
What is included each month?
A two-hour board meeting, a site visit or video walkthrough, direct access between meetings on any significant decision, specification pressure-testing, and every decision checked against the buyer, tenant or guest who will pay for it.
How do we begin?
With a 30-day deep dive into your scheme, a Saleability & Stay-Ability Scorecard rating it against what today's market wants, and introductions from our Specialist Black Book of trusted trades and consultants.
Do you work with our existing team?
Yes. The Advisory sits alongside your architect, designer, contractor and agents. We don't replace them; we make sure their decisions add up to a scheme that performs.
Is it in person or remote?
Both. Board meetings and site visits can be in person or by video, so The Advisory works for schemes across the UK and internationally.
How many developers do you work with?
We work with five developers at a time, so every client has direct access to Raquel.
How are fees structured?
We share the fee and terms in the initial conversation, once we understand your scheme and what you need from The Advisory.
The decisions that set your margin are being made right now. The Advisory makes sure they’re the right ones.
Book a call to see if it’s a fit.
Book a call