Patent Attorney Mark Bergner provided the following five points that may help independent inventors control the cost of their patent application.
1) Provide me with the best write-up that you can up front with some illustrative (even hand-sketched) diagrams, along with any design documents you may have.
2) Try to do as much of the work as you can yourself.
3) Provide me with a nearly completed concept of the invention.
4) Answer any questions provided in a draft clearly and completely.
5) The costs of obtaining a patent, even a relatively complex one, pale in comparison to the costs you will encounter in trying to commercialize your product.
Photo by paolamuria.