An architect can bring a lot to your home renovation project. From managing the project, bringing in contractors and subcontractors, and dealing with unexpected issues during the project, architects can have a much broader role than just drawing up structural plans.
And for your convenience, when you choose John Falvella Construction Services for your home construction, we bring our architect with us!
In this blog post, we’ll highlight some of the things that you should consider before hiring an architect for your renovation or custom home build.
Here’s What to Think About…
- Decide what you want out of your architect. Do you just want the architectural plans drawn up, or do you want them to stick around and help manage other aspects of the project as well? The choice is between you and the architect, but it’s important to figure this out before the project begins.
- Define who will manage each responsibility. When it comes to home construction or a renovation project, there are a lot of moving parts that work together to make sure things get done. From choosing design elements like fixtures and facings to hiring contractors, obtaining permits, and more, it’s important that everyone knows who is going to handle each aspect of the process. This should be sorted out in detail before the project begins.
- Are you working with a designer? If there is a designer present for the project, they may take over certain aspects of the process, including choosing fixtures, finishes, and other elements. If you are not working with a designer, you and the architect that you hire may split these responsibilities, or they may fall to you. It’s important to know how it’s going to work out when the project actually starts.
- Time and budget management is an important aspect of the project. You want to make sure that the architect has a plan and a strategy to get the project done on time and within the budget that you have set out for it. Otherwise, you may run into a lot of problems along the way.
- Unexpected issues can arise at any stage of the project, from construction that was not done properly when the home was built or other inconsistencies that need to be fixed before a proper construction can take place. Asking how the architect deals with these unexpected problems can help ease your mind about potential problems.
- How does the architect charge you? Some architects charge by the hour, and others derive flat fees from a percentage of the total cost of the project. Some even use a hybrid of these two options. Knowing this before the project gets started can potentially save you a lot of headaches in the future when it comes time to pay for their services.
It’s important to ask these questions first and foremost when considering an architect for your project. Talking with the architect about project expectations and specific details can help your project go that much smoother.
In the lower Hudson Valley, the Hamptons, and beyond, John Falvella Construction Services can help you figure out all of the details of your new home construction. We work closely with our on-hand architect to make sure that everyone is on the same page and understands how the project will go. Call today for more information!