Why work with an Architect?
In the labyrinth of home design decisions, the choice of whether to enlist the expertise of an architect is a pivotal crossroads, where pragmatism meets the allure of a dream home.
Here we aim to demystify the process of working with an architect, shedding light on the added financial considerations while highlighting the invaluable benefits that elevate the journey of creating a home and the life lived within it.
Is hiring an Architect worth the cost?
The elephant in the room. The cost of hiring an Architect varies from region to region and can also fluctuate depending on the services offered by a firm or practitioner. As a rule of thumb, the Architect’s fee can typically be estimated to be between 7% - 15% of your budget for construction.
While the added value is clear, the full services of an Architect may be cost prohibitive for many. Fortunately, many Architects are willing to reduce their scope of work to accommodate smaller budgets, or even to consult on design decisions at an hourly rate.
So what is the added value that an Architect brings to the design of your home?
The value of an Architect…
Hiring an Architect for the design and detailing of your home is an investment in the life you will lead within its walls.
From aesthetic nuance, to building science, to making sure every square inch of your space is improving the quality of experiences in your home, the Architect is trained and driven to translate your needs and wants into thoughtfully considered dwellings designed specifically for you. Unlike home-builders and developers, they aren’t bound to a particular construction technique or pre-arranged plan, and instead are committed to forming the home around the ways that you and your loved ones want to live.
Designing and building a home can be overwhelming, and an Architect is an added layer of assurance that the decisions being made are leading to the creation of an enduringly pleasant home with efficient and structurally sound details.
What is it like to work with an Architect?
Architects typically work through four stages of design - Schematic Design (“big picture” ideas about layout, siting, conceptual basis, etc.), Design Development (refinement of ideas from Schematic Design moving toward a building permit), Construction Documentation (the nitty gritty details of how the project will be constructed), and Construction Administration (Architects meet on site regularly with builders and clients to ensure the project is being built according to the design intent).
Throughout this process, the Architect walks alongside you in every decision (and there are a lot of decisions!), offering guidance and suggesting creative and alternative solutions. Their role is a combination of ensuring your home is a healthy and safe environment and elevating it’s design to a series of experiences tuned to your specific lifestyle and preferences.
Every Architect is different, and it is important to ask questions about their process and what is included in their fee. Asking good questions is a great way to become confident in the expertise and process of your Architect.
When should you engage an Architect?
If you decide that working with an Architect is the right choice for your home, it is never too early to begin the conversation. We often work with clients while they are investigating potential lots for construction or homes for renovation. Our insight has helped clients avoid a myriad of issues that were lurking in the details of an unsuitable lot or in the walls of well-decorated homes.
It is also never too late to begin the conversation. If you are in the midst of the process with a builder, developer, or working on your own and have realized that you aren’t quite satisfied with the results, an Architect may be the right solution to get things back on track.
Before you pay a dime, Architects are typically happy to discuss their process in great detail, and can give you an idea of what to expect while working with their team. They can also provide some insight into recent costs of construction, as well as the cost of their own fees.
…and other works is an Architecture and Design practice located in Durham, North Carolina, specializing in modern residential architecture for clients throughout the Southeast…
Contact us.
If you are considering hiring an Architect for the design of you home, we would love to connect with you to answer your questions and discuss our process!
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