It is vitally important to use a design professional in the initial stages of your home remodeling project. An architect has design experience, and brings creativity to the table to achieve your goals in the best way possible. Typically, my fees are 4-6% of the overall construction cost of the project. Isn’t your home worth it?
As a general contractor, I encourage potential clients to hire an architect and their builder very early in the process. This is the most efficient way to develop the plans and scope of work while keeping the project on budget.
The benefit to hiring an architect before a general contractor is that you can use the prints to get competitive bids for the project. If you hire the general contractor 1st and they are not knowledgeable about codes and plans, they may underestimate the project before the prints are complete. Then, once the prints are completed, that is what has to be followed. Most experienced contractors will get the number fairly close to what you are looking for, but an inexperienced contractor could have issues properly pricing the project.
It’s best if you can hire both an Architect and a General Contractor you trust simultaneously. Although a General Contractor can’t truly provide you with tight final cost estimates of the scope without a complete set of construction documents from the Architect, an Architect can not truly provide you with the most cost efficient way to approach a solution without the help of the GC.
What’s more cost effective concrete or steel? What’s most cost effective tile roofing or metal roofing?
Your GC is working day in and day out in the field pricing different jobs and different solutions.
Your architect can help you with not only an aesthetic solution they understand the governing codes, but your GC really understands current pricing.
In the end it’s prudent to get both of them to work together - you’ll can get a project that meets all of your spatial and aesthetic concerns without breaking the bank !!!
Everybody deserves high quality design. Using a licensed Architect allows a trained professional to listen, and respond, to your design needs. Good design adds value every day over the entire life of the structure that far exceeds the design fee and will usually save cost in the long run. A licensed General contractor is a trained professional, but not a trained design professional.
Most of the time any contractor or homeowner needs drawings and approval from the building department for getting the permits in order to do any remodeling or new construction. Depending on the experience of the architect, you can get the permits really soon or they can delay years.
Its very important to use an architect in the beginning stages of a project. A architect has the design knowledge and brings his or her talent to the table to achieve your goals in the best & most cost effective way possible.
Bottom line is that the Architect, like an attorney, has a fiduciary and legal responsibility to represent the client’s best interests in all matters related to a construction project. Although a good contractor may always intend to ‘do the right thing’ with regards to his customers, the nature of a contracted relationship between GC and client acknowledges that there are inherent conflicts of interest. The Architect is a critical player in the checks and balances that are necessary in all construction activities.
Initially you can avoid pitfalls that can limit (or worse) your project potentials in satisfying your goals and of course the resale, should you be offered a good deal to move elsewhere.
Consider going to a residential architect like to going the largest toy store, then a residential contractor as going to a toy factory showroom that only makes a few of the worldwide toys. Choices are limited in the latter but the prices are less hazy for those that must shoehorn their lifestyle foot into a small shoe budget. That said, designing from scratch - or close to it -
> takes less time to design/draft
> fits your lifestyle best for life
> always seems to get “asking price” if forced to sell (think - the competition is all cookie cutter offerings in real estate)
> tons of money saved in Realtor, Contractor fees by not having to move, add-on (twice new construction costs) in moving time & again, as per some crabs that outgrow their shells
If you want a DESIGN that is unique, cohesive, with innovative materials, and properly managed, then its always best to hire an Interior Designer (not a decorator) and /or and Architect. These professionals will oversee a job from inception to completion. They are knowledgeable in the newest materials in addition to construction and installation methods. A GC is not a Designer.
If you hire an architect before you hire a contractor you have a detailed work scope
the contractor has to follow. It also makes it easier to get a canvas for pricing out the job. there is also a big possibility that things you are planing on doing might not be doable without an architect or a professional engineer
This is a classical dilemma. Should I hire an architect or a builder first. There are so many ways to answer this question. My recommendation would be to have a no cost initial dialogue with multiple architects and builders. Understand what advantages each brings to the table. Determine from a personally standpoint why you like and who you feel comfortable in working with.
You may also consider if you go to a builder first, they may have recommendations as to which architect may be best suited for your project.
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would be more than happy to help. 708-231-0400 or [email protected]…