Questions To Ask An Architect Before Hiring One
Here are some basic questions you need to ask an architect before hiring one.
22/03/2019
If you are planning to have a house built or have a major home renovation, you will need to hire an architect. Architects serve as the brains, and will also be the one to help you out with setting a budget for your project as well as keeping that budget on track. Contact different architects and have a talk with each of them so you can have an idea of how they’re going to work. Do not be intimidated by all the jargon they use. With a little bit of research, you will know what to look for.
Here are some basic questions you need to ask an architect:
1. Can you confirm that you’re a licensed architect and do you have references? People and titles can be deceiving sometimes. There are those who put “architectural designer” in their title, but they are not actually licensed architects. The reason behind why you need a licensed architect is so that you are guaranteed of their services.
References are important before hiring because it tells you if you are going to work with a reputable and dependable company. Follow up on these references. Ask the architect if they can give you names of previous clients and contractors that they worked with. Talking to previous clients and contractors will tell you if your project is going to go smoothly or not. You can ask how problems were solved and if they have complaints about the architect. A reputable company will have these references ready. If they refuse to give references, look for another company to work with.
2. What is your signature style? Architects have their signature style and if you hire one, they expect that your vision for you home aligns with their vision. There are architects that have projects that mostly have modern designs and there are those that prefer victorian designs. If you hire an architect that specializes in period detailing and you want to have a more modern take, it may not work well for the both of you. This is why it’s important that you talk about styles and to have a closer look at the architect’s portfolio. Ask questions about their portfolio. Which parts of the projects were their own creation and which parts were from the client’s vision?
3. What services do you offer? Some architects only want to secure permits, recommend a plan, and give a detailed drawing for the contractors to follow. This usually comes with technical specifications that the contractors can understand. There are also companies that offer full services, which could include acting as a liaison between client and contractor, inspecting the site regularly and doing quality control, keeping the budget on track, and helping contractors solve issues during construction.
Knowing the full range of their services will help you understand the scope of their work and will help you decide which company to hire.
4. How do you charge your fee? Fees need to be discussed upfront. This is one of the most important factors when deciding to hire any type of service. The thing is, not all architects charge the same way. There are those who charge a percentage of the total cost of the project. It could vary from 5% to 20%. There are also architects who charge per hour or daily, and some ask for a one-time payment depending on how complex the project is. The more complex the project, the higher the fee.
Make sure that everything is clear to you from the very beginning, and ask that everything you have agreed upon need be written on a contract.
5. Do you provide a 3D drawing of your vision? For people who are not architects, it could be difficult to have a feel of the design by simply looking at a 2D plan. You may not be able to see all the details. The good thing about building a home in this day and age is that it’s now easy to create a 3D drawing which will allow you to look at the plan from different angles. All it takes is a software that needs to be installed in a computer. If the architect is up-to-date with the latest technology in their chosen field, they will most likely have this software.
Conclusion
Hiring an architect is a bit expensive, but you will soon find out that it is a necessary investment. During the construction of projects, things could go wrong, and without professional to help solve those issues, it will cost you more money later on because contractors are not always equipped to solve technical issues. Do your research and hire an architect whose vision aligns with yours, but won’t put a large dent on your bank account.