Arnett 10 Questions To Ask Before Hiring An Architect

10 Q u est i o n s T o A sk B ef o r e H i r i n g A n A r ch i t ect A sk i n g ar ch i t ect s t h e r i gh t q u est i o n s i s k ey t o get t i n g t h e h o m e y o u w an t .

Yo u can ?t b u i l d t h e cu st o m h o m e o f y o u r d r eam s w i t h o u t a p r o p er p l an i n p l ace, an d m an y assu m e t h at t h er e?s n o o n e b et t er t o h el p y o u d esi gn sai d p l an t h an a q u al i f i ed ar ch i t ect . Sel ect i n g t h e r i gh t ar ch i t ect f o r y o u r p r o j ect i s easi er sai d t h an d o n e, as t h er e ar e sev er al f act o r s t o t ak e i n t o co n si d er at i o n . O f co u r se, y o u w an t t o m ak e su r e t h e p r o f essi o n al y o u ch o o se w i l l co l l ab o r at e ef f ect i v el y w i t h y o u an d y o u r h o m e b u i l d er d u r i n g t h e d esi gn p h ase t o en su r e y o u l ov e y o u r h o m e an d t h at i t i s r ead y o n t i m e an d o n b u d get . H er e ar e t h e t o p 10 q u est i o n s t o ask b ef o r e h i r i n g an ar ch i t ect .

W h at ar e t h e co r e v al u es an d p r i n ci p l es y o u r ef er t o w h en d esi gn i n g h o m es?

Answers t o t his quest ion will vary great ly, but look for t hought ful answers such as: funct ionalit y, a connect ion wit h t he out doors, energy-efficiency, conversat ions (asking quest ions), a collaborat ive design process and t ransparency t hroughout t he project .

1 C O RE VA L U ES

H ow w i l l y o u gat h er i n f o r m at i o n ab o u t m y n eed s, go al s, v i si o n , i d eas, et c.?

For everyt hing t o go well, your design t eam will need t o gat her a lot of informat ion from you (needs, goals, design priorit ies, lifest yle at t ribut es, design ideas, inspirat ion phot os, et c.).

They will use all of t hat informat ion t o make informed decisions about your design. Having a clear and syst emat ic way of gat hering t hat informat ion is a really good sign.

W h at ar e t h e st ep s i n y o u r ar ch i t ect u r al d esi gn p r o cess an d w h at i s t h e ex p er i en ce l i k e f o r cl i en t s?

This should paint a pict ure of how t hey operat e and how t hey organize t heir process t o deliver a home you?ll love t hrough a process you won?t regret .

W h at w i l l y o u sh ow m e al o n g t h e w ay t o ex p l ai n t h e p r o j ect an d h el p m e v i su al i ze t h e d esi gn (m o d el s, d r aw i n gs, sk et ch es, 2- D o r 3- D r en d er i n gs)?

This will give insight int o how t hey help t heir client s visualize t heir home during t his design phase. If you know it will likely be difficult for you t o visualize your fut ure home, t he more t ools t he bet t er.

2 GO A L S & V I SI O N

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O RGA N I Z ED PRO C ESS

D ESI GN C O N C EPT

W h at d o y o u see as i m p o r t an t co n si d er at i o n s o r p o ssi b l e ch al l en ges i n m y p r o j ect ?

List ening t o t he archit ect speak about t his will give you a glimpse int o how t hey approach problems and ident ify pot ent ial solut ions.

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SO L U T I O N S O RI EN T ED

Pr o -T i p : "H o m e b u i l d er s w o r k cl o sel y w i t h d i f f er en t ar ch i t ect s, t ak i n g t h ei r p l an s an d b r i n gi n g t h em t o l i f e i n t h e r eal w o r l d o f m at er i al , t i m e an d b u d get s. T h ey ar e u n i q u el y p o si t i o n ed t o assess t h e w o r k o f ar ch i t ect s, so get t i n g t h e ad v i ce o f a t o p o f t h e m ar k et b u i l d er an d ask i n g i f t h ey h av e a r eco m m en d at i o n f o r an ar ch i t ect i s v al u ab l e."

W h o o n y o u r t eam f l esh es o u t t h e i n i t i al d esi gn co n cep t , an d w h o t ak es i t f r o m t h er e t o f i n al i ze t h e p l an s?

It is import ant t o be sure t hat t he experienced vet erans and visionaries will have a hand in designing your init ial concept . The answer will also give you more informat ion about t he experience and st rengt hs of t heir ent ire t eam.

W h at i s y o u r cu r r en t w o r k l o ad an d cap aci t y ? W h at i s t h e p r o p o sed t i m el i n e f o r d el i v er i n g a d esi gn f o r a h o m e l i k e m i n e?

You?ll want t o know how long it will t ake for a preliminary design concept (basic floor plan and elevat ion) t o be developed as well as how long it will t ake t o finalize plans in CAD. Likely even before you have a preliminary design concept , your builder-- who will ensure t hat your design aligns wit h your budget -- should be included in t he conversat ion.

W h at i s y o u r f ee st r u ct u r e? W h at i s i n cl u d ed i n y o u r b asi c ser v i ces an d w h at ser v i ces w o u l d i n cu r ad d i t i o n al f ees?

This will help you t o bet t er underst and t heir program and serve t o est ablish clear expect at ions for cost s and payment s.

I f t h e sco p e o f t h e p r o j ect ch an ges l at er , w i l l t h er e b e ad d i t i o n al f ees?

H ow w i l l t h e f ees b e cal cu l at ed an d co m m u n i cat ed t o m e?

During t his phase, changes in t he scope of t he project are possible. You may change your mind about design aspect s, your builder may suggest cost -saving t weaks, or t he archit ect may run int o some kind of unforeseeable obst acle. You?ll want t o know how t he archit ect handles fees in t hose sit uat ions.

6 T EA M W O RK

7 T I M EL I N E

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FEE ST RU C T U RE

AD D IT ION AL FEES

C an y o u p r ov i d e a l i st o f r ef er en ces?

Be sure t o follow up wit h t heir references. It ?s a given t hat t he references will be client s who had a posit ive experience wit h t he archit ect , but t hese conversat ions can be helpful in get t ing a feel for what t he archit ect ?s specific st rengt hs are.

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REFEREN C ES