Finding your Architect

The Architect

In most corners of this land, in order to obtain a building permit you will need signed, architectural and structural prints of your home showing exactly what your city, county as well as your next door neighbor can expect of the end result.

Depending on your location and situation you may know a reputable architect, however, if you don’t know where to start here’s a couple ideas:

• If you’ve already selected your builder, they should have recommendations of architects they have worked with in the past. A good builder-architect relationship is extremely important in working out the kinks during the building process.
• Check with your friends; word of mouth recommendations can be some of the most reliable.
• Touch base with your local Home Builders Association; check out the architectural memberships.
• Consult the American Institute of Architects membership listing at www.aia.org.
• Once you’ve selected a couple prospects, ask for references and seriously check out what their past clients have to offer.

This is a very important decision as there are many levels of architectural involvement once the project has begun. This involvement can range from a “thank you very much” once the prints are completed and handed over to your selected builder to a constant availability and accountability throughout the process including on site visits to ensure the home is being built as intended. The level of involvement will be your call as each level has dollar-signs attached.

A couple additional comments regarding the architect-builder relationship mentioned above. Ideally, you want a team of experts on your project that will communicate and work together to provide the best product possible. Be attentive to suggestions by builders regarding architect selection and vice versa. It is more than likely that previous interaction has either generated negative vibes (which you don’t want, obviously) or very positive and productive vibes. Just keep these thoughts in mind in both selection areas.

Once you’ve selected your architect, be aware that the blueprint process will take some time. There will be many sessions where the architect will be picking your brain in an attempt to extract what you really want this house to look like; many details will be discussed and it will mean some serious thought on your part. It may even mean fighting for your “wants” with your own architect. The entire building process is a very emotional arena and sometimes, with all the artistic and creative juices flowing, it’s easy to forget whose house it really is! Stick to your guns!

I would suggest that you include every important detail on your final prints. I’ve witnessed many a client’s surprise when they are presented with a modification to the contract (change order), requesting a sign-off on additional dollars for something the client “thought” was included in his prints. It may have been in your mind or even been discussed at meetings, but, if the detail is not transferred to the final blueprint (or accompanying specifications) the builder will not include it in his budget proposal to you.

Behind the scenes, the builder’s office has a good deal of interaction with the chosen architect – initially obtaining prints and all necessary information for the bidding process, understanding the information provided (lots of “requests for information”), distributing prints/specs to all the vendors and subcontractors who will be bidding on the project, obtaining and keeping track of the various sets of prints as they become available and then generally keeping in touch throughout construction.

Hope the above helps, have a good week and remember to take one day at a time and count your blessings.