The thought of building your home is exciting and daunting at the same time. The excitement comes with knowing you are building your potentially forever home, but until then you have the possibly exhausting task of hiring and managing an architect and dealing with other unforeseen circumstances such as rain that could derail your schedule or a contractor who just won’t show up for work for one reason or the other. Here are five things you should know before you hire an architect:
Architects render a complex, custom service that must take account of your wants and needs and interpret them to fit into your budget and the land use constraints of your erf. Architects render their service in 6 distinct stages and what each entails, including the deliverables in each stage, must be clearly understood to ensure you get the best value from your architect.
Lots of people don’t like contracts, especially when its friends or family, but it’s important to work out the details and manage each other’s expectations before a project begins. The contract will typically include the scope of the work, what services the architect will provide, the schedule for the project, how much the architect will be paid, and when. Once everything is in writing, both parties are more secure and feel safe to proceed with plans. There can be a lot to work through, so be patient and don’t rush it.
Architects are generally creative minds who offer bespoke solutions and inspiration for your home, but they are also business oriented which means they might require a handful of people to assist them with other project management tasks so they can focus on producing the best plans for you and the overall management of your project. This means hiring more people which will, in turn, cost you more money. Unless you have no specific timeframe in mind and are happy to build if and when funds are available, we highly recommend that you consider an architect who has a team in place opposed to a one-man service.
It is not very often that your initial conversation with an architect is final. Professional architects understand that many things can and will change along the way and they should be able to discuss all possible changes prior to starting the project. This will help you avoid unnecessary stress and project delays an architect that doesn’t agree to a process for change may not be your best bet when it comes to hiring.
Architects are trained professionals who spend years studying structural integrity, technical drawing, interior and exterior design. They have a wealth of knowledge to contribute to you and your dream home. Make sure your architect is SACAP registered and have up to date insurance.
With the growth of technology, it’s now easier to view an architect’s ratings either on google reviews or other online service platforms. It’s also a good idea to consider architects that are vetted by construction lawyers because you need to feel comfortable with this person and secure that your projects will be safe in their hands. Ask for photos of past work – this will give you a realistic idea of their approach, work ethic and how they’ll manage your project.
