I hear it all the time, “I have never worked with an architect.” I get it, we are not the first call that some make when thinking about their next construction project. You want to get something built, you call a builder. However, that approach misses a lot of opportunities and could impact your investment. An architect’s approach to design might possibly be the single greatest factor in saving you money, time, and stress on your new dream home.

1. Holistic approach: As an architect we think about the entire project from materials to available contractors to budget. We help identify potential problems and find opportunities before construction starts. We masterplan the entire project from beauty to structure to energy to indoor environmental quality. We help make your long-term goals a reality, bringing together a cohesive design solution that is efficient to build.

2. Cost Control: Cost are hard to guess at before there is a design, but we track the market and know in general terms where construction costs are heading. We can help design an efficient build which is a great way to save money without sacrificing function or form. We also can evaluate your program vs your budget to help identify ways to balance the two competing demands. Further, having a well thought out and complete plan for the contractor to work from enables them to move faster and efficiently saving them time and your money.

3. Costly mistakes from minimal drawings: Our drawings will detail your design intent graphically and our years of experience give the builder the details they need to put your home together. Knowing what to draw and not drawing things that don’t need to be drawn keep confusion away from the construction. We know that a full set of the appropriate details, sections, and selections can deliver a successful and budget-appropriate project, so that is our goal for every client. We also know how to design to minimize construction waste from materials you just purchased, keeping efficiency front of mind for everyone involved.

4. Red Tape: Our team strives to stay up to date on the latest innovations in the industry and the ever-changing zoning laws, building codes, and regulations. While things changing makes for an interesting challenge, we invest the time needed to know the process, standards, and regulations. This can help speed up permitting and as we all know, time is money.

5. Trends and design: We ask a lot of questions through the design process to make sure we are considering your lifetime goals. We want to make sure that our design solution fits your dreams, but also if your dream changes, we want to make sure you can resale the property if needed. We think through the latest trends and offer design solutions that are timeless. We balance very specific design goals, as best we can, with options that will appeal to a wider audience should it need to do so.

In short, while an architect’s fee is an upfront cost, their value in providing expert guidance, preventing expensive errors, and ensuring a smooth process can be the best money you spend on your renovation.