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How can you find out if you need to hire an architect?

However, if you’re considering a new home for you and your loved ones, your plans may not be as grand as some you’ve seen pictured or featured on television. Perhaps you think that your finances are not enough to hire one. How can you be sure if you need to hire an architect and if not doing so will cost you money in the long run?

Making use of a pre-canned design

Ready-made designs are created by home designers and architects as a kind of “one size fits all” approach to home design.

Pluses: You should be able to find out-of-the-box plans to fit any size, style, or budget. As long as you can find one that you are happy with, it can save you a significant amount of money.

Negative factors: The one-size-fits-all approach of these ready-to-wear designs means that your individual requirements will not be specifically catered for and there may be aspects of the design that you don’t like. You should also be aware that the plans may not have been drawn up with the specifics of your local area and any requirements that may come with it. Many people who purchase these plans often take the services of an architect in order to modify them to suit.

Mass Development Home Builders

Today, most large-scale housing developments are built by these types of construction companies. If they do not own the land themselves (which is often the case), the landowners will have hired them to develop it. House designs will come from plans drawn up specifically with that development in mind. When working in collaboration with these builders, you will find that you need to select from the plans that the builder offers. After going through various plans in detail, you should play a leading role in customizing it. The type of features you can influence are things like window fittings and interior items, but most features will be out of your control.

Advantage: Developers like this obviously build a lot of houses and as such should be seasoned professionals when it comes to building houses. Since the plans are developed locally, they will be ideal for the terrain and climate.

Negatives: Keep in mind that the developers will build many similar houses as part of the project and yours will be just one of them. To produce so many homes, in such a short space of time, many times things are done to keep costs and development times low.

What does a professional interior designer do?

Another savings option that is available to you is to enlist the services of a certified professional building designer, widely regarded as a home designer, who plays an important role in the design of your home. These designers are not trained or qualified to the same level of experience as architects, but are still highly skilled. These designers generally charge a lower fee than architects, but they will usually be professionally certified so you can be sure an expert will help you with your designs.

Pros: As the name suggests, the expertise of home designers is just that, designing homes. Chances are good that a home designer has more experience designing private residences than a randomly chosen architect. Hire a good home designer and you can get a fantastic custom designed home for your family at a much lower cost than hiring an architect.

Negative Factors: Even if they don’t mass produce their designs, they will often stick to tried and tested methods and approaches, rather than employing truly innovative and unconventional methods and techniques. Since home designers do not receive any training regarding the development of unusual or complicated designs, they may not meet your requirements all the time. If you are interested in a completely unique design, hiring an architect is the way to go.

Speaking of architects, they are licensed professionals, with experience in all kinds of areas. Every architect must complete a minimum training to become a qualified professional. Like other professions (legal, medical) the required training lasts around 7 years. Their training consists of numerous exams that have to be passed, as well as practical work experience. An architect’s skills go far beyond simply creating designs and drawings for buildings and can solve complex problems that may arise as part of a project.

What is the role of an architect?

This might not be as obvious as it seems at first glance. The role of an architect will often differ from one construction project to another. In addition to the obvious aspect of submitting drawings or designs for a project, architects will often advise on aspects of the construction, such as which building materials to use, planning consent, and general supervision of the project. Ideally, it is your architect’s responsibility to inspect the construction site and note the direction of the sun and the placement of trees. When you take these services, be prepared to pay extra money, usually in the eight to ten percent range.

The Kind of Things Architects Should Ask You

Do you and your family watch television regularly and, if so, where in the house?

Do you need a casual dining room?

Do you regularly entertain guests at your home or do you plan to?

Do you treat your bedroom as a sanctuary where you spend many hours of the day? Or is your bedroom just a place to sleep?

Do you want a separate work area in your new home?

What problems are you currently having with your home?

What aspects or features of your current home would you like to keep?

How would you like to change or redesign your home?

How much are you looking to spend?

A good Cambridge architect will be able to help you make the most of your budget and get you the new dream home you’ve always wanted.

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