Using an Architect Can Benefit Your Design Project

Deciding to employ an architect to help design your next home improvement project can be a scary prospect, especially if you've never used one before. However, their skills and experience can bring enormous benefits, and you can maximise these by following the tips in this handy guide.

Get the Brief Right

A good brief will help you find the right architect, and this should set out exactly what the task is. Consider how you want to use the rooms and what requirements you have in terms of space, storage and light. You also need to think about the design, style and finish you want to achieve, such as whether you want a wood or glass stair balustrade, and have a clear budget in mind, which includes all the additional costs.

Finding the Perfect Partner

It's essential that you are comfortable with the architect that you choose and that they understand exactly what you want to gain from the project. When you're researching architects, word of mouth is one of the best sources, and make sure that you look at photos of their previous projects and back up any testimonials.

Understand the Project

If you've never seen an architect's drawing before, they can be hard to understand, but it's essential that you know exactly what is being proposed before you commit to the project, including what your glass stair balustrade will look like once it's installed. The architect's floor plans will be drawn to scale, so learn how to understand the dimensions, as this will give you a better view of each room. Don't think that you're being stupid or taking up their time by asking questions - remember that it's your home and your money, so you need to have a clear impression of what the end look will be.

Make Sure You Have an Agreement

A written agreement between you and the architect will set out precisely what you want them to provide and the amount that this is going to cost. The overall fee will generally be a percentage of the final building budget, but there can also be an hourly rate or lump sum costs, and you'll need to agree at what stage each payment is due.

Keep on Plan

During the project you'll need to agree a number of specific details and make plenty of decisions, but it's essential that you keep focused at all times and make the right choices. If you don't know what to do at any stage of the work, speak to your architect to get their professional guidance.

One Line of Communication

When you have an architect working on your project, it's important that there is no confusion over what work needs doing and by whom, so it's best to speak directly to them if you have any alterations to the plan, rather than asking the builder to make amendments. If all the communication is going through one channel, it will limit misunderstandings and reduce any additional costs.