Just imagine it, walking into the beautiful new building you’ve been working tirelessly on. Even if you’re dreaming about it, it didn’t build itself overnight right? Getting involved in construction projects takes hard work and a lot of different people to get the job done right.
When you are working on a new construction whether that be domestic or commercial, you must work with an architect. They’ll make sure your new build is structurally sound and can add some nice touches to the project. So here are x things to know before hiring an architect.
1. Different Types of Architects
When you start working on a new project, it may feel silly to look into hiring an architect. If it’s a small addition to your home, you can consider just going with a tried and true contractor.
And while that may work for some projects, for others it’s necessary to figure out what type of architect you’ll need for your project. Some of the different types of architects out there include:
- Residential Architects
- Commercial Architects
- Industrial Architects
- Landscape Architects
Each architect has a different specialty that they are an expert in. So if you’re working on a new commercial space in a busy downtown area, you wouldn’t hire a residential architect.
If you’re working on a new business space, you’ll want to look into commercial architects. They specialize in architecture for buildings used for commercial, retail, industrial, and manufacturing needs.
You can even hire architects to help you with outdoor structures and builds. Landscape architects can help plan, design, and execute intricate landscape builds. They have more expertise than a gardener or landscaper and can transform the outdoor space of a building.
Once you figure out the scope of your project and what type of architect you’ll need, you can start to interview different candidates.
2. Past Work and Reviews
Before hiring an architect or an architect firm, you have to look into their past work. Every architect has to go through extensive training to be able to work on projects. And every person you read out to will have their own personal style and taste.
This can greatly affect the outcome of your project. If you want to work on a building that is going to have aesthetic significance, you’ll want to find an architect with a track record of beautiful design work.
If you are creating an industrial building that needs to be functional for a trade, you may not have to worry about the details as much as the structure itself.
When looking at past work you can figure out if an architect is going to be the right fit for your project or not.
Anyone in construction should have trusted colleagues and references. You can ask around to see if anyone you work with has architects that they recommend before reaching out. If you can’t find anyone with references, don’t be afraid to check online reviews. These can tell you a lot about the company you are trying to work with.
3. Budget and Timeline
Every architect is going to have vastly different rates. This depends on several factors. Some of these include:
- Scope of the project
- Projected timeline
- Project budget
An architect that you bring on to help create a brand new commercial building to wow downtown residents may cost more than one you bring in to help transform your garage into a lock-off apartment. So you have to take a look at your budget and see if that aligns with the architectural fees of the person you want to work with.
You also have to make sure that you and your architect are aligned on the timeline of your project. In construction projects, it can be easy to spill over your projected timeline. When this happens, you’ll end up fronting a much larger cost than you may have budgeted for originally. As long as you and your architect are communicating clearly when it comes to your project, you’ll be able to have a nice working relationship.
Conclusion
Hiring an architect can be a tricky process. You want to find a person or a firm that is the right fit for your project. Whether that means you’ve found an expert in their specialty or someone that can keep a project on task. Either way, keeping in mind a few simple things before committing to an architect can make your build smooth as marble.
