Many of us have learned, through experience, how to select most of our 'support staff' - that is, the people who help us to live our lives fully and successfully. How to choose a doctor? Easy. Qualifications, experience, availability, bedside manner, and do they accept my insurance? How about mechanic? Qualifications, experience, availability, and can I trust him? So, what is on your list when you decide to hire an architect? Here are 5 items that should be on your list:
Qualifications. Architects are licensed by the state. In Oregon, you can look up any architect here and find out how long they have been practicing and if they have, how shall we say... professional problems.
Experience is essential. Find out what kind of experience your architect has. Does she showcase the types of projects you are drawn to? Does she have connections in the industry (ie, residential contractors and structural engineers)? Can she guide you through the building permit process, and advise throughout construction?
Availability is certainly important. But be careful! A good architect will frankly tell you how long you should expect to work through a design - allowing enough time for you to peruse the plans at each stage. A good architect will tell you the maximum number of projects she will work on simoultaneously.
Listening Skills. Did your architect appear to be listening well during your first meeting? Is that reflected in her design proposal? Do you feel comfortable telling this stranger some rather intimate things about how you live? Do you connect? Good architects have the ability to hear what you are saying (and how you are saying it) and then translating those descriptions into 3-dimensional space.
Clarity of Thought. Your architect will not only design for you, but she will prepare the documents that will be the instructions for your builder. Remember the last time you assembled a stroller, a desk, or a new electronic gadget? With clear and concise instructions, you do a much better job, right? So if your architect prepares a clear and concise set of drawings for your builder, the whole process will flow better. How can you evaluate this, if you don't really understand blueprints in the first place? First, ask the architect which builders she has worked with - then call them. Ask to see samples of Permit Documents. Do they look neat and clean? In the first 5 seconds you look at the page, does it look composed? You will get an impression. Trust your instinct. Finally, review the architect's design proposal, and ask yourself: is this document clear and concise?
Your new house, remodel, or addition project will probably be one of the more memorable experiences of your life. Take the time to plan well, choose the right architect for you, and you will have happy stories to tell when the project is complete.
1 comment:
Best Residential Architect in Portland hands down. Great at listening to the customer and desining from what the customer needs based on life-style.
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