Redfin Asked us What We Think You Should be Asking Your Architectural Designers
Redfin featured us.in their article “19 Essential Questions to Ask a Residential Architect Before Hiring Them” We put a lot of care into making sure our clients feel like they have a decent understanding of what the process of working with an architect is like. We’ve even written a blog post about what you need to know before working with an architectural designer for the first time to make sure our clients have a road map.
We were so excited when Redfin asked us for a tip on what to ask you architect that we actually gave them 3 questions we think you should ask your architect:
When it comes to starting a project in your own home, it's really important that you and your architect be aligned on the project's goals and values. Values can vary greatly for projects and will balance budget, timeline, appearance, building performance/sustainability, and property/ resale value. It's incredibly important to establish and hierarchize these values for yourself and communicate them to your potential architect. To get started, Full Stop Design Studio has developed a values survey for their clients to make sure designer and client are on the same page.
If you are considering working with a contractor and forgoing a designer or architect, it is important to consider the possibility of incurring code violations and the loss of property value associated with unpermitted work. Not only does getting a professional designer and permit ensure your work is done safely, it also protects the value of your home at sale. Be sure to ask an architect if permits are required by the scope of work.
In addition to being creative and clever, a good architect must be a good communicator. Because architects and designers rely on others to have their work realized, we must be good at taking in information from our clients and translating it into various media for contractors, tradespeople, and owners. As you meet your potential architect and learn what their process is like, pay attention to their communication style and establish a way that they can communicate to you most effectively, whether that's in drawings, written descriptions or renderings.