Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Apr 28, 2017 3:42 pm Hi We have bought a semi rural block and want to design our own home. People have differing opinions on whether to use an architect, a house designer, and engineer, a draftsman or a combination of these.We are coming round to thinking we want an architect but am wondering about the process. Has anyone had experience in shopping around a bit for an architect? I don't want to go from a phone call to being shoe horned into a contract. Do you usually just visit their office first to see what they are like and what else they have done? I assume they'd then want to look at the site and would charge for their time - is it usually possible to do this and just pay for that visit and any prelim ideas, if we find we don't want to go with them? Any advice at all on the topic of looking for and hiring an architect is welcome. Re: Tips on hiring an architect? 2Apr 28, 2017 3:48 pm We had two architects come look at our site and have a prelim discussion about our needs. They then gave quotes. Was obligation free up till then. We then decided on one and went from there. In the past (different build) we got to a first drawing stage then decided not to go ahead, so we paid for work done up till then. Re: Tips on hiring an architect? 4Apr 28, 2017 4:56 pm Our plan this time is to get them to manage the project. Re: Tips on hiring an architect? 5Apr 28, 2017 7:02 pm elliep Has anyone had experience in shopping around a bit for an architect? I don't want to go from a phone call to being shoe horned into a contract. Do you usually just visit their office first to see what they are like and what else they have done? I assume they'd then want to look at the site and would charge for their time - is it usually possible to do this and just pay for that visit and any prelim ideas, if we find we don't want to go with them? Any advice at all on the topic of looking for and hiring an architect is welcome. We researched architects before our current build, as well as looking at building designers. Absolutely the first thing I believe you need to do is write a design brief. This allows you to consider what it is you want to achieve by engaging an architect or building designer, and provides a consistent foundation for you to compare the candidates to each other. To build a short list, have a look at their portfolios. Over time professionals such as these develop a signature style, and you'll either like it or not. That is not to say they take a cookie-cutter approach to developing their designs (although some do and they are best avoided) but have themes that flow through their work. The process of whittling the choice down to one is pretty much the same as for every other service you buy. Send them your brief and then have an initial meeting to see if you click and you like what they say about how they might approach the design of your home. In the end, especially with an architect, you are buying a creative expression that has to eventually be turned into a practical outcome. Some do one better than the other, but what you want is a team that can be consistently good as it moves from concept to drawing, then plan to execution. Your build is relatively simple, I believe your job can be easily done by a good building designer, you really do not need to pay for the architect. Remember, architect's… 3 10953 I've just had a look at the website. The company are just building broker's. There are plenty of similar companies that basically draw your plans (they own them so you… 8 10854 Just be careful with building stability during construction, that is when the structure may be weakened, refer to your engineering drawings for stability methodology. 1 7215 |