The Homeowner, Builder, & Architect Relationship
When contemplating small or moderate sized remodels, many homeowners wonder if they really need to hire an architect. Many homeowners who’ve hired an architect to design even very large projects often wonder if they need to keep their architect involved beyond the design or permitting phase. Having worked as both an architect and a builder and seeing this play in many different ways, I can say that the answer to each is emphatically ‘YES!’
Remodeling is expensive, and it should result in something that addresses the needs of the homeowner in the best way possible. This is where hiring an architect can pay huge dividends, because the typical homeowner doesn’t have the perspective or experience to imagine all the possibilities, and builders aren’t trained to work as designers. Good architects are good listeners who take the time to understand what their clients need, want, and can afford, and they present multiple design options for the client to consider. It is this measured, thoughtful approach that results in finished projects that exceed owner’s expectations. This can be done without significantly increasing overall costs provided the architect is involved during the construction process, and the builder is engaged during early design.
Architects are often criticized for designing things that are beyond the means of the clients they work for, and this is not necessarily undeserved. But architects don’t specialize in cost the way builders do, and this is why it’s important to utilize both early on in the design process. Bringing a builder into the conversation when the design is still at the schematic level can help to steer a project down an affordable path. As design moves forward, a lot of decisions are made for very good reasons, but those reasons are not necessarily obvious during construction. Without the continued involvement of the architect, things can easily go in the wrong direction. Even the most well-intentioned builder may make suggestions that deviate from the big picture and result in problems farther along or a finished product that misses the mark in multiple places.
The builder and the architect have very different roles, both are important, and neither can truly take the place of the other. Neither can really be completely effective without the other. Consider the following:
Does it make sense to spend money to build something that is poorly designed? Of course not. So hire an architect if you are planning to do some remodeling work. The cost of design and architectural oversight is low relative to the cost of construction, and the return is well worth it.
Does it make sense to spend money to design something unaffordable? Obviously, no. So engage a builder early to provide input on cost and feasibility (which is really just another word for cost) to avoid having your plans turn into a pipe dream.
Does it make sense to spend money building something that is not what was carefully imagined by the designer? One more time, No. That wastes money at the front end and the back end. So keep your architect engaged during construction.
In the years that I’ve been involved in residential remodeling, I’ve seen a lot of successful projects, and I’ve seen some that left a lot to be desired. The ones that stand out are those where the owner got more than they wanted without spending more than they were prepared to spend. More often than not, this is what happens when a builder is brought in early and an architect is kept engaged all the way to the end.
Happy Remodeling!
Brian Neville
Owner & Founder
Van Zandt Development + Building