Although you may not “need” to hire an architect to get a permit for your project (and most small residential projects are not required by code to have an architect stamp the plans), there are many good reasons to include an architect on your team. Architects see the big picture. The architect, a trained “problem-solver,” is the one professional who has the education, training, experience, and vision to guide you through the entire design and construction process. They will help you define what you want to build, help you define what qualities that building should have, and will help you get the most for your construction dollar. Architects are familiar with building codes and disability requirements, and will sort through them to determine the ones that apply to your project. They will help to ensure that the design for your dream house complies with all applicable municipal codes. If your project requires engineering or other design services, the architect can coordinate this team of experts so you don’t have to.
Selecting an architect is not unlike selecting a doctor, dentist or attorney. Make a list of possible choices, developed from recommendations by friends, projects from magazines or websites that appeal to you, and successful projects completed in your neighborhood. Check to see if the architect is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Membership in the AIA means that the architect subscribes to a professional code of ethics and has access to a variety of professional and technical resources. Call each firm on your list. Describe your project and ask if they are available to take on your project. If they are, request literature outlining the firm’s qualifications and experience. If the office is unable to handle your project, ask if they can suggest another firm. The materials you receive from interested firms might include a letter of interest, brochures, fact sheets, photos of past work, and biographical material about key personnel. Look beyond the style of the brochure or website to determine which firms have the right experience and capabilities for your project. At this point, you should be able to narrow your list to two or three architects you will interview. Make appointments to interview the leading contenders. They will often want to visit your site to talk with you about your specific needs. At this time, they should provide you with more information on their firm, and a list of references. Contact the references each architect has provided.
Competence, interest and chemistry are major considerations in making the final selection. The interview is crucial because it gives you a chance to meet and to see if the chemistry is right. You will be working with the architect for a many months. Some things to look for include:
(1) Does the architect have a personality that you can work comfortably with for a number of months?
(2) Do you communicate well with them?
(3) Do you like their style of their buildings, their design sense?
(4) Do they have good references?, and lastly,
(5) How many buildings have they built?
During the interview, ask questions. How busy is the firm? Does it have the capacity to take on your work? Who will handle the job? Insist on meeting the person who will actually handle your project. What is the firm’s design philosophy? How does the architect intend to approach your project? How interested is the firm in your job? Talk about your budget and find out the range of fees that the architect would anticipate for your project.
It is important to communicate clearly with the Architect. The scope of the project should be clearly established at the contract stage – the more you know about your needs and wants, the more successful the Architect will be at responding to them. The more information you exchange at this point, the smoother the project will run and the closer the result will come to meeting your requirements and expectations. Changes to the scope after the contract is signed may result in additional architectural fees.
The time period will vary according to a number of factors: the Architect’s workload, your decision-making process, and the city approval process. Each of these will impact the project schedule. You should work with your architect to establish a project schedule at the onset of the project, and then update it as you go. Be sure to clarify any time constraints or scheduling concerns with the architect at the onset of the project, so that they can be addressed in the project schedule.
Architect’s fee structures can be confusing to first-time clients. There is no set fee for a particular type of project. Some projects are done at hourly rates; others for a stipulated sum per unit, based on what is to be built (for example, the number of square feet, apartments, rooms, etc.). Some architects charge a fixed fee; others charge a percentage of construction costs. The architect may suggest a combination of the above methods. You will also be asked for a retainer before the work begins. The basis for the fee, the amount, and payment schedule are issues for you and your architect to work out together.
Architects charge for “Additional Services” anytime that they are asked to do work that was not anticipated nor covered in the original Architectural Services Agreement. Some examples of work that would trigger a request for additional services might be a client’s request for additional floor area to accommodate a new programmatic element (i.e., room or use) that was not part of the original project description, a request for a particular model or finished rendering that was not included in the original scope of work, or a city approval process not specified in the original agreement.
An Agreement for Services between you and your architect will initiate the project. The use of a written contract is advised; oral agreements and understandings can suffer from faded memories. The agreement should be clear as to the “Scope of the Project” (describing exactly what you, the client, want to do), the contract fee (and fee structure), and the scope of the architect’s services (describing what the architect will provide). The architect’s services may include a specified number of design solutions and her involvement in various phases of the project.
The architect will act as your agent during the construction phase of the project. She will not have a contractual relationship with the contractor. The architect can help you identify possible contractors, evaluate the bids received and will assist you in selecting a contractor. She will help to protect your interests during the construction phase by documenting that your project is being built in accordance with approved plans and specifications.
