If you’ve reached a stage in life where you are financially able and ready to build your dream home, having an architect onboard to guide you through the process from start to finish can provide the best result and end up saving you a lot of time and money.
When most people think of building their dream home, the initial excitement is often dimmed by a family member or friend constantly reminding them of the pitfalls of building and the enormous amount of work and time involved, but that’s why it’s highly recommended to talk with a reputable Architect before you do anything else.
A Reminder of What’s Involved With the Building Process
Let’s assume you have already purchased a stunning piece of land and are now ready to move forward with the building process but are doubting whether you need an Architect’s help at all. In that case, now is a good time to remind yourself of what is involved:
- Knowing the local laws – Compliance with local council zoning laws, building codes and regulations (what you can and can’t do on your land)
- Designing the perfect floor plan – To suit any views, slope of the land, room orientation, and pools, and incorporate your ideas.
- Working to your budget – From the initial feasibility to the final contract stage. Keeping a close eye on your budget as the design comes to life to avoid any shocks with the final building price, which can cause a sudden stop and rethink down the track.
- Selecting a builder – Deciding on the right Builder by researching their track record, licensing, insurance and service
- Finalising contracts – Reviewing the building contract details, final building plans, timelines, and costs.
- Choosing materials – Deciding on building exterior and interior materials such as walls, windows, doors, roofs, kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, colours and much more
- Building approvals – Submitting final plans for local council approvals and building permits. Liaising back and forth when the council requires changes or information
- Keeping watch during Construction – Communicating regularly with the Builder to review progress, keep an eye on the build quality, help solve problems, fix mistakes, and ensure the timeframe isn’t blowing out.
- Site Inspections – Conduct site inspections at the key construction stages outlined in the building contract. At the completion of each stage, the Builder gets a sign-off that the work has been completed correctly.
- Handing over the finished home – Walking through and inspecting the finish and details, Identifying and resolving any last-minute defects or finishing touches before signing off on the finished product. Obtaining occupancy certification and handover of keys
Architects Are Money Well Spent
One of the best decisions you can make is to hire an experienced Architect to assist in the process. Popular residential Architectural firms like Billy Dawson Architects not only create custom house plans but can also oversee the whole process by providing additional project management services for a reasonable percentage of the construction contract value.
It’s important to remember that an Architect is also your source of inspiration for exterior and interior design, helping you create truly functional spaces, enhancing any views from your land, and helping you get the best out of the home’s orientation to maximise the natural sunlight and breeze.
To Hire or Not to Hire
Ultimately, the decision to hire an architect to oversee the construction of your dream home comes down to two things:
- Money
- The value they can bring to your project
There’s a lot involved with building a new home, and managing the design and building process by yourself to save money can often end up costing more in unforeseen building costs, time losses, poor finishes and construction quality and in many cases, simple misunderstandings.
If you want the best result and a home beautifully designed and professionally built to the highest standards with the least hassle, then hiring an architect is the smart and sensible choice.
