-
Noa Ram Architecture & Interior Design17 May 2018Our 3c’s formula for guarantying you get the right architect -
Finding the right match in any aspect of life entails a fair amount of preparedness and luck. The process of building - be it a dream home, a relationship or business enterprise, involves unknowns that unfold with time and experience. However, there are steps you can take before embarking on such projects to help keep your focus relevant, minimise unnecessary risk and time-wasting and maximise resources available to you.
Finding the right architect for you and your project will offer assurance that both your personal and financial investment is in good hands. Noa Ram Studio is happy to be of service with some tips to take into consideration when looking for and selecting an architect for your project. We firmly believe the winning formula lives in the 3C’s – Competence, Cost and Chemistry.
Competence
What’s the word on the street? Word of mouth is powerful. Not surprisingly, we trust our friends and family more than we trust ads - believing they will tell it to us straight. Getting referrals and recommendations from people we know as well as ‘impartial’ professional bodies, such as local councils, is the first step in producing a pool of relevant candidates. Research those candidates online, by looking at their websites, galleries and portfolios, to get a sense of their focus and expertise, whether they have a signature style or are very varied in their approach. Suss out the Service What other services do your candidate’s firm offer? Find out if there are additional services included or available that can be beneficial for your project. Spelling Out the Steps Clarity is paramount. Your architect needs to be able to explain what the expectations are from each side at every stage. Having a clear and organized overview of the different steps involved in the statutory and approvals process is crucial to project scheduling and better control over time and funds for the design and construction stages. 3D Modelling a Must You do the imagining and they do the visualizing. Building projects are complex and having a 3D drawing will help your architect communicate how the different components involved, engage with one another. It will help you ‘experience’ space before it is built and enable you to express your vision more accurately once you have a relevant visual point of reference. Insist that your architect provide unlimited 3D renderings for your project.
Cost
Getting the right architect on board is like bringing on a capable captain for the open ocean journey ahead. Experience and expertise make the navigation feel safer, more predictable and dependable. It is worthwhile viewing the architect’s fee as an investment, rather than a cost, since it will likely only be a fraction of the overall expense but can provide invaluable guidance and peace of mind. For the right architect – it will be money well invested. Contractor of choice – getting multiple bids Choose an architect that can provide you with a list of contractors that they prefer working with and can guide you on who would be most suitable for your project. Selecting an appropriate contractor during the design phase, at the start of a project, will help you maintain a critical eye on expenditure. Fee transparency is key. Billing monthly is the industry standard, but ask when payment is expected and what the preferred method of payment is.
Chemistry
Once you have identified candidates, pick up the phone or drop an email to arrange a consultation appointment. Nothing beats a good old face-to-face meeting to help you decide if it’s a match. Do they look excited about helping you build the dream? Are they good listeners? Do you feel they ‘get’ you? Are your styles in sync? Are they asking the imperative question ‘Why?’ a lot in order to get under the skin of your ambition? Who actually signs the bottom line? If you are approaching a firm, the person you meet may not be the person you end up actually working with. Verify who the Project Architect will be before shaking hands, saying Yes and going ahead.
Naturally, each project is unique with its own set of requirements and variables and will need individual examination and research. Noa Ram Studio’s 3C’s provide a terrific jumpstart as an introductory guiding light on how to approach finding the right architect for you!
Good Luck!
Noa RamNeed Interior Design on a Tight Budget? NOA RAM Studiosu2019 Hampstead Architects can help you live your dream in London and Tel-Aviv. Call now: 020-78799063Comment ·
Email Noa Ram Architecture & Interior Design
Do not send job enquiries or promotional messages via this form.
Non-genuine enquiries can result in you being blocked from the site.