The Blog

People often hesitate to contact an architect because they’re unsure (or scared) of the cost. But in many cases, working with an architect can actually save you money.

If that seems counter-intuitive, it helps to understand that a good architect will help you

• Get the design right the first time, avoiding costly mid-project changes
• Negotiate the contractor’s fee, usually at substantial savings
• Guide the project from start to finish, making sure it’s all done right and that you end up with the house you paid for

Kevin and Henry conducting a post-project review of the drawing and design process. In addition to education and experience, continuous learning increases the value delivered to our clients.

How much does an architect cost?

So what does it cost? You may find architects that charge a fixed fee. More often, custom residential architects typically it’s 12% to 15% of the construction cost.

At my firm, for renovations, I always start out with a Design Consultation. For new construction projects, I schedule a free one-hour get acquainted meeting. Both meetings offer an opportunity to talk through the process and evaluate if we’re right for each other. If it is and we decide to work together, we move along to the design and construction phase.

From Sketch to Nails

Some architects will sell drawings only. However, we’re a full-service firm. We are involved from the first site visit to the final nail.  I always seem to fall in love with a house during the design process. It feels wrong somehow not to see it through completion. Staying engaged in the process ensures that our clients get the home envisioned. Experience also demonstrates that it provides the best value for the investment.

Over the years, I’ve developed relationships with some truly great contractors. It’s my standard practice to ask them for a bid that spells out the vendors they plan to use, each vendor’s cost, and what their markup will be. Once those markup costs are upfront for everyone to see, I’ve found that the contractor’s fees are typically much lower than is usually the case: 10%-15% of the cost instead of as high as 40%.

After completing the design, my role is to guide the contractor’s efforts so that the end product will play a starring role in a lifelong love story featuring you, your family, and the home you build or remodel.