Myth
#1: It's just four walls and a roof... I don't
need an architect.
Not
true.
Architects
help make decisions. After talking with an
architect, many people are surprised at their own
definite ideas about what they want in a project.
Architects
help owners think about how a building functions.
They can design a home that is flexible enough to
grow with a young couple who work now but expect
children later or an office space that can expand
as the company grows. Architects can design an
inexpensive, energy-efficient, fully accessible
project for retired people on a fixed income, or
for a company whose needs are determined by fiscal
responsibility. They can show how a house built
for a single family can be remodeled into a house
for a group of single working people or how an
addition that fits and conforms with the existing
design can be added to the existing house.
Myth
#2: All I need is a builder or a contractor.
Not
true.
The
architect is the one building professional who has
the training and experience to guide owners
through the entire building process, from initial
design through construction to final inspection.
An
architect serves as the owner's agent. As head of
a team of specialists (engineers, landscape
architects, contractors, etc.), an architect's
first obligation is to look out for the owner's
interests. Architects' drawings and construction
documents tell the contractor precisely what to
build and set down exact requirements. They help
owners obtain bids for construction based on those
same requirements. They inspect the contractor's
work and review the contractors payment
requisitions to make sure there are no surprises,
making sure the owner gets what they have
contracted. They prepare work change orders
according to contractual agreements to assure that
changes during construction are recorded and
agreed upon including revising contract amounts.
Myth
#3: An architect is an unaffordable luxury.
Not
true.
Architects'
fees are not just added on top of project costs.
They save the owner money in many ways.
Architects
oversee the owner's budget and negotiate to obtain
the best materials and workmanship at a good
price. More importantly, an architect's design can
greatly reduce energy and maintenance costs, which
add up to many times the purchase price of a
building over the years. They can turn a difficult
lot into a successful building site. They spend
time planning and developing the owner's ideas
fully to avoid costly refinements after
construction is underway. They can make sure bids
for construction are based on exactly what the
owner wanted and expected to get the best price.
They can find do-it-yourself parts of the project
for the owner or guide them through the procedures
on how to act as their own contractor.
Myth
#4: Architects just draw blueprints.
Not
true.
The
best answer to the question of what architects do
is open ended. Architects do renovation, energy
analysis, site selection, interiors, cost
analysis, construction and/or construction
management.
In
designing a project, architects can add a porch, a
skylight or design a complete house. They can
adapt an old building to a new use and keep its
character. They can redesign an office or a plant
to be more efficient or to keep up with
technological progress or advancements. Architects
can provide cost estimates. They can make a
building safe for occupancy. They can fit a
building to a difficult site. Architects can find
skillful craftspeople or they can enlarge a
building and eliminate the need to move.
Go
to next page:
3 reasons to hire an
Architect
