Palm Beach Design Intl is proud to offer the most impeccable services out of all the residential design build firms near you. If you are looking for the right licensed architect for your project, our team of design build contractors has the necessary range of knowledge and skills to accommodate all your needs.
The architect you choose should have experience working on projects similar to yours and be able to understand your vision and design preferences. They should also be knowledgeable about local building codes and regulations to ensure that your project meets all necessary requirements.
Communication is key when working with an architect and design and build company. You should feel comfortable asking questions and expressing your concerns, and they should be responsive and communicative throughout the project. By taking the time to find the right architect and design and build company, you can ensure that your home renovation project is a success and meets all of your design and functional needs.
At Palm Beach Design Intl, we know that finding the right architect with a design and build company for your home renovation project is crucial to the success of the project.
Know Your Project and the Architect’s Specialization
Before you start looking for an architect, it's important to define your project. Think about what you want to achieve with your renovation project, your budget, and your timeline. This will help you communicate your needs and goals to the architect you choose. Hire an architect that has substantial experience in residential design to ensure that they are familiar with the building and construction type, and how to navigate the required municipal processes.
The architectural profession covers a broad range of building types. While any licensed architects is “qualified” to design residential buildings, most will have a specialization with which they are most experienced. For example, Palm Beach Design Intl's designers specialize in commercial development, equestrian estate, marine & aviation designs, as well as residential design builds. If your projects requires knowledge of any of these particular topics, then our architects would be ideal.
Figure Out Why You Need An Architect for Home Renovation
Palm Beach Design Intl recommends you do some introspection before fully pursuing interior designers. Before even thinking of working on a home renovation project, you need to think of your motives. Knowing why you want an architect for your home renovation project
- You have a problem with your house and have no idea how to solve it. Maybe your laundry room in the upstairs hallway creates a traffic jam every time you open the door. Or you need another bathroom, but every square inch of your house is accounted for. In cases like these, a good architect can help you sort through the possibilities and come up with creative improvements that fit you, your budget, and your lifestyle.
- You feel squeezed, but don’t want an addition. Before adding to your house, a good architect will ensure you are making the most of all existing space. Even the smallest houses often have under-utilized areas that can be reconfigured and brought back into daily use. Sometimes what seems like a square-footage shortage is really a circulation problem that can be solved with a few alterations.
- You’re uncomfortable making building choices on your own. A major remodel is an intensive, costly process that requires you to make a lot of decisions on things you may have little knowledge about. A good architect serves as an intermediary and adviser who can help guide your project toward the best results.
- Your local building authorities require one. In most communities, for most remodels, an architect isn’t required. But in others—specifically some urban areas—you may need an architect or engineer to sign off on your plans. Check with your local building department to be sure.
- You’re remodeling a unique or historic home, changing styles, or building on a complicated site. Maybe you want to raise the roof on your 18th-century saltbox. Or change your 1970s builder colonial into a shingle style. Or maybe you want to add a second story to a home perched on the edge of a cliff. When and where design is critical, hire an architect.
- You’re on a budget. This may seem counterintuitive, since hiring an architect means one more professional you’ll need to pay. But a good architect can save you money. One way is through value engineering—that is, devising a way to get you a feature you want at lower cost. An architect might suggest substituting a similar but more economical building material to get the same effect. They can also steer you away from making mistakes, whether in material or design, that you may regret later and ends up costing you more money.
Take a Look at the Architect's Portfolio
If you’re interested in custom home renovation, you can hopefully identify a style that you gravitate towards. While architects specializing in residential design can satisfy a range of styles, most will have an aesthetic that they feel strongly about. For example, at Palm Beach Design Intl, we have a team that is passionate about elegant, luxurious atmospheres that make you feel like you live in a temple, but we don’t shy away from working with clients that prefer different approaches.
It is extremely important to research all the services architects provide. Browse the architect’s website and ensure that their aesthetic is aligned with yours. Additionally, look for projects on similar building sites to your property, whether it be a tight urban lot, a suburban infill, or a sprawling country property. You will have to take some factors into account before entering a partnership with an architect. Before contacting your architect of choice, be prepared with questions to help you understand fully what you can expect from this partnership. This might mean asking about the following:
- Design Philosophy: You should already have a sense of this from your research, but here’s the chance to talk about the vision this architect will bring to your project. Is their focus on sustainability? Preservation? Low cost? Whatever is important to you should be important to your architect. Therefore, asking questions related to the construction process is extremely important.
- Fee and Structure: Be sure both you and the architect have the time to devote to the project and can bring it to completion in a timely manner. Will you be able to view your project on a computer screen in 3D, or do they rely on paper? Neither is superior, but if you’re more comfortable with one than the other, bring this up. You must also have a firm understanding of what the architect’s fees are, what they are based on, and how and when you will be billed.
- Past Projects: When selecting a design and build company, it's important to consider their past projects, expertise, and customer reviews. A reputable company will have a portfolio of completed projects that you can review to get an idea of their design style and quality of work. You should also ensure that the company has the necessary licenses and insurance to protect you and your property throughout the project.
- Process: Most architects follow an established path for each project, although that process varies a bit from firm to firm and project to project (more on that later). Typical phases include initial consultation, preliminary (or schematic) design, design development, document preparation, bidding and negotiation, and construction administration.
- Responsibilities: Designing a major remodel is a partnership. Make sure both of you understand what is expected of the other. If you’re dealing with a difficult site, a limited budget or other complications, be upfront. How the architect reacts to these challenges will tell you whether they’re suited to the project.
