Three things you need to know before hiring an Architect
An architect plays a crucial role in planning, designing, and overseeing the construction of your project, significantly influencing the aesthetics and functionality of your home. This, in turn, will affect your family’s living experience for years to come.
Given the importance of this role, it’s vital to select a skilled and trustworthy architect. Finding the right professional is a task that deserves careful consideration as your architect’s expertise will be pivotal in turning your vision into reality.
Considering hiring an architect?
Here is our step-by-step guide to finding and hiring an architect to build or renovation your home.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the entire process of selecting an architect who aligns with your project goals and design principles. We’ll cover each essential step, from understanding what a residential architect does to determining the level of work you will need your architect to do, researching and reviewing their portfolio of works. We will also cover what to ask when considering them and making the final decision.
With our insightful tips, you’ll be well-equipped to choose a talented professional who will bring your dream home to life, so let’s get started on finding the perfect architect for you!
1. What does a residential architect do?
Let’s start with the fundamentals. Understanding the role of a residential architect is crucial to selecting the right professional for your project.
In essence, residential architects specialize in the design and planning of residential homes, including single-dwellings, dual occupancies, and apartments. Residential architects generally also handle renovations and alterations and additions of existing properties.
When working with individual clients, residential architects focus on creating bespoke designs tailored to the client’s vision, needs, and budget. The process typically begins with a consultation where the architect gathers information about the client’s brief, site, environmental conditions, and requirements.
Beyond crafting the design concept, residential architects address statutory controls such as planning regulations and approvals, building codes, and handle the coordination with other consultants.
They are also responsible for producing the construction documentation that details the practical aspects such as the layout of furniture, electrical and plumbing layouts, building materials and finishes and all the components necessary for successful tendering to builders and construction.
Throughout the construction phase, architects often oversee the project, making regular site visits and coordinating with builder and consultants to ensure that the construction aligns with the design and progresses smoothly.
2. What level of detail do you need on technical drawings?
Architects’ services often encompass contract documentation, which usually constitutes most of their fee due to its time-consuming nature. This phase includes the technical documentation necessary for obtaining accurate builder quotes and obtaining building approval, whether it being a construction certificate, or a complying development certificate.
The fee for this service might be calculated as a percentage of the construction cost. The scope of the work depends on the extent of information required to complete the contract documentation, which could include options such as 1:25 or 1:50 interior elevations, or detailed plans. For instance, detailed electrical and reflected ceiling plan would typically be at 1:50 scale. This is generally because it is necessary to show all the wiring diagrams, switch and data point locations, lighting layouts, bulkheads, air conditioning, access panels etc.
A 1:25 scale drawing might cover specific in key rooms such as such as kitchens, bathrooms and laundries. At this scale it would include the placement of powerpoints in cupboards, locations of platters, crockery and glassware in drawers, or the number of shoes that can be fit in a shoe drawer. While a 1:50 scale drawing will help you and your builder understand room proportions, floor and ceiling finishes. The level of detail needed may vary based on your project’s scope and budget. Highly finished projects typically require more detailed drawings, but you might find a 1:50 scale sufficient.
Preparing the construction drawings would also typically include a preliminary contract for your builder, as well as schedules for finishes and fixtures, and a detailed construction specification.
3. How to hire an architect?
Step 1: Do a little research.
Before hiring an architect, it pays to do a little research for finding the right architect. Seek for word-of-mouth recommendations. Ask friends and family who have had experience with building for suggestions, as this is often one of the most effective ways to find a trustworthy architect. Also review testimonials and ask your architect for referrals.
Search the Australian Institute of Architects for finding registered architects in your area. https://members.architecture.com.au/faa
Step 2: Review their portfolio of projects.
Even a well-established, highly regarded architect might not be the perfect match for your project. Before contacting any architect or firm, spend time getting to know their portfolio and work and approach. Reviewing their website, Instagram and Facebook pages are great ways to follow an architect and view their recent works.
Focus on current projects to see if their work resonates with you and if you can imagine yourself living in one of their designs. Consider the style of the home you want and seek out professionals with a track record of projects that align with your vision.
Step 3: Prepare to meet your Architect.
Architects need as much information as possible to help you, and the first thing you should do before contacting any design professional is get clear on what you need, how much you are willing to spend and when you need it to be completed by. Often these things are not set in stone to begin with, however preparing a brief is a good way to start talking about matters with an architect early on.
Your brief may include the work you want to do to your home or site, your proposed timeline and budget. You may also wish to prepare to show a selection of images of your favourite projects. Visual examples also help the architect grasp the level of finish you’re looking for and how bold your style might be. This can be an excellent starting point for discussing budgets: “You’re interested in marble kitchen benchtops? That suggests we’re looking at a premium kitchen.”
Step 4: Contact and arrange to meet your Architect
Reach out to the architecture firm to arrange a time to meet.During this meeting be prepared to be discuss your brief, budget and timeframe. Some questions you may wish to ask your prospective architect are:
Are you suited to this type of work, and do you have experience with the complexities of your site?
Can you work to my budget?
What are the steps in your process?
Can you provide 3d images or flythroughs?
What services do you provide and how do you charge?
Can you recommend a builder, or will you work with my preferred builder?
Can you provide references?
How are you unique from other architects?
Will you monitor the works through construction?
You may also wish to contact their references and ask them about their experiences working with this prospective architect.
Step 5: Agree on fee
Once you decide to hire an architect, you will need to agree on a fee structure. Typically, your architecture firm will charge an hourly rate, or a fixed fee based on a percentage of the costs.
Some architects may only provide basic plans or services up to the planning approval stage, while others offer a more complete range of services. Ideally, you should choose an architect who will manage your project from beginning to end, serving as a planner, manager, and construction administrator to oversee the project to ensure all lines of communication remain open and everything runs as smoothly as possible.
Hiring an Architect
Are you looking to hire an architect to build a new home or renovate an existing home? We invite you to view our Mont Architects Portfolio of recent projects to see if our work inspires you. You can also Contact us to learn more the services we offer.