Tuesday, February 20, 2018

The Value Of Hiring An Architect With A Remodeling Contractor In Portland

By Erik Heidrick


Some home improvement projects are simple. A new coat of paint here, a new light fixture there and you're done. Simple. However, if the home improvement you're thinking of involves structural elements such as building on additional rooms, moving or removing walls or other big jobs that change the foundation or structural integrity of your property, you should set your hammer down and bring in a professional architect.

An architect will meet with you to discuss your renovation plans. She may make engineering and design suggestions. Good architects are expensive however. Before you hire one, you might get suggestions from local contractors.

When you hire an professional architect to oversee a project, you are effectively putting the decision making process in her hands. All you have to do is write the checks. If you are comfortable with this situation, you can sit back and let the architect deal with contractors and budgets.

It's a good idea to bring your architect in right at the beginning. Instead of taking over someone else's work, she can create the original design, including floor plans and exterior restructuring. The architect will be familiar with what information contractors need to make competitive and informed bids. She will even walk you through the bidding process.

How to Use an Architect Having an architect manage your project from start to end means having one person to deal with through developing the original drawings and creating a code-compliant design to managing the workforce needed to finish the project. An architect provides leadership and creates a buffer to make the process smooth and less painful for you. However, this is going to cost a lot more than dealing directly with the contractors once you have the design drawings.

You have to decide how much more you're willing to pay for an architect's expertise. It will probably increase your budget by at least ten percent. You will however, get the benefit of someone else dealing with contractors and crews.




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