You’ve got
all the
remodeling
ideas ready to go and a dollar figure of how much you want to spend in
mind. Now all that’s left to do is familiarize yourself with a few key
building professionals. Along with an
architect, these professionals
are there to ensure that your
renovation dreams become a
reality.
Remember that
while all the dazzling things that go into a home are the things that
get the praise, it’s often the design details that are the most
efficient and that save the most money that often go unnoticed.
Efficient use of space, good proportion, and the right choice in
building materials are just the kinds of things a
good architect
or designer considers in developing or reviewing plans. If you want your
architect to do the best job possible, it’s suggested that you have a
remodeling portfolio to
provide to them that has the following inside.
A series of photographs that includes images of
the rooms to be remodeled or the ones that are affected by the work. As
well, it’s a good idea to have the original
construction drawings of your home.
Bring along an idea folder as well.
All the things that you’ve seen in books or magazines that caught your
eye.
Floor plans are also important to give the
architect an idea of the kind of spaces they have to work with. It might
also he helpful if you bring along a prioritized wish list. Top that
list with the things that you feel your
remodel must accomplish at any
cost.
Once you
decide to go with a particular
professional architect,
you’ll want to get the same information from them that you’d get before
hiring any other person to work on your home. References are a must and
it’s always good if you can get a list of recent jobs that the prospect
has worked on—and give those past clients a call. As well, it’s a good
idea to see the recent jobs that that professional has designed.
You’ll also
want to discuss their compensation up front. There are several different
ways that architects are compensated and one common method is a
percentage of the projected costs, but it’s important to keep in mind
that this varies for different parts of the country. Still,
when you decide to hire an architect,
you’ll be able to rest easier knowing that the finished job will be of
the highest caliber.
