Why Hire An Architect?

..."I have a floor plan already. Why spend money on an architect?"...

..."My builder says he will do our design for free and we don't need an architect"...

Unfortunately, none of these notions are accurate and we always end up spending some time in any new design relationship debunking these myths.

..."ARCHITECTS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE"...

Put simply, building a custom home is one of the single, largest investments you will ever make in your life. There are very few tangible assets that will actually appreciate in value over time and a home, especially one that is properly designed, is one of them. Poorly designed or remodeled houses routinely languish in the marketplace and no amount of salesmanship can overcome bad design. Put simply, one bad design decision will typically cost you more than any architect's fee.

..."MY BUILDER SAYS THAT I DON'T NEED AN ARCHITECT"...

One of the basic pieces of advice we often give our clients is that you can have a poorly designed home or you can have a thoughtful home that is a joy to drive up to. At the end of the day, the truth is both will cost just about the same to build. Why, then, wouldn't you invest the relatively small fee needed to have your home designed well?

..."I HAVE A FLOOR PLAN ALREADY. WHY SPEND MONEY ON AN ARCHITECT?"...

Hiring an architect to design your custom home is not unlike having a skilled tailor create a custom suit for you. - measurements are taken, preferences are established, fabrics are selected. A one of a kind creation emerges designed that is a fit for you. While there is some up front cost, that garment will bring comfort and joy for years to come, having been created with your exact personal specifications.

Our belief in the architectural design process is equivalent to the "custom suit" process. We take the time to get acquainted with our clients, identifying not only their basic needs but also their desires and passions. By asking the right questions, guiding the Owner to identify the elements that will make their home special, we "measure" their goals and aspirations as a prelude to creating their own custom living environment. In doing so, we are not only creating their personal vision but we are we are helping to build value into a home so that it is an appreciating asset with both financial and emotional rewards.

..."BUT MY BUILDER CAN DESIGN MY HOME FOR FREE”...

Ever hear of the saying "You can't get something for nothing?" The same holds true when it comes to the design of your home. This is not to say we don't appreciate the considerable talents of the building community. After years of working with many qualified and capable builders, we have learned that we simply do not possess the knowledge or skill sets that takes good builders years to acquire. By the same token, builders haven't spent the years of focused design training that good architects possess. Furthermore, architects are extremely skilled in acquiring building permits in the highly regulated and complex permitting environment that now exists throughout much of North America. The simple truth is that while builders are more focused on the end product, architects are more focused on the process that creates that product. In a world of increasing specialization, both architect and builder are necessary for the creation of a design that fits the requirements of each client.

In the final analysis, both architects and builders bring years of training and experience to a process that is extraordinarily complex. By working together as a team, the architect and builder bring a collective understanding to this process that works to both guide and protect their client's investment. In our experience, the most successful projects are those where the architect, builder and client are all pulling together in the same direction to realize the client's dream of a custom home. Each team member brings something different to this process but all are necesary for a successful outcome.