Do I need an Architect?

The Architect you know from TV

Many people know architects by their famous counterparts like Frank Lloyd Wright, Moshe Safde, Mies Van Der Rohe, and Zaha Hadid or Ted from How I Met Your Mother.

For many, these famous architects represent a great triumph in human achievement, but for everyday life, most people do not need a Fallingwater or Sydney Opera House for a home with great unlimited budgets. If you do please get in touch with me.

Because of this perception, many homeowners understandably view architects as a luxury good. This is a massive failure of our industry to communicate what we can do for you, and I hope to dispel that.

When Would I need one?

For many people, this is an intimidating luxury that may not be the right fit for their new home or addition. But architects do so much more than high design of luxury skyscrapers We help our clients make designs that can pass building permit inspection, navigate local codes, and efficiently lay out their plans without all the fat.

Yes often local jurisdictions require a design professional by law, whether that is an architect and or engineer.

By far, the number one value-added proposition I try to provide my clients is to help my client navigate the process of design and permitting as a holistic approach. We don't just leave once the design is finished.

Our process starts with figuring out if the project is even feasible on the land or the existing home they have.
Once we determine it’s reasonably possible, then I go on to help my clients add their planned addition in a way that is efficient, well designed, and helps them achieve their goal of getting a building permit.

The number one Value Added Proposition

What is a Building Permit?

A building permit is a written permission from a local authority having jurisdiction to build your project. Typically, a city though often counties, have this authority over unincorporated land.

This permit involves a process of review and verification by the city to confirm that the project is complying with federal, state, local laws, and any other applicable laws. The number one point of this is to ensure the safety to the general public.

I bought plans on a website do I need an architect?

Plan websites offer a great catalog for different home plans; however, unless explicitly provided most plan websites don't offer signed and sealed drawings for the state the plan sets are located in. This means that often the city or county may require an architect and structural engineer to provide their professional state seals, construction document level details, and other items not included in the plan website set. For an owner hoping to avoid hiring an architect,t this can result in paying way more than they would have just selecting an architect. That is why it's important to weigh the costs and know what your city requires before buying home plans.

Aren't architects just designers? I dont need design just a permit

While Architects are trained in design, once they graduate and head into the field, they end up learning a whole suite of skills to help deliver safe, high-quality, and appropriate buildings to be constructed.

Some of the architect's skill sets besides design:

-Permitting Assistance

-Space organization and planning

-Construction Documentation