You finally did the big step and decided to appoint an Architect to be responsible for the design of your dream house or so much expected extension, renovation or any other project.
Architects have the most appropriate training and experience to design, co-ordinate and manage your building project, you surely did the right decision.
But before you appoint an Architect these questions should help you to select the right candidate. They are not exactly 10 but in reality you should be asking many more.
1. Are you a member of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI)?
2. Can I look at examples of your work?
3. When can you start and how long do you estimate the design process will take for our project? What will be the key milestone dates for the design stage, planning and construction?
4. What is going to be your approach to our project? What do you consider to be the most important issues on our project, and the biggest challenges?
5. What is your approach to sustainable strategies and green architecture?
6. Will you be doing the work personally? If not, can we meet the staff who will and see some of his or her work? Will we be meeting directly with the person who is doing the design work?
7. How do you establish fees for a project? When do they have to be paid?
8. What is included in your services? What is excluded from your services?
9. What services will you provide during construction for our project?
10. Do you carry professional indemnity insurance?
The answers for the above questions should tell you how compatible his/her style, approach and personality are with your own. And should give you an indication of whether the chemistry between you is right.
View Isabel Barros’s profile
I agree with all of the above questions and would encourage customers to ask them. However I would question the first one… I am becoming increasingly curious about the benefits of being a “Non-RIAI Member”
Reasons:
1. I can decide what the best and most important training courses to do. (Much more important than having an Institute decide for me, and much better for my customers.)
2. Much lower (and unnecessary) overheads, so cheaper for the customer.
3. Many other reasons but too little time!..