Tag: Guidance (Page 4 of 5)

We are back with our 5th secret tip about how to deal with an Architect.

If you have just landed here do not miss our previous tips:

• Take 1 – Stages
• Take 2 – Fee Proposals
• Take 3 – The Brief
• Take 4 – Your Budget

5. Be Honest

Be honest with your Architect, you do not need to tell a lower budget than what you really have. Architects will make the best they can with the budget you have. If you have a realistic budget (see Take 4) and you decide to reduce this so the Architect “does not spend it all”, you are fooling yourself and this is likely to have a pretty big impact on the overall design of your project.

Hot tip: Architects do not spend your money, you are the one spending the money for your own interest, your Architect will only guide you through the best way of spending this money. Architects are not builders and their estimates are often just that – an estimate. If you are really concerned about not overspending you should engage the services of a Quantity Surveyor as early as possible.

Go to Take 6 – Build Trust

Start from Take 1 – Stages

This is our 4th secret tip about how to deal with an Architect.

If you have just landed here do not miss our previous tips:

• Take 1 – Stages
• Take 2 – Fee Proposals
• Take 3 – The Brief

This time we give you some tips about ‘Your Budget’. Your budget may be restricted by the personal savings you have or by the bank loan or mortgage you can get, or by a mixture of both.

4. Your Budget

Be realistic about the cost to build your project!

The current economic climate may lead you to think everything is cheap or even free. That is not correct and if you look at our latest article about Construction Costs you will realise that prices are actually increasing.

And if that was not enough, increased responsibilities required from designers, builders and clients due to new regulations are also rising the construction costs.

Hot tip: Ask your Architect for an average construction price per square metre. Multiply that figure by the area you will need for your project (you can also ask your Architect for an approximate area needed to accommodate your Brief), add between 5% and 10% for contingencies and add costs for renewable energy systems. Also be aware of the typical exclusions of the Irish Construction Costs (read last section of our article Construction Costs in Ireland 2013).

Go to Take 5 – Be Honest.

Start from Take 1 – Stages.

If you have never dealt with an Architect before this is a guide for you.

If you have just landed here do not miss our previous tips:

• Take 1 – Stages
• Take 2 – Fee Proposals

This time we give you some tips about the Brief. The Brief is a summary of all your requirements, they may not be 100% clear or decided but they will give your Architect a starting point for your project.

3. The Brief

Now that you have appointed your Architect it is the time to tell him/her everything you wish for your project. Don’t be afraid to sound silly. Your favourite colour (read Take 2) may now be relevant to the brief.

If you are not sure about what you need let your Architect help you. Architects are used to deal with a wide range of age groups and lifestyles, you will never agree with this but many times they will know better what you need than yourself! (Just give them some time, enough talk and make sure they know what do you have for breakfast.)

Hot tip: Let your Architect know what materials you like and what style you prefer (contemporary, traditional, classic, etc). If you have photos you like show them to your Architect but PLEASE don’t ask to have exactly the same or you would be killing your Architect’s creativity. If you want to copy someone else’s design than you either don’t need an Architect or you need to stop and read this.

Go to Take 4 – Your Budget

Start from Take 1 – Stages