Building a new house gives you a way to make your home a reflection of your family's personality. If you pick the wrong architect, however, you could end up with a house that the architect loves but you hate. Some architects are primarily focused on seeing their visions come to life. They put their artistic designs first, and they place the customers’ needs and desires second. To avoid headaches throughout the design process, you need to choose an architect who is willing to work with you, and change designs to suit your needs and wants.
The architect you choose should be familiar with the house style you like. Although a skilled architect can readily switch between different house and building styles, you should try to pick an architect who enjoys designing the type of house that you want. For example, if you choose an architect who only wants to design Tudor style homes, you might have a hard time getting them to appreciate your modernist sensibilities. If you want a modern house, pick an architect who specializes in designing modern houses. The architect will be more experienced in that type of design, which can be beneficial during the building process. Additionally, you will not have a conflict from the start. Ideally, the architect and future homeowner should be able to work together. The architect should be able to suggest plans, but allow you the final say.
A well-known architect is not necessarily a good one to work with. Frank Lloyd Wright designed some iconic homes, but as often as not, the home owners were displeased with the results. Wright often refused to modify his designs, even slightly. If you use a well-known architect, you might impress your friends, but if you and your family are not impressed with the results, you have chosen the wrong architect. Remember, you are going to be living in your new home for years.
Another way to make sure you find an architect who is willing to work with you is to read reviews online. See what former clients have to say about the way the architect handles design revision requests. If you have friends or family that have recently built their own house, ask them about their architects. They might have someone that they would highly recommend, and they might just tell you what architect to avoid at all costs.
Before you make your final decision, meet with your architect in person. Ask the architect directly if they are willing to allow you to make significant input during the design process. Meeting with an architect in person is the best way to see how they will treat you as a client. If the architect dismisses your ideas or does not act professionally, you should probably try to find a different architect.
If you follow these steps, you should be able to find a great architect. Soon, you will be moving into a new home that your family loves. Your happiness should be the ultimate goal of the architect you choose.
Joe Cline writes articles for Austin Texas real estate. Other articles written by the author related to Rollingwood homes and West Lake Hills homes can be found on the net.
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