Did you know there were more than 1.6 billion housing starts in the United States last year?
According to iProperty Management, that tally was more than the almost 1.38 million housing starts in 2020 and 1.29 million in 2019.
Do you plan to build a home Architect sooner rather than later? While one option is to buy an existing house, there are reasons why you might want to build one from the ground up. That’ll involve budgeting, planning, and finding the right professionals for the project.
If you want to build your dream home, you may need to retain the services of an architect. Not all home builders have the skill to produce proper plans that incorporate your goals for a property. If the builder you hire can’t help architecturally, you’ll need to hire an architect.
But how do you find the right architect for your home-building project? Continue reading for five things to look for in a home architect worth hiring for your project.
Ask People You Know for Recommendations
One way to find an architect is by asking people you know for recommendations. Do you have family, friends, co-workers, or neighbors who’ve had homes constructed from the ground up? Ask if they used the services of an architect. You’ll want to know who they used, whether they were satisfied with the services rendered and if they would recommend working with the architect who helped them.
Look at Reviews Online
Another way to get information on architects is by seeking out online reviews and testimonials. You can check out third-party review sites and see what people in the area have to say about architects they hired to help them make their home-building plans a reality. You won’t want to decide based solely on what you read in online reviews. But you can learn a thing or two about different service providers by checking out enough reviews online.
Look at Architects’ Websites
Another suggestion is to check out architect websites. You can look at examples of their work, see the range of services they offer, and the regions they serve. You can learn a lot simply by combing over the websites of architect companies. When you do some research, you can come up with a shortlist of candidates to call for further information.
Ask Your Builder for Suggestions
If the builder you work with has in-house architectural expertise, then you won’t have anything to worry about. But if this is not the case, you can ask your builder to recommend an architect. A reputable builder will usually have many contacts in different trades. So, the builder you hire should be able to recommend one or more good candidates to help with the architectural aspect.
Check Professional Associations
It’s a good idea to find an architect who is a member of a professional organization like the American Institute of Architects. Such professional organizations have codes of conduct that members are supposed to abide by. So, finding an architect with membership in professional organizations is worth your while.
Building a home is a serious endeavor requiring a lot of time and financial resources. One of the first things you’ll want to do is find a reputable builder to make your dream a reality. If you’d rather not have to look for an architect after signing on with a builder, look for a builder that can also help with the architectural aspects of the project. You’ll get what you want without working with two separate service providers.
