Hiring an Architect and when to appoint them

 

When is the best time to hire an Architect?

If you are considering an extension, alterations, conversions, or a new build house then you should be considering hiring an Architect/ Architectural Technician.

Architect plan of a Lean-to extension

There are various reasons for when to hire an Architect, such as what type of project it is i.e. if it’s a garage conversion then these types of projects are not really weather dependent, however you don’t want to build an extension to your property in the winter as frost/cold weather can affect concrete for foundations, laying brickwork and even Health & Safety.

With everything to consider such as the Architects time to measure, draw up plans, submit the paperwork and gain approvals can take 10-20 weeks, meanwhile trying to obtain tenders and appoint a contractor for doing the works can take considerable time as well.

This is why we would recommend if you were looking to do an extension to your property in the summer, then you should be starting the process with an Architect in the winter time, as even though your plans can be approved within 8-20 weeks, most good builders wont be able to start as soon as they are approved either.

How much will my project cost?

Most builders won’t be willing to provide accurate costs until the plans are drawn up and a technical specification is provided, especially if there is steelwork etc involved.

A rough guide is calculating m2 price for your project without plans, which the Local Authority calculate the estimated costs as per the table below.

Councils m2 estimated values

Most Architects may have good relationships with local contractors and can normally provide you with contact details for them. This is normally a good approach as the contractors would be more confident that the Architects work will be accurate and experience of reading the Architects drawings (most Architects have their own style).

How to choose the Architect?

A good indication that an Architect is worth appointing is…. how busy is the Architect (if they are busy then they must be doing something right). You can check on the Local Authority planning websites to check what projects they have recently been submitting and obtaining approvals. Also checking their website and social media pages for client reviews.

We would always suggest speaking to 2-3 Architects/Architectural Technicians regarding your project, however recommendations from friends and family are normally a good start. You need to choose an architect, not only based on price but also one that you feel understands your requirements, as you are going to be communicating on a regular basis with them….and they could be designing your biggest asset (your home).

Feel free to check out our other blogs.

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