Creating your home design with an architect or building designer?

Designing your home with an architect or building designer is a great way to create your future new home or renovation. 

However, it’s also where projects can go wrong, end up over budget, and be expensive wastes of time and money. 

Here’s what you need to know to get it right.

All this season, I’m sharing a fantastic resource I’ve created to help you, and you can access it now for free.

If you’re struggling with understanding the overall steps for your project, what you should be focussing on and when, or how to best invest your efforts, energy and money to get a great outcome in your future home, this will be super helpful.

It’s my online workshop called “Your Project Plan”.

Head to https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplan to access and watch it online now. I’ve also added some great bonus resources I’ve made available for you, including the transcripts of all the podcasts in this season packaged up in a fantastic E-Guide.

In this episode, I’ll be talking about those who are working with someone right now on your home design, exploring all the options, reviewing sketches of floor plans being presented to you, and you’re loving all the possibilities and ideas.

If you’re working with an architect or a building designer, or who are planning to, this episode will show you what you need to consider to maximise that relationship, and really get a great outcome not only for your future home, but also in the experience you have in your project.

Many homeowners work with a designer when planning their new home or renovation project. What can vary is the type of designer they use, the fees they pay, and the scope of services they access that designer for.

Depending on the designer, their qualifications and the type of work they ordinarily do, the help you can source from them can be quite varied.

They can provide everything from advice on an hourly rate, through to a sketch design concept, or a more complete design process that takes you through schematic design, design development, approvals and construction, right through to full services which involves coordinating the work of all other consultants required for your project, managing and executing all the approvals, negotiating your contract with the builder and then overseeing construction, attending weekly site meetings, reviewing site works and recommending progress claims for payments.

Many homeowners get confused about how much they need a designer for, and what will add value to their project experience, and the home they create. Especially when they’re trying to juggle their budget, and determine what they’ll spend in fees vs what they’ll keep aside for the construction phase.

My perspective on this is that, for any money you spend on professional fees with ANY consultant you’re using in your project, the value they add and the money they save you should dramatically outweigh the cost of their fees.

When projects go well, that’s the feedback homeowners give. That it was SO worth it to have those people on their team and that the expertise they added and mistakes they helped them avoid far exceeded the cost of their fees.

Please consider this when you’re selecting your designer and reviewing how you’re working together, so you can maximise the benefit of their involvement in improving your project experience and your future home.

Of course, I know not everyone wants to use an architect, and an architect is not the only designer who will work with homeowners on their renovation and building plans. Of course, we also have building designers, and interior designers as well.

I’m very clear about the fact that it’s not about you only using an architect – because, as with any industry, there are those that are great at their job, and those that aren’t, but still can hang a shingle and charge people for their work.

I’m passionate about you choosing the best fit for your project, and finding the right designer for you, and then having the ability to check that they’re taking care of you and providing you with quality guidance and professional advice.

There is a perception that an architect is the most expensive design professional to use, but that’s not always the case. There is also a perception that architects only do high-end homes, and you use other designers for everything else. This is also not the case.

So, it’s always worthwhile doing your research, dropping some of those preconceptions you have about any of the designer roles in the industry, and finding who’s going to be right for you. I’ll mention more about these different industry roles as we dive a little further into the podcast.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:

Access my free online workshop “Your Project Plan” >>> FREE WORKSHOP

Learn more about Undercover Architect’s mini courses

• Set + Stick to Your Budget >>> CLICK HERE
• Choose Your Builder >>> CLICK HERE

Planning to design your own new home or renovation? Home Design Masterclass shares my methods of home design, room by room >>> CLICK HERE

Work with me on your new home or renovation inside The HOME Method >>> CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

I’ve got some great resources to help you with preparing for that initial conversation, and for reviewing a designer’s fee proposal to ensure it covers everything it needs to. Here they are:

How much do architects charge, and why do they charge percentage fees >>> CLICK HERE

Know Your Team Podcast Season will help you understand more about the various professionals you may need to use >>> CLICK HERE

What should be in an architect’s quote? And Top 10 Tips and your design quote checklist >>> CLICK HERE

Not all designers are created equal, here’s how to choose the right designer for you >>> CLICK HERE

When you meet your designer for the first time >>> CLICK HERE

The first conversation to have with your potential designer or builder >>> CLICK HERE

My interview with Christopher Megowan, Megowan Architectural, can be found here >>> LISTEN HERE

Season 8: A Simple Guide to a Sustainable Home starts here >>> LISTEN HERE

Research findings regarding the ROI on architect’s fees >>> CLICK HERE

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