5 aspects to take into account when choosing an architect to make your project a reality

Choosing a good architect is essential if you are thinking of building a new house or renovating your current one. We help you with a series of guidelines that can be very useful. Both processes (building from scratch or renovating the existing one) are exciting: they are full of ups and downs. Sometimes, the journey to get to that house becomes a complex expedition into the unknown.

To make this journey easy, interesting and enjoyable, we are convinced that it is essential to have a travel companion who will go with you and guide you when necessary: the ideal companion is an architect. An architect simplifies the processes and ensures that the design of your home meets your needs. This is essential: it’s your home, it’s your rules, it’s your way of life.

Therefore, we believe it is essential that you take enough time to choose that partner. We know that the search begins in your own network of acquaintances or, directly, on the Internet. With the number and variety of options of architects in the city, you will surely analyze, refine and classify until you find a few teams that can best respond to your style and your concerns.

Before considering the four steps we propose, you should contact those preferred candidates, explain in detail your project (all the ideas you have in mind and, of course, the budget you have available), ask for availability and ask for an economic valuation of what you want to do. After meetings and proposals with these teams, and with all these cards on the table, it’s time to choose:

HOW DO I CHOOSE AN ARCHITECT?

1. UNDERSTANDING WITH THE ARCHITECT

Understanding is that spark that makes the difference: a good feeling, that positive reaction between the two, is essential from the first meeting.

An architect should not force anyone to live a certain way, on the contrary: an architect’s job is to design spaces tailored to the client’s needs, desires and emotions. An architect must understand all these parts and translate them into the design.

You will be responsible for a large investment, both financially and emotionally, during a process that can become complex. Therefore, the most important thing is to work with someone who does not judge or impose. In short: someone who understands your way of life and gives it architectural form.

2. ARCHITECT’S FEES

In our post on architect’s fees, we tell you what we take into account to calculate them. We are aware that, being a liberal profession, everyone charges according to their experience and services, so in this text we proposed what should be taken into account when reviewing a fee proposal.

A new house or a reform of the current one is a work of almost two years that, in addition, supposes a great responsibility. This has a price and that value is based on the experience of the architectural firm and the attention you will receive, as a client, during the process. Low fees can mean lack of experience -which is not a deficiency because everyone deserves a first chance- or that the project is incomplete. Higher fees may imply a large, dedicated team or renowned architects. Our opinion is that you should choose the option that gives you the most confidence.

Choosing a good architect will help you save headaches and a lot of money in the medium and long term.

Another fundamental point is to compare what each architectural firm offers you and this is directly reflected in the fees. It is important that you can compare and value the same elements: the technical proposal (plans, visas, management with public companies, etc.) and the intangible moments such as the availability of the architect or the time he can dedicate to you. The latter is difficult to quantify so you should ask openly: it is essential to know, for example, if it will be easy to change the design as many times as necessary and if they will accompany you until the house is ready to live in.

However, you should keep in mind that the payment of these fees should be recovered in the amount of time and money that the architect, through professional and quality work, will save you during the work and, above all, during the useful life of your home.

4. ARCHITECT’S EXPERIENCE

As we have already pointed out, the architect’s experience is a circumstance to be taken into account. The experience should also fit your taste and style. Let those first images of what can be done reflect the house you want. To better appreciate this experience, you can ask to accompany the architect to projects under construction or already finished. We do it: it is a very suggestive and agile way to see the architect in action and to know if what he does matches what you are looking for.

We are convinced that there must be a balance between the project and the architect who is going to develop it: it is not the same to reform a bathroom as to design a 500^m2 house, to build an office building or to turn a bullring into a shopping mall. That’s why it’s important to understand the architect’s knowledge of the project you want.

Likewise, matching the size of the project with the capacity of the team is part of the analysis you should make of the architectural firm’s experience. A project of many square meters for a small architectural office can mean that deadlines are not met or that some issues are poorly executed. The opposite can also be a problem: a small house is just one project among many for a team of many people; this can mean that you don’t see your wishes reflected in the design or that you don’t have access to the main architect. This brings us to the last guideline.

5. CONFIDENCE IN THE ARCHITECT

We are convinced that an architect must have a vocation of service: to have the capacity to invest his ideas, his research and his time in the client.

Choosing an architect should be a decision made calmly, comparing the services, experience and value that each candidate brings.

From the first contacts, you can already tell how your relationship with the architect will be. This link can be long, as long as the complexity of the project. So you should think about choosing someone you can trust, who will deal with problems in a timely manner and who will not dismiss any doubt as unimportant. An architect should not judge and should be able to understand that any concerns you have are important.

In short: a good architect must co-create with you, work hand in hand, to turn your dreams into reality. And this is only possible if you take into account understanding, fees, experience and treatment in the process of choosing that travel companion.

If you are looking for an architect, tell us: where are you in your process? If you are stuck at any point, we encourage you to review the 10 steps we propose to get your home perfect.