Construction: Are You Hiring the Right Person for Your Project?! Stop and Read this First!
@1stDibbs
@changeandco
THE ARCHITECT: Unnecessary expense or secret weapon?
In the world of luxury renos and high-stakes builds, an Architect isn’t just a luxury—they’re the person standing between you and a total construction catastrophe. Before you swing that hammer, you'd better know if you’re in the "Must-Hire" danger zone.
YOU 100% NEED AN ARCHITECT IF YOU ARE:
A. Starting from Scratch. Building a brand-new empire? Don’t even think about it without a blueprint.
B. Leveling Up. Any addition that changes your home's footprint is a legal and structural minefield. Think you are qualified to deal with Townhall yourself? If I were a betting woman, I’d tell you that it will wind up taking you twice as long as an experienced architect who understands the quagmire.
C. Changing the Silhouette. If the exterior is shifting, an Architect is your only ticket to approval.
THE “MAYBE” DRAMA: STRUCTURAL SHIFTS AND INTERIOR MOVES:
D. The Interior Shake-up. Thinking of moving walls or adding that dream spa bathroom? This is where it gets iffy. Depends on your municipality and what they require.
E. The Load-Bearing Gamble. Can you really tell if that wall is holding up your entire master suite? If you’re wrong, your house—and your budget—could come crashing down. You need the advice of a highly skilled contractor or architect before you crash and burn.
F. The Permit Police. Every municipality has its own rules. The town inspector gets paid to enforce them, and most of them really like their jobs. Fines are pricey, and shutdowns cause huge, HUGE delays. Savvy architects know how to operate within the system and “expedite” the slow crawl to a good paced walk (forget about running here, especially if you need a variance).
INTERIOR DESIGNER
Education requirements, experience, certifications, and titles all vary from state to state in this category, and a first-year student can join a professional organization. Don’t rely on titles. Many unqualified folks call themselves designers, decorators, or even interior architects. Best to do your homework and ask the right questions. Don’t rely on their claim to fame and their pretty pix. Request to see samples of their CADs and presentations.
Is the firm you are interviewing capable of doing detailed CAD (computer aided design) drawings, such that a contractor will know, for example, where and how to install the lighting, fireplace, and flooring? CAD is essential for knowing that the furniture you are buying actually fits the space!
Do they source custom products, or do they rely on retail? A “real” interior designer has copious amounts of connections with custom, trade-only brands, and gets you a gorgeous product that’s way better quality than what you are getting at that store next to the mall, and a whole lot more unique.
Does your design firm have a team? A project manager? Or are they a solopreneur who has to do everything themselves (think “expeditious” versus “slow.”)
Do they provide a level of white-glove service and project management that you want?
Did you get recommendations and see reviews (this applies to all the people you are hiring)?
