You’ve determined that your home building or remodeling project requires professional architectural design services and you’ve chosen an architect to work with. Now it’s time to prepare for that first planning meeting. Here are a few things you should consider in your preparation.
Prepare an Agenda
Prepare an agenda of what you want to cover during the meeting. Make sure you include important points in the order you want to discuss them.
Write a Project Statement
Write a statement outlining your project and what you expect it to look like when it’s finished. This does not have to be detailed at this point, but should include ideas and special considerations you want to stress. This statement can be the beginning of a living document that you can use to guide you through the project.
Collect Ideas
Collect ideas that show the architect what you like. These can be products, designs, and other features that you have in mind. Searching the internet, especially sites like Pinterest, for images showing your ideas can be fun and inspiring. It can also give the architect a better picture of what you want.
Discuss Budget
Have a general budget in mind so that the architect knows the project’s financial limitations. Discuss the architect’s fee structure. Will charges be per hour or per job and when will they be due? Ensure you know what work is included for per job fees.
Discuss Timeline
Discuss the project’s timetable for completion. Ask if the architect will be working on any other projects at the same time as yours, and if so, will it create any conflicts. Also, find out who your point of contact will be during the project and what your architect will require from you at different stages.
A home building or remodeling project is a big investment. You can help ensure its success by carefully planning that first meeting with your architect.