How
to Hire Home Building and Remodeling Professionals
Selecting the right home building or
remodeling design professional to plan, draw and build your new
home or remodel may be the most important step you take to
ensure that your project goes smoothly. Today there are more
options than ever when it comes to design professionals, which
means the selection process can become a time-consuming and
sometimes daunting task. Whether you decide to hire one person
to design your home and another to build it, or if you find one
firm to do it all, you will need professionals who understand
the nature of your project and can best serve your individual
needs.
The more time spent during the hiring and planning phases,
the fewer problems you should encounter during building and
completion. The best way to do this is to interview several
different kinds of building industry professionals up front.
Some questions to keep in mind during this process:
- How well does the design professional understand your
budget, timing and availability?
- Does their portfolio of past projects complement your
personal taste?
- Can the design professional provide recent customer
references?
- How much involvement do you want in the
building/remodeling process?
- Do you feel comfortable with the design professional?
Home Building and Remodeling
Professionals
Architects represent
the most highly educated and trained category of designers, with
a college degree and state certification. Architects can help
you detail exactly what you want, draw up plans and list
material specifications. They may also provide oversight for
your project while it is in progress. In addition, an architect
can be an excellent resource for other professionals, as they
often have already established a pool of designers and general
contractors they have worked with in the past.
Designers are not
licensed or regulated in most states, so it is important to
verify their experience and professionalism. In addition to
checking out a designer's portfolio, look for design degrees
from accredited universities and membership and/or certification
from professional organizations, such as the American Institute
of Building Design (AIBD), the National Council of Building
Design Certification (NCBDC), the National Association of the
Remodeling Industry (NARI), the American Society of Interior
Designers (ASID), etc. These organizations help assure
professional standards of education, field experience and
adherence to a code of ethics.
Residential Designers
(Space Planning) specialize in designing residential interiors.
Trained to use space most efficiently, residential designers
tend to focus on floor plan design, detailed lifestyle
evaluation and design functionality. It is not uncommon to
consult with a residential/interior specialist to critique a
floor plan or a kitchen or bathroom designer to devote special
attention to specific areas of the home. Because many
residential designers can also offer advice about the latest
trends and products, their roles could overlap with interior
designers.
Structural Engineers
need to be consulted if your project requires any structural
changes to the existing building. A structural engineer will
provide the required stamped drawings that must be submitted,
along with the architectural drawings, to the building
department for approval.
Kitchen and Bathroom
Designers have very strong product knowledge within their
specialties. However, they may lack construction experience or
miss design opportunities associated with additions or movement
of walls, for example. Both bathroom designers and kitchen
designers are best for high-dollar jobs where expensive
materials, cabinets, and appliances will be used.
Home Center Staff Designers
are a quick, easy, and inexpensive route to some basic design
ideas. Home center staff designers often have lots of experience
with lower budget jobs. Design skill varies widely and they are
unlikely to recommend solutions that don't use their store's
products.
Interior Designers and Home
Decorators are specialists who offer advice on furniture,
wall coverings, colors, styles, and overall physical appearance
of your project.
Home decorators, or interior decorators, can save you both
time and money by helping you to narrow down your choices and
utilizing professional discounts for materials such as
furniture, home accessories, wallpaper or paint. When you meet
an interior decorator, expect to talk about your personal style
and preferences. From that, the decorator will develop some
ideas that would work for you and help you translate your
artistic sensibility into reality.
Interior designer is a title applied to individuals who may
also do some interior space planning, however, most usually
focus on interior decorating by selecting finishing touches such
as picking carpets, drapes, paint colors, fabrics, and
furnishings. Thus, their duties could overlap or be
interchangeable with those of both residential designers and
interior decorators.
Draftspersons
primarily prepare technical drawings of designs created by
others, although some can assist with design. These days, most
drafters work in Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD)
programs. If you have a good idea of the floor plan you want,
you may just need to hire a draftsperson to draw the blueprints
and have them checked by an engineer before speaking with
general contractors to bid, apply for permits, and build.
General Contractors
coordinate and construct projects that typically involve three
or more subcontractor trades, such as carpentry, plumbing,
painting, roofing, or electrical work. In most states, general
contractors need a license to operate their business. Many who
specialize in production concentrate on bidding and building
from plans drawn by design specialists and do not offer much, if
any, design or drawing services unless they advertise themselves
as design/build contractors.
Design/Build Contractors
offer both architectural and construction services, and can
carry a job from inception to move-in. Because one firm is
accountable for the entire project, this approach can often
result in a less expensive design that is practical to build and
causes less confusion between design and construction
specialists who may not see eye-to-eye. These advantages have
made the design/build approach popular in recent years.
When looking for service professionals to help you build your
new home, keep in mind that it's not as important to focus on
the titles of architect, designer, builder, contractor or some
hybrid of these. Rather, look for the individuals or companies
whose experience, designs and ideas best matches the type of
home you want. After all, to them, it's a job, but to you, it's
a home.
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