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Reasons to ask an Architect to Design Your House

  • 1.  Reasons to ask an Architect to Design Your House

    Posted 12-13-2010 03:54 PM
    What are the reasons a family should hire an architect to design their home?  Let's make a list.  I'll start it off with a couple of considerations:

    1.  LIFESTYLE DESIGN: An Architect will design your home based on your lifestyle, tailor-making the layout to suit your desired spacial requirements.  This is highly preferable to settling for someone else's plans, that have nothing to do with your desired way of life.  Don't you and your family deserve to have your home custom designed by a professional: a licensed residential architect? 

    2.  PROJECT SITE CONSIDERATIONS: An Architect will take into account your specific project building site, framing the wonderful views that induced you to buy it, and make sure that you continue to enjoy those in the built residence.  Also, the sun and winds behave in a particular manner around your site.  Your Architect will document those, and other environmental conditions, to improve your energy efficiency, comfort and enjoyment of living in a custom residence on your property.

    You get the idea.  Once we get a proper list together, I'd be willing to document it into a Word or Excel or PhotoShop format, obtain the AIA's permission to post the AIA logo on it, and produce a nice little e-pamphlet that we can all download, print and have 3 or 4 of them sitting on our conference tables to give to clients when they come around (yes, we all need more), to give them something to ponder when they leave us.  I have my own list of about 11 or 12 main benefits of engaging home architects, but perhaps we should expand that a bit.  Here is our opportunity to tell the world why they should hire a licensed residential architect versus other options.

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    Rand Soellner AIA
    Architect/Owner/Principal
    Rand Soellner Architect
    Cashiers NC
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  • 2.  RE:Reasons to ask an Architect to Design Your House

    Posted 12-14-2010 09:26 AM

    Here is a very pragmatic reason why clients may want to hire an architect. 
    The cost of construction can vary greatly depending on whether a project is being bid competetively or not.  Other variables also effecting cost can include whether the contractor has done similar work before, if he is busy or not, or if he has an inside track on some good material pricing.  Competetive bidding is the best way to maximize the value of the clients dollar, and using an architect to make drawings IN DETAIL is the best way foster this bidding process.  The client will more than make up for the architect's fee this way, and at the same time can be assured that he will have an advocate for the project's design in his corner.

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    Stephen Altherr AIA
    EDGE studio
    Pittsburgh PA
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE:Reasons to ask an Architect to Design Your House

    Posted 12-15-2010 08:35 AM
    Stephen makes an excellent point:
    COMPETITIVE BIDDING (Resulting in Better Pricing for the Client): one of the main reasons to engage an architect to design your house.  Contractors may not particularly enjoy this, because they would prefer to be the ones with the client's favor, however, if clients can be made to see the distinct advantages of bidding their project out on an apples to apples basis, particularly in today's economy, based on the architect's CDs, the client is bound to receive better pricing.  We, as residential architects, are uniquely skilled to be client advocates in this role.  We should prepare the actual bid forms so that each contractor bidding prices the job the same.  Thank you Stephen.

    Okay, how about some more reasons for clients to hire architects to design their homes.

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    Rand Soellner AIA
    Architect/Owner/Principal
    Rand Soellner Architect
    Cashiers NC
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE:Reasons to ask an Architect to Design Your House

    Posted 12-16-2010 07:09 AM
    Let's discuss the reasons people don't hire an Architect to custom design a residence and maybe we can back into the remedy. The bank's appraiser doesn't care if the house was designed on a napkin by a 5 year old child, if it was lifted from an internet plan book site, or if a State licensed, local professional with a liability insurance policy designed it. The appraised value is all important in obtaining a loan which is very difficult these days (hence the crisis). If a cheaply built builder box is appraised at the same value as a similar sized house with an Architect's fee applied then how is that an apples to apples comparison? How does the client pay our fee when the bank doesn't recognize a difference between the cheapest built house and an amazing custom home of the same size? 

    The owner has to pay our fee out of pocket because they are told by the bank that OUR fee has no value. WE HAVE NO VALUE! The bank says we're worthless and this is what people believe. If the bank recognized that a house designed by a local, licensed Architect with a liability insurance policy is most likely to be of better quality and value than a house designed by an unknown designer with unknown qualifications with an unknown understanding of local codes, climate, etc. with no possibility of site visits and no liability insurance policy to safe guard against design errors then MAYBE, just MAYBE people would see the point in hiring us as it would give their home more value than the cheap spec house next door. These are NOT apples to apples structures, but the bank tells the home owner that they are, so why waste more money on a fee for a house that they are being told is of the same value?

    I have a seven year track record of houses that I've designed in my area that have consistently outsold all other houses during the same time period, same size, same place. The free market has repeatedly proven that MY houses are more valuable, but the bank refuses to believe the sales records. The bank ignores the will of the free market and continues to insist that cheap builder boxes are the same as my custom houses with awards, media attention, etc. 

    Value is our problem! If people were told our involvement will result in a more valuable commodity, then maybe people would pay the price, but as long as the bank refuses to acknowledge the difference between crackers and steak, rotten apples and ripe oranges, we will always be irrelevant in the eyes of the consumer.

    I believe a local Architect's stamp on the drawings should instantly give more value to any home over a design of unknown origin with no attached liability. It is a greater risk for the bank to lend money to build a house that was NOT professionally designed by a qualified, insured professional. If you had to bet on an unknown Architect or an unknown amateur to design the better house, who would you put your money on? Our society currently says they'd bet on the unknown HACK!

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    Eric Rawlings AIA
    Owner
    Rawlings Design, Inc.
    Decatur GA
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE:Reasons to ask an Architect to Design Your House

    Posted 12-17-2010 08:05 AM

    Eric, your argument regarding value and banks is admirable. To be fair, though, the builder's reputation should impact the value of the home as much as the designer's reputation. You seem to have enough experience to realize that a great design can be ruined by poor construction. Similarly, a top notch builder can make a simple design sing. Perhaps the banks should and municipalities and appraisers should be required to perform a more thorough analysis of each building. Listing the GC and Architect for the original structure, as well as any additions, would be a nice start. How about requiring as-built drawings for every sale of an existing building? At least the area shown on the real estate agents summary would be correct this way. How about listing the previous uses of the building for a commercial building. The purchaser of an existing building needs better information than is required by law. Architects can help here. You can bet that a large developer will send their best team of architects and engineers to evaluate an existing building before purchasing it. The typical homeowner or small businessman can't afford that. This is where some regulation could help.
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    David Fleming AIA
    Registered Architect
    DRF Design
    Buffalo NY
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE:Reasons to ask an Architect to Design Your House

    Posted 12-17-2010 09:21 AM
    Eric - 

    You're points are very well articulated and could easily be extended to the fact that the appraisal system can't even distinguish between more 'concrete' differences such as a well built, 50k custom kitchen and a big-box 10k kitchen. Or quality windows, doors, hardware, etc. that will all provide a solid 50 years of use vs. cheap hollow core drivel that will wear out in 5. 

    Personally, we've tried to solve the latter questions with the banks first, pointing out why the material features in our houses will last longer, require less ongoing maintenance, reduce energy consumption, etc. It's an easier approach to articulate to an appraiser and the bank since the end result is you're trying to convince them that the asset they're backing will not deteriorate to worthlessness before the loan term expires. In that approach, I'd try to put in reasonable design fees into the equation as part of the 'backing' behind the more 'durable' claims. I'd also argue that there are some design/builders who do a great job with their homes - they're our allies, not our enemies. Higher quality is and should be our common goal. As you note, that's what the market itself rewards. And I think some of the community banks here understand that - at least we've educated the one we work with. Their SVP came to us to do a small addition to his house - after they had approached a much less qualified builder initially. He now gets it. Banks have their own challenges right now, though, that doesn't allow for as much flexibility in the loan process as anyone would like. Unfortunately, it's going to take time and patience to claw out some new way forward for everyone.


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    Gregory Walker
    Houser Walker Architecture
    Atlanta GA
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE:Reasons to ask an Architect to Design Your House

    Posted 12-19-2010 07:28 AM
    Quality and durability are good arguments for value. Sustainability features like a geothermal system have also been given "extra value" by some banks. In fact, green certified projects are supposed to get recognized as more "valuable" by most major banks now. The problem is that my Architectural placement of windows and overhangs on the house with the geothermal system got no value, yet when the wife was 8 months pregnant and the geothermal broke down in an Atlanta August, those numerous well placed awning windows became very valuable to the home owner. How do we explain that to the bank? 

    I can't seem to sell my track record to the banks either. When you work hard, build a good reputation, and people start seeking you out from out of State, at what point should your work be recognized by the bank as a "hot commodity"? Consistent sales records, time spent on market, media attention, etc., what does it take for them to believe that the next one will sell as fast and for as high as the last 32 have? What's the magic number for coincidence to be considered too coincidental? 

    I think the real problem is that so few houses are designed by local Architects, that it's a drop in the bucket compared to the status quo. We're a very small blip on the radar, so we get lumped in with the mass produced garbage. Most of our houses are designed for end users and may take decades before they hit the market as used, so where's the sales data?

    I believe the banks would see an advantage in the local Architect's involvement as opposed to trusting an unknown design from an unknown designer if they seriously considered:
    - An unknown plan book will never visit the site, but a local Architect would.
    - An unknown plan book doesn't understand local codes or climate.
    - An unknown plan book has no liability insurance policy to guard against errors.
    - An unknown plan book is not qualified by the State to do anything.
    - A local Architect with a strong reputation brings more value to their work, when people are consistently willing to pay more for it.

    Why should my clients be penalized with a low appraisal because everyone else normally does a worse job? How can they judge my houses as being the same thing as a cheaply built, builder box? How do we end this practice of degrading everyone else's work because the majority of it is so bad?  I refuse to accept the standard answers! What would happen if BMWs were valued the same as Hondas? What would happen if Gucci was valued the same Goochi? No one would produce these higher end goods, what's the point? Why go to the trouble of building a BMW when you know it will only sell as a Honda? That's where we are with buildings in this country. No one gets the difference in value for buildings, but they do for cars, purses, clothes, tvs, and everything else sold in this country. Why is it that only buildings get treated with such disrespect on the free market in such a consumer oriented society?



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    Eric Rawlings AIA
    Owner
    Rawlings Design, Inc.
    Decatur GA
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE:Reasons to ask an Architect to Design Your House

    Posted 12-20-2010 03:51 PM
    Eric,

    You have stated reasons for an additional step beyond the traditional fee structure.  It is my belief that architects should get yearly royalties much the same way that musicians get royalties.  As built works become appraised higher each year, architects should receive royalties from the owner based on the added value.  After all, it was the architect's design that was at least one component that contributed to the added value.  This is similar to the concept of property tax increases.  The architect would get no royalties when the appraised value drops.  If someone stops playing a song on the radio, the artist doesn't pay back the record company, they just stop getting their royalty checks.

    Simple concept - impossible to implement.

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    Ken Brogno AIA
    Architect
    AIA, LEED AP
    San Francisco CA
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE:Reasons to ask an Architect to Design Your House

    Posted 12-21-2010 11:54 AM

    Kenneth,
    You raise an interesting point.  While it may be impossible to do what you suggest, it may not be unreasonable to think alternative models for architectural businesses could be developed.  Design-build arrangements are of course one of the most familiar possibilities supported by the AIA. 

    Perhaps 'business models' is an area that could benefit from serious innovation - considering architects are getting reamed in the marketplace and so many customers are poorly served.  There's plenty of room for improvement.

    Just look at our cities and towns!  There's a nationwide train wreck happening and people are hurting.  A lot of us don't feel like we can be successful at our ostensible job of advocating for public health, safety, welfare, and sustainability.  Why?

    It seems to me there are plenty of 'reasons' to hire an architect and not some other 'building service' provider.  If prospective clients know what they are and find them compelling, wouldn't they do so?

    We certainly can provide value.  As a profession perhaps we aren't successfully monetizing our services or protecting our economic base from unscrupulous predation.  MAYBE the 'value equation' we're putting out there is becoming obsolete - like the record industry.  MAYBE we don't understand well who or what we're competing with.

    All of that reflects rather poorly on our business acumen and unfortunately it leaves potential customers confused and cynical about professional design services.  What's up with that?  Can't we do better?  What is the AIA doing with our dues and fees?  Are we communicating on what's needed or are we just settling for being handed a bill of goods?

    At the end of the day, it's up to us - as was mentioned in another thread.

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    Randall Anway AIA
    Principal
    New Tapestry, LLC
    Old Lyme CT
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    Original Message


  • 10.  RE:Reasons to ask an Architect to Design Your House

    Posted 12-17-2010 10:10 AM

    It's complicated.  Architects offer valuable services, but few are able to appreciate that value.  If someone has $x to spend on shelter say, in a free market they won't necessarily go looking for an architect.  For many people 'top-of-mind' is something else entirely.  Maybe something like a little cape with a picket fence and a green lawn.  When the buyer sees that, they'll seek the best choice in their eyes and buy it if they can.

    There's a big problem here.  Do you see it?  The global media engine for this image is so successful that now an increasing fraction of 6 billion people have something like it in mind, and all that comes with it.  'A car in every garage, and a chicken in every pot'   Does anyone understand the risks associated with this situation?  Does anyone care?  How about the insurance industry?  Umm... They think they see dollar signs.  Banks?  Builders?  Fugeddaboudit.  The energy industry?  LOL!  Clean coal?  I don't think so.  A few scientists and economists see very clearly where this train is going.  Right over a cliff.  It's happened before.

    We are having a train wreck.  We need new dreams.

    Corbu, Mies, Wright, the modernists, postmodernists, all of em.  Irrelevant.  Do you get it?

    If you want to succeed as an architect, help your community come up with a better way of life.  A vision that helps avoid catastrophic endings to the human drama where you live.  A vision that offers hope and reassurance.

    You might eke out a living for another year or two by living in the past and misguided politicians might manage to create another temporary mirage that everything's fine and no change is necessary.

    A better world is possible.  It could be harder work than anything you've ever done.  It will cost a lot of money and could feel very unrewarding.  It could take a very long time - generations, lifetimes.  More are aligning with long-term visions like Architecture 2030. 

    If you don't buy that vision, try thinking shorter term.  Let's coin a term:  'Architecture NOW'.  You can do a lot with recycled cardboard and that could actually be a step in a useful direction.

    What does all this mean for residential architecture?  Let's start with long-term thinking.  Where are the clients?  Abu Dhabi, India, and China?  Are there any in the US?  Who wants to make a difference?

    Did someone say 'back to the drawing board'?

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    Randall Anway AIA
    Principal
    New Tapestry, LLC
    Old Lyme CT
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    Original Message


  • 11.  RE:Reasons to ask an Architect to Design Your House

    Posted 12-15-2010 06:58 PM

    I don't know about anyone else, but I don't think that architects got the country into the mess that it's in.  We're more the tail than the dog when it comes to being an economic engine.  That's not to say our profession is perfect by any stretch of the imagination.  But maybe, just maybe, we have something that's needed to help change things for the better.

    Look around your community.  Surely architects can be of some service in making it a better place to live, work, and play? 

    Then again maybe our fellow citizens would RATHER throw their hard-earned dollars and dwindling resources down the drain instead of making arrangements that can enhance their quality of life and endure.  And maybe highly educated and experienced professionals SHOULDN'T advocate for public health, safety, welfare, and sustainability.  Maybe all the lawyers, bankers, mba's, realtors, and contractors CAN be good stewards of the man-made and natural world. 

    Where do you think we'll be as a profession in fifty years?  More importantly, what about the places where we live?  Every day it's getting a little bit harder... the world presses in.  Instead of putting the brakes on educating new architects, maybe we should be demanding  more of the best and brightest.  Maybe they're not automagically coming out of the D-schools.

    I'm skeptical that the best reason to hire an architect is about the money, as important as that might seem to everyone.

    It can be utterly thankless being one who knows a difference, even when it comes to saving a buck.   Making a difference is another question entirely - even for the most highly touted champions of our profession.



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    Randall Anway AIA
    Principal
    New Tapestry, LLC
    Old Lyme CT
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    Original Message


  • 12.  RE:Reasons to ask an Architect to Design Your House

    Posted 12-15-2010 11:27 PM
      |   view attached
    Rand, This is a great start!

    As always, another 7-10 years has gone by, and the economy takes a hard blow. I've been in this boat many times treaded water till it reached the seats but this time its about to fill the boat and sink if we as Architects don't start voicing our opinions and step up to the plate and get out there to let the public know that the first professional to start discussing ones building project is a Licensed Architect. No one else seems to care about our plight.

    I have been trying for years in our area to educate the public and my potential clients as to what an Architect can do for them, but in our efforts and written information, it seems to be overwhelming and scares the majority of them off. I have not yet found the answer to this dilemma, and my time (63 yrs) is running past me.

    I think if we can come together across the country and provide the public and those potential clients with an honest and carefully well written package about the ins and outs of hiring a Licensed Architect to work with them to design that dream, it may(?) start waking the nation up?

    Here are somemore thoughts for your e-pamphlet.

    Bernie Perkosky
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    Bernard Perkosky AIA
    Owner/Architect
    BaP Architectural Services
    Apalachin, NY
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    whyhirearkitek.doc   40 KB 1 version
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  • 13.  RE:Reasons to ask an Architect to Design Your House

    Posted 12-16-2010 08:50 AM
    Bernard Perkosky has added about 22 additional considerations for potential clients in his "Hiring and Architect" list.  Thank you, Bernie.  I would never have thought of "Handling the Paperwork."  That's a good one.

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    Rand Soellner AIA
    Architect/Owner/Principal
    Rand Soellner Architect
    Cashiers NC
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    Original Message


  • 14.  RE:Reasons to ask an Architect to Design Your House

    Posted 12-17-2010 07:06 AM
    Rand -- Thanks for suggesting and offering to do this.  I think many of us can contribute to a very compelling list. 

    Not to distract us all from getting to this important task of telling our public what we can do for them, and why we can add value to their decisions, but...Where is the AIA on this ?  I find it unbelievable that there is not already some flyer or web text that tells client-prospects very effectively WHY they should use an architect.  Is it really true that this has not been produced already by AIA, and we must re-invent this ?  I have not seen it -- has anyone else ?

    I'm game to help pull this list together, but I'm just amazed that this is actually necessary with all the resources we have all provided for the Institute.  Can someone representing AIA respond about this ?

    Although I'm not exclusively a residential designer, I think this is an important aspect of the work that architects should do, and we do design custom new and renovation residential work when we get the chance. I'm working on my list and will send along.

    Thanks,

    Gene

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    Eugene Aleci AIA
    Architect / President
    Community Heritage Partners
    Lancaster PA
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  • 15.  RE:Reasons to ask an Architect to Design Your House

    Posted 12-17-2010 10:50 AM
    Thanks Eugene.  Interesting question that you pose.  I really do not know if there is an existing AIA pamphlet (or other materials, like website videos, commercials and the like) addressing this or not.  I am not personally aware of them, so please excuse my ignorance, if they do exist.  I thought that  plunging in here at the end of 2010 and early 2011 might be a good time to reflect on what we do and why we are valuable.  Due to the circumstances of the current economy and everything else that establishes our situation right now, even if such a list/pamphlet has existed in the past, it might be a good time to re-evaluate the reasons/benefits and come up with something befitting our time right now.  I look forward to your contribution; thanks again.

    Something else has occurred to me, as I have read some of the responses on this AIA forum.  Once again, it could be my ignorance of the AIA administrative structure that colors my comments.  There seems to be a perception that there is some intangible "they" out there, somewhere (Washington, D.C.?) that constitutes the official in-the-know AIA guys.  I really wonder about that.  Aren't "we" them?  Aren't we the AIA?  Isn't it us guys and gals down here in the trenches on a daily basis that makes up the heart and soul of this organization?

    I do not know if there is some controlling group of folks somewhere in rich-looking office buildings parking their keesters in wide chairs, enjoying cushy salaries, sucking their gums and making decisions that affect us all.  It is my belief that the bulk of the AIA is made up of people just like us, trying to make a living in these trying circumstances.  They are us.  I don't think there is any "they" that is going to rescue us.  It is up to each of us everyday in what we say, what we do, how we conduct ourselves and our practices to encourage potential clients to notice us and hire us.  That is what I am trying to do.  To jointly compose this list, not just from my practice, or from anything else that may have existing in the past, but from each of us today.  This should be from all the lessons we have learned that tell us: this is a good reason!  We do have value and here is why! 

    Some of you may well say: "Okay, so a list on a piece of paper is going to save my practice?"  Of course not.  What each of us chooses to do with this information is what just might convince at least one client to hire you, though.  And that one client might provide you with the income to pay your power bill next month, and that will allow you to perhaps convince one more, and then another...

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    Rand Soellner AIA
    Architect/Owner/Principal
    Rand Soellner Architect
    Cashiers NC
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    Original Message


  • 16.  RE:Reasons to ask an Architect to Design Your House

    Posted 12-20-2010 08:06 AM
    It is interesting to me that most architects think that they are the best source for a client when they are interested in designing a home, yet in my opinion, the way we currently practice does not support this position.  First, there is such a focus on "design", seemingly above anything else.  While this may be a fairly inclusive word, I am referring to the aesthetic side of this word.  I have practiced for 40 years or so, and fell into that category for many of them.  It was not until 15 years of practice that I became a contractor and started a company to provide cost and other evaluation services along with "design".  Secondly, and unfortunately not until 20th year or so, I became involved in design that included more sustainable concepts.  It is still amazing to me how little involvement there is by architects in this aspect of design.  So, without this becoming a thesis, I feel that until we as architects can offer the additional values of cost analysis and energy/sustainability concepts in our designs, we will not achieve the standing in our community and value to our clients that we and they deserve. 

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    Jay DeChesere AIA
    President
    Jay DeChesere, Architect, PC
    Wilmington NC
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  • 17.  RE:Reasons to ask an Architect to Design Your House

    Posted 12-21-2010 02:34 PM

    AIA WI has a webpage dedicated to finding the right architect and also why to hire an architect. This may be available via AIA National as well, but I am most familiar with the WI page.


    They also offer a Qualification Based Selection QBS guide for selecting the highest qualified architecture/engineer. 
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    Kyle Dumbleton AIA
    Architect
    Midwest Modern, LLC
    Madison WI
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  • 18.  RE:Reasons to ask an Architect to Design Your House

    Posted 12-29-2010 01:04 PM
    Thanks, Kyle.

    Many AIA chapters have provided custom resources for their area and links to national resources. The AIA national homepage for resources for the public can be found at http://www.aia.org/value/index.htm. Some residential architect members I work with note they also link to these resources or use them to create custom resources for their business's website.

    You may also be interested in the AIA Custom Residential Architects' Network's Wiki project. Pulling from the site, "The AIA CRAN Wiki is intented to be a resource to the public for understanding, in the context of custom residential design, what architects do and how they do it." Harold Dietrich, AIA is the lead for the AIA CRAN Wiki project. Please contact him if you would like more information.

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    Kathleen Simpson
    Manager, Communications
    The American Institute of Architects
    Washington DC
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