Want to contact us? Here's how...

As a small firm, we get many requests from potential clients. This FAQ provides answers and advice for working with us, or any architect really, and we encourage you to review these questions, so, if you do work with an Architect, you are well prepared from the start. 

If you are ready to work with us, please apply for a Discovery Meeting. Click here to get apply.

It should go without saying, but you do, in fact, need to own the property where the project will be built. Generally, the owner is the person who pays taxes for the property. Construction documents are prepared by an architect for the purposes of permitting approval, and can only be submitted on behalf of the actual property owner.

You will need an architect if you are planning to do any of the following: reshaping or reconfiguring spaces, removing walls, adding doors and windows (to any space), adding/relocating plumbing fixtures, or constructing any kind of home addition. Additionally, you may or may not need an interior designer, structural engineer, and contractor for your project.

If you are remodeling your existing home, share photos or, better, a ‘walk-through’ video of the spaces that you need to improve with your architect. Smartphone quality is adequate, as long as you make sure there is ample lighting.

If you are planning an addition or a new home, a property survey prepared by a state-licensed professional surveyor is a must. If you have a copy of a survey from the previous owner of your home, that works, too.

If you have a floor plan from the realtor's marketing materials or a set of blueprints from the previous owner, these will be very helpful to your architect. Unfortunately, hand drawn sketches indicating what you want are not useful in understanding the dimensions and proportions of your rooms.

Before reaching out to an architect, make sure you have a prioritized list of your haves, needs, and wants. Be clear about what problems you want your architect to help you solve, and the outcomes you are trying to achieve.

Ask yourself if you intend to:

• Change only the finishes is one room or more? (Costs can range from $10k for a powder room, to $150k for a trendy kitchen)
• Remodel one room? (up to $150k)
• Combine two rooms?  (up to $200k)
• Reconfigure multiple rooms in your house? (up to $300k+)
• Build an addition upward? ($400k+)
• Build an addition outward? ($500k+)
• Build a New House Completely
• Will it be a combination of the above?

The planning, design, pricing, and permitting/approval process, even for a one-room addition, can take eight (8) months or more. All of that has to happen prior to starting of any construction.

Your first meeting with your architect will focus on defining of the context of your project, including your needs, goals, wishes, and finances. Design comes later in the process and it can't happen effectively until your project is clearly defined.

Architect's are highly trained and qualified to provide solutions, and every architect has their own process for ensuring that your needs and wants are fulfilled. Asking your architect to change or abbreviate their process may be the same as asking them to break ethical and legal guidelines that could put their livelihood at risk.

Not all architects are a good fit for your project, so if an architect declines to work with you, don't take it personally. Also understand that if you are simply looking for an architect to stamp your pre-existing permit documents, most will decline to work with you, due to liability risks.