Toolkit for Those Wanting to Hire an Architect

GRIZZLY BEAR ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN
PROJECT TOOLKIT
Version 1.0, originated on 8/29/2011

The first time a person realizes that he or she has need of an architect, there are a number of reactions that a person can have, and a number of fears that may arise. Will the architect finish the job in a timely fashion? Will he exceed the costs that I have for this project? Will he be able to give me the outcome that I need? This toolkit is meant, not only to assist in overcoming those fears, but also providing a means of being able to be ready for the design and construction process.

So, below, you will find the most important things that you can do that will put you in the best possible position to insure that your time, financial and relational goals and aspirations are met. By answering the following questions, you will be able to prepare in advance so that the architect will be able to help you reach the highest aspirations for your work.

Budget:
1. What is the total overall amount of money that you have available to complete the project?
2. Will you need to obtain financing?
3. Is the financing in place, or will you need to go through the steps necessary in order to get it?
4. Does your banker require that you show evidence of what you are trying to achieve prior to funding the project?
5. Will you need the architect to establish a relationship with the banker in order to , throughout the life of the project, verify that payments should be made to the contractor?
6. What do you want the final finish level of the work to be…? (As an example, do you want to furnish your building with ‘off the shelf’ items, or do you want to have custom made items or a mixture of both? Do you want a sink made of gold or is a typical sink from Lowe’s OK? Typically, one may have low, mid and high end finishes. Each has a cost associated with them that, in order to avoid sticker shock, you should plan out in advance… prior to the Architect’s work beginning so that he can keep the scope of work within your price range.
7. How much will your contractor charge?
8. How much will the architect charge?
9. Do you need time to put together the finances or is everything ready?
10. Are there other fees and charges that may be associated with your work?
11. How much do you have as a contingency or buffer?
12. At what point would you need to walk away from the project?
13. What is the maximum monthly payment I am willing to or able to make?

Time Goals:
1. When must the project be absolutely completed by?
2. Is it reasonable for me to assume that the architect and contractor will be able and available to finish the work for me within that time frame?
3. Do I have contingency in case the project begins, new things are uncovered, and my expectations are not met?
4. Are there relationships I need to cultivate in the City Planning and Building and Safety Departments to insure that my project gets completed in a timely way?
5. Are the other project stakeholders and partners in agreement with the design and time frame?

Relationship and Functional Goals:
1. Do the stakeholders and I agree on the goals of the project?
2. Is the aesthetic vision (how the project looks) of the stakeholders in agreement?
3. Do I know which spaces need to be next to each other?
4. Are there specific medical or accessibility needs that any of the occupants have?
5. Is there a final decision maker?
6. Do I have specific functional needs?
7. Are there pieces of equipment that will need to be included?
8. How will my work affect property values in the area? Will it affect them? Will it increase my own property value? Will it be easier or more difficult to sell my house, if that is what I intend to do, if I make this move?
9. List 5 top items that the new construction must have:
10. List 5 top items I would like to have, but are not ‘deal killers’ if I am unable to have them:

In all of these items, it is most helpful to have these questions answered prior to beginning the project. Answering these questions will insure that you have the best possible possibility of completing your work with the fewest number of distractions and problems as possible. Answering all of these questions is not a guarantee that you will have no problems with your work, rather, they are a good starting point to insure that many bases are covered prior to your beginning the work.

Hiring an Architect in order to assist you in reaching your goals is fundamental to the success of any building project. You need an Architect in order to insure that the things you want are accomplished within both your budget and time considerations.