Everyone has an idea of what their dream home extension would look like and one of the best ways to achieve the perfect aesthetic is to hire a professional architectural designer, such as BDS. With a keen eye for design and in-depth insight on how to bring your dream home to life, using a professional architectural design service is the best way to transform your home into something you can be proud of. The following tips can help you to find the perfect architectural designer to build your dream extension.
Tip 1: Residential & Commercial Experience
One of the most important things to look out for when you’re searching for the right architectural designer is that they have both residential and commercial experience. Depending on the type of style you’re going for, you will need a professional that has knowledge in both industries. As an example, if you’re opting for a more modern industrial feel to your house extension, a residential architect with commercial experience can be quite beneficial. It’s also the perfect way to ensure you’re hiring one the most well-rounded and highly trained architectural designer.
Tip 2: Free Design Consultations
It is one thing to hear someone describe your idea aesthetic to you, but it’s another thing to actually see it before your eyes. It’s imperative that before you decide to work with any architectural designer, you have the ability to take a look at their design ideas. With a free design consultation you’ll be able to see how simple it is to work with your desired architectural designer and to determine if they have a strong understanding of the aesthetic you’re reaching for.
Many home owners also like to provide a small amount of detail and see what their architectural designer can envision for them. A free design consultation will give you a clear example of what their skills are and how they can transform an ordinary home into the house of your dreams.
Tip 3: Online Portfolios
Take a moment to think about whether you would hire a dressmaker if you weren’t able to see images of their past work. The same rule applies to an architectural designer, as you wouldn’t want to hire them without seeing other homes they’ve worked on in the past. Not only should they have an online portfolio, but they should also be able to walk you through their past jobs and explain all of the features they added and improved.
By taking the time to browse through the past properties your desired architect has worked on, you’ll have the ability to see what their strong suits are and determine if their area of expertise is what you’re interested in. For example, if all of their portfolio images are for modern homes and you’re looking for a more traditional style, you may want to find a different architectural designer.
Tip 4: Reliable Payment Schedules
When you’re working with home contractors and architectural designer you should ensure they’re willing to do whatever they can to not only achieve the perfect look for your home, but to also ensure you can afford it within your budget. Your partner business should have a reliable payment schedule that doesn’t require you to pay for the entire project upfront. Included with the payment schedule should be a comprehensive quote that outlines the cost for all of the projects involved with the extension, including labour and materials. Most architects and architectural designers require you to source your own building contractors. At BDS we offer both services within the same quote, so you have one convenient point of contact throughout the project, and full control over your budget.
Tip 5: Project Management
It can be difficult for home owners to take time away from work to oversee the work involved with a home extension. When you’re working with an architectural designer and building contractor they should have a project management team available to help answer any questions or concerns that you may have. They will also be responsible for overseeing the entire project, to ensure that all of the involved contractors are doing the renovations according to the specifications and within a timely manner. This allows you to avoid most of the stress that is involved with having an extension added to your home.
Tip 6: Professional Advice
You may have a clear idea of what you want the job to look like once it’s finished, but it’s rare for a home owner to understand the steps needed to get to the final stages of a home extension. Throughout the designing and building process it’s essential that you have access to professional advice to help with ensuring all of your objectives are met. Your architectural designer should be equipped with the experience and tools to suggest improvements and devise a plan that incorporates all of your needs with minimal disruption.
Working with an architectural designer is the best way to get a home extension built to your unique specifications. By taking the above tips into account, you can have the home of your dreams with the help of a team of experienced professionals. From creating comprehensive plans to ensuring the project is finished on time, your BDS architectural designer will be with you every step of the way.
Interested In Finding Out More But Are Unsure Where To Start?
There are so many variables involved with house extensions that it can be an intimidating challenge without the right professional advice. We have written The Essential Guide To Extending Your Living Space in order to give you all the answers you need in one place. Whether you are considering moving house or extending your current home, our free eBook gives you the information you need to make a decision with confidence. Click here to download your copy.
