WHAT SHOULD I BRING ALONG FOR THE FIRST MEETING WITH AN ARCHITECT?
Many people go to Architects unprepared, which is a great waste of time for yourself and the Architect.
He is a busy professional, and you should respect that and give value to his time. So, if you are planning to build a house in Bangalore and in the process of selecting an Architect, read below the details.
Prepare certain things well in advance What needs to be discussed with the Architects for your own benefit and the convenience of the Architect.
An Architect might charge an hourly rate or give a first free consultation to discuss the project details, so going unprepared might also cost you unnecessary money. If you are worried about your dream home’s construction cost, call us for further details.
MEETING ARCHITECTS FOR THE FIRST TIME? SOME QUESTIONS WHICH CAN BE DISCUSSED?
- Discussions on the project requirements.
- Is my site dimension suitable for my requirements and needs?
- How many floors can I Build?
- Ask and Discuss parking needs?
- What Construction or Building materials to use?
- Will I get a Plan approval for my requirements, or will there be a building violation?
- What will Construction cost for my project?
- What will be the Project duration right from Start to Completion?
- What at the chance of Cost escalation?
- Is there any chance to reduce the project cost?
- Assistance in selecting Building contractors and Consultants.
- What would be the Architectural Charges/Fees?
- Site visits during building construction.
- The list goes on and on…..
One might have to meet him again because certain things were not cleared up during the initial meeting. Preparing in advance saves all these troubles, and you have a good start towards the project.
While meeting an Architect Prepare a project brief, which describes the requirements of the house and its function?
Also discuss if he can undertake the project, the preferred design style, the budget, and the overall expectations from the project.
Here are certain things you should do when meeting an Architect for the first time:
FORMULATE A PROJECT BRIEF:
To get started with the project brief, include all the things you want with the project and make a list. Express the kind of house you like and dislike; browse the internet or go through magazines to find the type of building you want.
Clearly specify the size and the theme of the project such as better natural light, number, and size of rooms, features, playroom, etc.
This can give the Architect an idea of the kind of house you want to build. If you might want to scale your house in the future, mention that to the architect.
This can help the Architect come up with a design that facilitates future expansion.
HAVE A REALISTIC BUDGET:
When it comes to the budget to be straight forward with the Architect, the architect is your partner and your well-wisher until completing the project.
Lying or being unclear about the budget may extend the duration of project completion, which can end up costing you more. So, trust the Architect and inform the exact budget that you have in mind.
This will help the Architect provide a better design within the budget.
EXPECT QUESTIONS:
No matter your brief details, there will always be questions that the architect will have for you.
This is normal, and you cannot prepare for it. As a professional, he will find loopholes in your brief and ask questions to clear the doubt.
BE OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS:
You might have a picture of the project framed in your mind. However, during the first meeting, he will offer suggestions, which might not seem pleasing at the moment, but later will make sense.
Hence, be open to suggestions and listen to whatever the Architect has to say without fussing things.
BRING A LIST OF QUESTIONS:
As you prepare the project brief, there will be several questions that arise in your mind. Please make a list of them and bring them to the first meeting and discuss them with the architect.
NEGOTIATE THE FEES:
The final thing before you seal the deal is to negotiate the fees of the Architect.
An Architect charges via three methods – a percentage of the project cost as fees, a fixed hourly rate, or a fixed amount. Before you leave, make sure you come to an agreement.
So, these are certain important things you need to do before meeting the Architects.
