The Best Laid Plans…Weighing the pros and cons of hiring a design expert when building a new house, adding on, or renovating.
Article submitted by Michael Braun, Braun Design Partners, Pittsburgh, PA, March 22, 2009
When it comes time to build a house, put on that addition, or do the renovation to part of the house that you’ve been dreaming about, the top priority for most people is cost. Consequently, when considering whether to hire an architectural or interior designer, two questions inevitably arise: What is the benefit of contracting with a designer and what is the cost? Simple questions, but the advantages of employing a designer go beyond the initial drawings, and the cost should be weighed against the potential savings. Below we address the most common questions about designers. The answers may surprise you.
How much will the services of a designer add to the cost of a project?
One of the ways that designers establish their fees is by basing them on the cost of construction. A designer’s fee may be between 6 and 10 percent of the cost of construction. However, these fees may be offset by tapping into substantial savings that many design firms are offered by product manufacturers. Design firms can usually purchase products such as kitchen cabinetry and countertops, fixtures, fabrics, wall coverings, carpet, etc., at great discounts. Some design firms will pass on a portion of these savings on to their clients. Additional saving can also be realized with the use of a good set of plans or working drawings. Before a contractor is chosen, plans should be developed which will be able to convey the new design in detail. When the client is satisfied that the plans represent his or her goals, a bidding process can begin between several contractors. This competitive bidding process will help keep costs under control. It is also always best when a contractor has a clear understanding of the scope and breadth of a project. The drawings will eliminate any discrepancies in understanding the new design, thereby saving time and money. The drawings may even be required by banks to secure financing.
What will be the benefit of hiring a designer?
The benefits of using a designer are many-fold. The functional physical design of spaces through analysis, programming, architectural and interior design, must be a direct result of the expressions and the lifestyle of the client, not the designer’s nor the contractor’s. The needs and nuances of the client’s lifestyle must be fully understood and addressed. Finding creative solutions in interpreting the client’s goals and desires for the right functions, esthetics and continuity of the spaces is the benefit that a designer brings to the project. Only by combining careful listening with creative problem solving, knowledge of products and construction, and excellent communication with contractors can a project be truly successful.
From the contractor’s perspective, a good set of plans will enable him to generate accurate estimates and speed the time of construction. Having the full knowledge and understanding of the client’s goals, as well as knowledge of construction, the designer is the liaison between the two, communicating on a daily basis. He acts as the point person to answer any questions that may arise during the construction process.
Should the design firm hire or recommend contractors?
Some design firms have an in house construction business, and some construction businesses have a design staff. Either way, the client might be best represented when there is no financial relationship between the designers and the contractors. Remember, the goals and visions of the client are paramount. When a problem arises due to an unforeseen site condition, a designer who is free from the concerns of the contractor’s other business affairs and schedule is in the best position to render a solution that is based solely on the client’s goals. The designer must always make decisions that maintain the integrity of the client’s vision. Most homeowners have thought about their new dream house, an addition or a renovation to their existing home that will give them the perfect space and environment that they’ve been wishing for. Hiring a designer will help to ensure that their hopes and dreams, the ideas and visions that they have pondered for years, are fully realized. In a word, the best laid plans… can be extremely valuable.
