Friday, October 11, 2013

Tips For Getting The Best California Architects

By Catalina Nielsen


If you want to make some major improvements to your home, you could make use of a professional. Most people consider it unnecessary to hire any type of engineer when it comes to remodeling or renovations and only hire one when they are undertaking major projects such as building a new house. When you decide to hire California architects for any job, use these guidelines to get a quality expert.

Determine your style. If you are looking to build a traditional Colonial Revival building, then the modern professional is not going to help you much. In such a case, you will need a revivalist. Even if you get a professional that is exceptionally gifted, you will not get the best out of him/her if they specialize in a different style from what you are looking for.

The complexity of your project also matters. Some architects deal largely with commercial plans, while other work distinctively on commercial designs. It is also common to find some engineers who have dedicated their careers to civil constructions such as bridges. Therefore, you have to ensure the individual has a background in the project you have.

Choose a contractor that has a good reputation. This is where you will need either past clients, current ones, or both. Ask the architect for references so that you may contact them and find out how they rate the quality of work they received. If possible, you can even ask to see the project itself and the designs.

Shortlist a number of companies. The market is very competitive, and if you can have several contractors bidding for the project, you will have an easy way of getting the best value at the lowest price possible. Let them give you the architectural design services they provide so that you can choose one that offers the most of what you need.

Take time to look at their past projects. You can only make a sound judgment by looking at real designs rather than depending on words of mouth. Most professionals will give you pictures or videos of their work or physically show you some of their past assignments. This will enable you to see firsthand the designs, complexity and quality of their job.

Meet with the team. Do not just meet with the representative or the management. You need to sit down with the whole group that will be assigned to the job. Check their personal credentials and see if they are qualified and experienced enough. If you feel uncomfortable, you can ask for adjustments.

Do not forget to talk about money. Be candid a about your budget and tell them what you are willing to spend. Talk with the companies that have bid for the contract and see if they are willing to negotiate. Moreover, you should also know whether they would be charging a lump-sum fee or a percentage of the construction cost.

Each firm has teams of professionals. It is your duty to ensure that the California architects you hire have license and the required training. You can easily obtain licensing information from the board.




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