3 Reasons to Use an Experienced Architect to Design Your New Custom Home
When you decide to build a new custom home, you want your custom home to reflect your lifestyle and your interests. It can and it will . . . if you use an experienced architect.
Everything about your new home can be designed to enhance your living experience, from the floor plan to the home's character - the style, the materials, systems and special features. All of these can and should be a result of the architect’s design incorporating your lifestyle into your custom home.
Here are some of the skills and expertise that a good architect will provide:
1. Creating a Program for the Project: An experienced architect is able to collect your thoughts and evaluate your lifestyle, then turn them into a two dimensional plan that can be understood by building officials and contractors.
Working together, you can then secure building permits and accurate construction prices for your new dream home.
2. Experience and Knowledge of Local Codes: An experienced, local architect is knowledgeable of State of Florida Building Codes and local codes that will impact what you are seeking to accomplish. Your architect will be able to provide everything you need, or assist in obtaining anything that might be beyond an architect's scope of services.
3. Assembling Your Team of Professionals: Certain items are beyond an architect’s scope of services, such as providing "Florida Model Energy Code Calculations" or providing "storm water retention calculations" (if required). Your architect should ideally have relationships with other local professionals who may be needed to provide the documentation required when submitting the application for your building permit. Your architect can hire these team members and coordinate their services, or assist you in evaluating their proposals for services.
An experienced architect will be your representative in dealing with local building officials and other professionals (if required), while keeping an eye on the entire scope of your project and monitoring the budget.
Stephen Cold has designed over 200 custom homes throughout Florida. Contact Stephen Cold for a free, no-obligation consultation.