Tips
We want you to find the best practice for your project.
Making the final decision on who to commission can be difficult. Despite careful consideration and the formation of a genuinely committed team, there are still potential pitfalls.
The following tips are intended to help you identify the most suitable architectural professional for your needs and, having done so, to avoid any problems.
Professional architectural bodies and building design organisations provide a wealth of free advice and information for clients. You can find a selection of this material via the links in our Resources area.
Think about specific challenges that your project may present and decide whether the architect or designer would need any areas of expertise to address these.
Top Tips
TIP #02
Look before you leap:
Think about specific challenges that your project may present and decide whether the architect or designer would need any areas of expertise to address these.
Emails and telephone conversations alone are generally insufficient when selecting an architectural professional, so take time to meet all those that get in contact regarding your project.
Top Tips
TIP #03
Meet with prospective professionals:
Emails and telephone conversations alone are generally insufficient when selecting an architectural professional, so take time to meet all those that get in contact regarding your project.
Provide the designers interested in your project with as much information as possible, to explain exactly what you want. Images from magazines and websites can be especially useful.
Top Tips
TIP #04
Relate your objectives clearly:
Provide the designers interested in your project with as much information as possible, to explain exactly what you want. Images from magazines and websites can be especially useful.
Prepare a short series of questions for architectural professionals that express interest in your project. These can be asked directly over the phone or in person, but written responses are a particularly effective means of comparison.
Top Tips
TIP #05
Use a questionnaire:
Prepare a short series of questions for architectural professionals that express interest in your project. These can be asked directly over the phone or in person, but written responses are a particularly effective means of comparison.
Ask architectural professionals interested in your project about those in their firm who would be working on your project and what the workload of their practice is like.
Top Tips
TIP #06
Research practices under consideration:
Ask architectural professionals interested in your project about those in their firm who would be working on your project and what the workload of their practice is like.
Request references from the architectural professionals that are interested in your project and follow these up.
Top Tips
TIP #07
Ask potential professionals for references:
Request references from the architectural professionals that are interested in your project and follow these up.
Architectural design fees are not fixed but typically range from 7-10% of the budget for a new house. Smaller projects, such as extensions, usually cost proportionally more. Sometimes it is possible to negotiate one-off fees.
Top Tips
TIP #08
Be realistic about professional design fees:
Architectural design fees are not fixed but typically range from 7-10% of the budget for a new house. Smaller projects, such as extensions, usually cost proportionally more. Sometimes it is possible to negotiate one-off fees.
Many architectural professionals produce animations, three dimensional images and models that can assist greatly in understanding a design. Inquire about the cost and production of these if they would be of help to your project.
Top Tips
TIP #09
Find out about visualizations:
Many architectural professionals produce animations, three dimensional images and models that can assist greatly in understanding a design. Inquire about the cost and production of these if they would be of help to your project.
Check that those who express interest in undertaking your project possess the accreditations they claim to have. These can often be verified by searching relevant registries online, and links to these are available in our Resources area.
Top Tips
TIP #10
Verify the accreditations of interested practices:
Check that those who express interest in undertaking your project possess the accreditations they claim to have. These can often be verified by searching relevant registries online, and links to these are available in our Resources area.
Consider employing young architectural professionals that are hungry for work. As well as the likelihood of lower fees, fledgling practices may offer fresh ideas and spend more time on your project to develop their portfolio.
Top Tips
TIP #11
Think about using young professionals:
Consider employing young architectural professionals that are hungry for work. As well as the likelihood of lower fees, fledgling practices may offer fresh ideas and spend more time on your project to develop their portfolio.
Most architectural professionals have a website. Have a look at the online portfolios of those that indicate an interest in your project and find out as much about them as possible, when determining which firms or individuals would be suitable.
Top Tips
TIP #12
Have a look through portfolios:
Most architectural professionals have a website. Have a look at the online portfolios of those that indicate an interest in your project and find out as much about them as possible, when determining which firms or individuals would be suitable.
Visit previous projects completed by architectural professionals that you consider using. If possible, ask the occupants about their experience with the building and its designer.
Top Tips
TIP #13
View completed projects:
Visit previous projects completed by architectural professionals that you consider using. If possible, ask the occupants about their experience with the building and its designer.
No two designers are the same. They differ in their approach, fees and level of service. Use an architectural professional that meets all your criteria.
Top Tips
TIP #14
Conduct some benchmarking:
No two designers are the same. They differ in their approach, fees and level of service. Use an architectural professional that meets all your criteria.
If you have a clear approach or design philosophy, make sure that the architectural professional you choose is of the same persuasion.
Top Tips
TIP #15
Ensure a meeting of minds:
If you have a clear approach or design philosophy, make sure that the architectural professional you choose is of the same persuasion.
Only employ a registered architectural professional that is suitably qualified for your project.
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TIP #16
Appoint a qualified professional:
Only employ a registered architectural professional that is suitably qualified for your project.
Before instructing an architectural professional to commence work, ask for a copy of their professional indemnity insurance to check that it is valid and covers the estimated cost of your project.
Top Tips
TIP #17
Confirm adequate insurance cover is in place:
Before instructing an architectural professional to commence work, ask for a copy of their professional indemnity insurance to check that it is valid and covers the estimated cost of your project.
Establish some form of written contract with your selected architectural professional, before they begin to produce any work for you.
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TIP #18
Form a written agreement:
Establish some form of written contract with your selected architectural professional, before they begin to produce any work for you.
Spend time in the early stages of your project discussing budgets, objectives and timescales. Problems are normally cheaper to resolve the sooner they are identified.
Top Tips
TIP #19
Undertake preventative problem solving:
Spend time in the early stages of your project discussing budgets, objectives and timescales. Problems are normally cheaper to resolve the sooner they are identified.
A reputable architectural professional should provide advice on any legal and statutory issues associated with your project.
Top Tips
TIP #20
Request any legal or statutory guidance required:
A reputable architectural professional should provide advice on any legal and statutory issues associated with your project.
An architectural professional ought to contribute much more to your project than just the aesthetics. They should bring real value for money through a knowledge base that includes construction management and building performance.
Top Tips
TIP #21
Enjoy real value for money:
An architectural professional ought to contribute much more to your project than just the aesthetics. They should bring real value for money through a knowledge base that includes construction management and building performance.