Renovating
How to Choose the Right Designer for Your Project
Are you struggling to take that first step and get the ball rolling with your project? Here are a few insights to help get you started
Having decided to build or renovate, you are at the beginning of a lengthy process where you will be required to make a lot of decisions. One of the first and most important decisions you’ll have to make is who will help get your design together and complete drawings for builders and trades. While every project is different, there are a few common threads that run through all projects, and understanding these will help you choose the right designer for your project. Here are a few things that you should discuss to ensure you make the right decision.
Create a shortlist
Next, you should ensure that the designers on your shortlist can demonstrate experience and success in responding to a brief and a budget that is similar to yours. Designing to a budget is an important skill and one that requires a level of experience in the marketplace, and it should feature highly in your list of requirements. Talking to a designer about a small project with a modest budget may be a waste of time if they only work on large projects with big budgets.
Click here to find a professional in your area
Next, you should ensure that the designers on your shortlist can demonstrate experience and success in responding to a brief and a budget that is similar to yours. Designing to a budget is an important skill and one that requires a level of experience in the marketplace, and it should feature highly in your list of requirements. Talking to a designer about a small project with a modest budget may be a waste of time if they only work on large projects with big budgets.
Click here to find a professional in your area
Budget
Your budget will play a part in filtering the list of people you are talking to. Generally speaking, if your project is small, your needs are simple and relatively easy to achieve and your budget is modest, then you may get best value from a draughts person.
If your project requires a higher level of design solution and if there is a reasonable budget to work with, you will be better off talking to an experienced building designer or architect. The key point here is that small budgets generally don’t allow much scope for custom design elements that are inherent in most architect designed projects.
Your budget will play a part in filtering the list of people you are talking to. Generally speaking, if your project is small, your needs are simple and relatively easy to achieve and your budget is modest, then you may get best value from a draughts person.
If your project requires a higher level of design solution and if there is a reasonable budget to work with, you will be better off talking to an experienced building designer or architect. The key point here is that small budgets generally don’t allow much scope for custom design elements that are inherent in most architect designed projects.
Project scope
Think about how much scope for design there is in the project. If your project is modest, your needs are fairly straightforward and you already have a clear idea of what you want in your mind, you may not need the high-end design services of an architect. A draughts person may be a better choice in terms of value.
Generally speaking, you will get the best value from an architect and a lot of building designers if they are left to work with an open brief that allows scope for custom design. This will also often mean that there needs to be a more generous budget that allows for a more customised solution.
Think about how much scope for design there is in the project. If your project is modest, your needs are fairly straightforward and you already have a clear idea of what you want in your mind, you may not need the high-end design services of an architect. A draughts person may be a better choice in terms of value.
Generally speaking, you will get the best value from an architect and a lot of building designers if they are left to work with an open brief that allows scope for custom design. This will also often mean that there needs to be a more generous budget that allows for a more customised solution.
Fee structures
Having a detailed understanding of how fees are charged is also very important, so you can be sure you are getting value for money and that your design isn’t stifled by a misunderstanding of the fee structure. There are several ways that fees may be charged including hourly rates, percentage of project cost, lump sum fees and costs per square metre.
Each of these options will have pros and cons. For example, the cost per square metre method is very transparent for new homes but less so with extensions and renovations as it is difficult to predict the final scope of renovation involved and how to apply fees to that.
Regardless of how fees are charged, it is important that you understand how your chosen fee model works. You should also ensure that the fees are fixed or capped so you don’t blow your budget before you’ve even started.
Having a detailed understanding of how fees are charged is also very important, so you can be sure you are getting value for money and that your design isn’t stifled by a misunderstanding of the fee structure. There are several ways that fees may be charged including hourly rates, percentage of project cost, lump sum fees and costs per square metre.
Each of these options will have pros and cons. For example, the cost per square metre method is very transparent for new homes but less so with extensions and renovations as it is difficult to predict the final scope of renovation involved and how to apply fees to that.
Regardless of how fees are charged, it is important that you understand how your chosen fee model works. You should also ensure that the fees are fixed or capped so you don’t blow your budget before you’ve even started.
Level of service
Understanding fees goes hand in hand with understanding what level of service you require. Do you simply need your ideas turned into professional drawings so that they can be approved for construction or do you need a full design service that may also include contract administration, where the architect deals with the builder throughout the course of the build?
There are many levels of service in between and the difference in fees can be tens of thousands of dollars, so it pays to be clear on what services you require. If you are unsure of the options available, don’t hesitate to ask. Then, when you receive fee proposals, make sure they clearly articulate the services being offered and the deliverables.
Understanding fees goes hand in hand with understanding what level of service you require. Do you simply need your ideas turned into professional drawings so that they can be approved for construction or do you need a full design service that may also include contract administration, where the architect deals with the builder throughout the course of the build?
There are many levels of service in between and the difference in fees can be tens of thousands of dollars, so it pays to be clear on what services you require. If you are unsure of the options available, don’t hesitate to ask. Then, when you receive fee proposals, make sure they clearly articulate the services being offered and the deliverables.
Personal rapport
Don’t underestimate the importance of personality compatibility in this process, especially if you require your architect or building designer to help you with refining your brief and helping you to find solutions to suit your personal needs and lifestyle. At that level of design resolution, you will need to get along with the designer or architect and be able to communicate your needs and desires with the confidence that they ‘get’ what you are saying.
It will likely take more than a phone conversation to develop that rapport, so you might need to meet a couple of times before making a decision. Meeting where you currently live can be a great way for them to understand how you live and the dynamics of your household. Another way to develop a rapport is to meet at a cafe with a cool fit-out or public space that appeals to you. This is a great way to explain your style and design aesthetics.
Your turn
What process did you undertake when choosing your designer? Share with us your experience in the Comments below.
More
How to Find the Right Architect For You
How to Decide Whether to Stay or Go During Your Renovation
Renovating on a Budget: How to Get More From Your Windows for Less
How Much Does a Kitchen Reno Cost?
Don’t underestimate the importance of personality compatibility in this process, especially if you require your architect or building designer to help you with refining your brief and helping you to find solutions to suit your personal needs and lifestyle. At that level of design resolution, you will need to get along with the designer or architect and be able to communicate your needs and desires with the confidence that they ‘get’ what you are saying.
It will likely take more than a phone conversation to develop that rapport, so you might need to meet a couple of times before making a decision. Meeting where you currently live can be a great way for them to understand how you live and the dynamics of your household. Another way to develop a rapport is to meet at a cafe with a cool fit-out or public space that appeals to you. This is a great way to explain your style and design aesthetics.
Your turn
What process did you undertake when choosing your designer? Share with us your experience in the Comments below.
More
How to Find the Right Architect For You
How to Decide Whether to Stay or Go During Your Renovation
Renovating on a Budget: How to Get More From Your Windows for Less
How Much Does a Kitchen Reno Cost?
To begin with, think about how involved you want to be in the design process and make sure that you articulate that with your shortlist of designers. Some designers will be open to working with your ideas and others will prefer to be able to explore their own design solutions to meet your brief. It is important to understand their approach, otherwise you will find that you are butting heads from the outset.