We moved into our new home one year ago and have just completed the "one year punch list" so we are confident now to comment on the project we completed.
When considering our plans for our "forever house" - the house of our dreams, the one we saved and waited on patiently for 25 years - we were told by everyone who'd done it before us to retain the services of qualified, competent architects, and that the selection of the architect was the single most important factor in determining the success of our project. We will tell you this is absolutely true - the architect is worth "every dime" you spend.
We interviewed a total of six architectural firms for this project. Bird and Kamback was selected because they had done the most research, and demonstrated the most care and creativity in conceptualizing the project. After working through initial design phase, we additionally decided to make Darryl Bird the overall project manager for our home though construction. Bird and Kamback took the project to bids, managed a major value engineering phase, re-bid the project, assisted us with soliciting qualified builders, received and reviewed project bids, and then assisted us in selecting the builder and developing the construction contract we used.
Throughout construction, Darryl Bird was totally committed to the success of our project, inspecting, reviewing and making improvements and modifications as they were needed. Countless issues were identified and resolved between the builder and the architect without our needed involvement. Issues involving soil and foundation engineering, structural and load bearing materials, so many details we would never have been qualified to even know were there, let alone have a qualified opinion. THIS is where the architect "adds value" to your home.
I will say this much to anybody considering a project of this type - find a qualified and competent architect, one who has past performance of the type of work you're considering. The architect's management of the project through construction will add to the value of the home beyond the cost of the architect - you're making money here. Certainly the home we built has the "wow!" factor of a custom design. Everybody who visits us is simply stunned and amazed at what we've accomplished. But more importantly to us, we know the home is solidly constructed and will last, as we intended, "forever".
If you're looking for an architectural firm to build your "forever house" in the southeast, or particularly the greater Tennessee Valley, you should definitely talk to Bird and Kamback about your project.
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