Santa Barbara Build - Do we need an architect?

16 years ago

We are getting ready to start the long process of building in Santa Barbara California. We have come up with a design and have built it in 3D and would like input from others before we hire an architect or designer/builder.

Do we need an architect? We like our design and wonder if an architect would actually make the home any better.

Any input is appreciated.

Are there any recommendations for builders in our area or close by (Ventura, Goleta, Santa Ynez, Ojai...)

3D images and animations can be found at:

http://web.mac.com/digital_alchemy/BUILDME/OVERVIEW.html

Thank you for your input!

Craig and Joanie

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Comments (7)

brendamc
16 years ago
I don't think I could have survived without our architect - we've needed him every single day... and it's been 2 years now! Started building in August with a completion date of next August. He's also really into hardscaping/landscaping, so we're having him oversee that part too, so admittedly that is part of the time. He was about 3X the going rate, but has done everything for us. I don't work, but have never done this before & my husband travels a lot for work. Building a 5400 sq ft Spanish Revival/Montecito style home in Newport Beach,
krislrob
16 years ago
We bought an existing home (foundation & steel frame). We met with both an architect and a designer. We went with the designer. We wished we had gone with the architect. Just one of many lessons. We're in Temecula, our house is about 5700 SF. Not all designers are created equal, but in the end, I believe there are things that we would have done better/different with an architect. Hindsight. I think it is worth the money.
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robbi, glad to see you're going to bring in an architect. For the record, an architect isn't just to monitor the exterior footprint of your house. It is good to have an architect or at least a structural engineer if you are grossly changing the static loading - i.e. adding more or different cabinets, changing from laminate to granite, want to use tile or stone where you had linoleum etc. OR if you're even thinking of moving walls. Basically have someone verify what loads your foundation and your floor joist/beam/sill/footings etc. spacings and what they can tolerate as is vs. what they can't. Just because people here have done it doesn't make it safe. The good thing about an architect is that they have access to structural engineers, know the codes etc. There are some very good General Contractors who do know the variables; but there are plenty more who don't or won't bother. We had a GC who didn't know to check any of these and we had to eventually bring in an architect and a small army of structural engineers (not to mention, me doing my own independent verification) somewhat after a few rebuilding mishaps. So, long and short of it is, don't be like us. Be safe from the get-go. Good luck!
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Third vote for the home designer software. We had an architect give us a bid and it was outrageous--apparently architects usually bid in terms of a percentage of the total budget, but our $25k-$30k budget was too small for his usual approach (!) so he quoted us a flat fee of (COUGH COUGH COUGH) $10 to $15k. Um! No!! We ended up buying a new iMac and the Home Designer software, and we could've bought another four or five iMacs for what this architect wanted. And he wasn't a big firm, just a well-respected, established local architect who specializes in remodeling old homes in a way that looks appropriate to their original style. He personally would not bid for just drawing up plans and letting us take it from there--he liked to be more involved, help choose contractors etc.--but my understanding is that the architects who would just give us plans would still want at least $3000 or more for that, which, again, is a lot more than our iMac + Home Design software. I ended up doing a ton of different plans with the software, posting them and getting feedback here, and now we have a plan we like a lot. No architect OR kitchen designer required. That being said, you will need to hire an electrician to get your wiring designed and implemented properly--even if you are very handy and capable of doing it yourself, that would probably void your homeowner's insurance, so if there were ever an electrical fire you would be totally screwed. (I say "probably"--check with your insurance company to be sure.) It also can mess with resale value. The only way I can think of to get the electrical system designed properly without hiring an electrician to do the design, assuming you can do this without voiding your insurance, is to get the version of the Chief Architect Home Design software that lets you (1) design the electrical system in detail AND (2) check your design against national codes. As you can see from this matrix (in the link), that means you have to get the "Pro" version. By the way, be sure you read what the Chief Architect website says about the computer requirements to run the software. Very few laptops have fast enough processors to do the 3D rendering, and ours certainly didn't, so since our only desktop was literally like ten years old we ended up having to get a new computer to use this software. But still, I'd rather spend $2200 on a fantastic 27" iMac and this software, and be able to create infinite kitchen plans and tweak them as much as I need to, and have this great computer for years, than spend $3000-$5000-$10,000-whatever to get an architect to give me one or two kitchen plans. And if you use PCs rather than Macs, your computer expense will probably be smaller than ours was anyway. Here is a link that might be useful: Chief Architect Home Designer product comparison
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meldy_nva
16 years ago
There is a lot of overlap between the services of an architect and the services of a designer, and there can be a tremendous difference between any two people having the same title whether that of architect or of designer. In either case you can find pie-in-the-sky dreamers who can draw lovely designs without understanding basic construction or traffic flow, or you can find a jewel who can take your ideas, improve on them, and follow through with skill and knowledge. You will also find a considerable sliding scale of $$, depending on how much is involved. Least $ is taking your plans and drawing them into usable blueprints. Most $$ will be the guy who takes you plans, improves them, re-draws until you are satisfied, does the blueprints, and checks during construction to be sure there are no problems; quite often coming up with sources for materials and subs.

If you are absolutely positive that you have thought of everything you want and it's the way you want it, you should swing your plans past a building engineer who is both aware of safety requirements as well as what is needed to satisfy local building codes. Do this even if your state does not require it. It's lots easier to know in advance that a balcony requires specific stress supports that it is to add those supports after it fails the inspection.

Ask around locally for recommendations, and absolutely do not go with anyone who has no recommendation and/or with whom you are not comfortable with when explaining your needs. Like buying a car, you need to do some looking and some research before choosing, and make sure all the options are listed. If a firm or group is recommended, get specific because it is possible to have an intern or apprentice doing most of the work under the group name (inexperience is not necessarily bad, but it is something to be aware of).
solie
16 years ago
You have posted more info than I would feel comfortable sharing. Maybe you are OK with it, but I just wanted to mention it.

I think the house looks nice (couldn't read some details) but since you are building a custom home in an expensive area I think it would be a case of penny-wise, pound-foolish to completely skip the architect. You have included a lot of info and you will probably get good advice here, but I would want a professional to visit the site. Maybe an hourly rate arrangement?

I designed our small vacation home, but an architect helped with window placement. I would only build without an architect if I were using/modifying slightly a good stock plan.
kateskouros
16 years ago
the thought of doing without an architect for a build actually frightens me. and i don't scare easily!
joaniec23
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you for all the insightful comments.

It seems to be unanimous that it would be unwise to proceed without an architect. All of the architects that we have interviewed like to gage their projected costs based on a percentage of the build cost. We have gotten estimates of 8 - 10% of the build cost. We are also getting estimates of around $350 per square foot to build. That puts our architect's fee around $90,000 for a 3,000 square foot house. A tough pill to swallow but it looks like I'll need a glass of water!

Thanks for the input,

Craig and Joanie
sierraeast
16 years ago
You might contact UCSB and see if they have intern programs that would be interested in your build.

Santa Barbara Build - Do we need an architect?

Comments (7)

brendamc

krislrob

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Santa Barbara Build - Do we need an architect?

Comments (7)

brendamc

krislrob

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meldy_nva

solie

kateskouros

joaniec23Original Author

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