Finding a good architect & how to design a house with a budget in mind
wdr1
7 years ago
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7 years agoRelated Discussions
How to be budget-minded with granite
Comments (33)I went around to several granite yards. All had remnants, but most were small or just one slab or the less expensive granites. Then I got very lucky! One of the places had 5 slabs each of 2 different granites in their remnant yard for $25/sf installed. One of them was Costa Smeralda, one that DH and I had loved since we'd first seen it several years before, but never considered using because it's one of the priciest. All of the slabs were cracked 1/3 of the way over. The layout of our large kitchen was such that the slabs could be pieced together without showing the seams. For $25/sf and my favorite I can live with insignificant seams! They had lots of granite, marble, and onyx choices in their full price yard, some that I'd never seen before, so some of their smaller remnants were not the usual run-of-the-mill. They had only 2 framed letters of recommendation on the wall: one from the governor's husband regarding the granite they'd installed in the governor's mansion, and the other from a lawyer in one of our powerhouse firms who'd had his granite job screwed up by someone else, and then redone successfully by this place. So, look around if you have more time than money. You never know what you'll find! Anne...See MoreTrust In the architect/ home designer!
Comments (26)Ms Dame wrote, "...So how long does the design phase usually last? I realize it can vary, probably wildly, but is there a rough range? Say, 12-18 months?..." The scope of full services by an architect typically consists of the following phases of work: --Schematic Design: This is the "sketchy", drawing-by-hand stage where architects and clients explore ideas, needs, wants and budget implications, using quick bubble diagrams, site studies and comparable hand-drawn sketches. Purpose is to explore inside, outside and site placement/orientation concepts to find what works and what doesn't, consistent with the Owner's budget and schedule, and to establish the "parti" or direction for the project's further development. Many architects do this phase best using a "charrette" approach with Owners. It may take several meetings to complete this phase. --Design Development: Once a Schematic Design "parti" is approved, DD begins, and the sketchy lines start to become hard lines, with key dimensions and information added. Critical issues are studied and resolved such as interior-exterior relationships, kitchen functional arrangement, layout of living-family based on furnishings to be used, site development issues, key structural implications and the like. Purpose is to "develop" the approved Schematic Design and to prepare for the subsequent CD services. Several meetings are typical to review and adjust drawings from the architect to complete this phase. --Construction Documents: Once the Design Development "design" is approved, CD begins. Here's where the architect and computer begin to go on "automatic", to produce the detailed construction documents--drawings, notes, schedules and specifications--needed for permit, bidding and construction. There may be up to 2-3 review meetings to complete this phase. --Bidding/Negotiation: If desired by the Owner, the Architect may prepare bidding documents and draft agreements to be used by competitive bidders or for a negotiated construction contract. --Construction Observation/Assistance: If desired by the Owner, the Architect and consultants may provided periodic and/or on-call services during construction, to include recommendations for payment and retainage, based on work accomplished. The Architect may, upon request, prepare a final Punch List, recommend Substantial Completion to the Owner, and process for final payment after completion of Punch List items. The time it takes for each phase of service depends entirely on the scope and complexity of the project, plus the ability of the Architect and the Owner to work together with trust, good communications and efficient use of time. A reasonable time schedule for SD and DD might be a month of elapsed time, for each phase, including meetings, revisions and the like. CD might be 6-8 weeks depending. Other architects will certainly add their experience for these ball-park estimates of elapsed time. Hope this helps!...See MorePaid for Custom Home Design and now Bids are Way Over Budget
Comments (74)Pensacola, good plans, but what do you do if, say, the tile you want to use is discontinued? And perhaps (?) obviously no one is going to store ALL of it before you get close to that far? I'm mentioning this because I had no less than 4 tiles I'd chosen discontinued, but I was able to find spare bits of one of those enough to make me happy. (I kept my replacements that I picked later within the same price range.) I also lost out on my first choice for one of my quartz countertops... (ain't no one storing that!) but actually found something much better once push came to shove, and the old one was gone! I also don't know exactly what light fixtures I want until I see the place in situ. Some yes, some no. Where I could be definitive before the structure was built, I certainly was....See MoreRenovating on a 35k budget - design/build firm? architect? DIY design?
Comments (50)Do you have a Habitat for Humanity store or something similar in your area? You might consider trying a place like that and keep an eye out for nice cabinets that have been removed from another house that you could use in your remodel. Sometimes they have the counters too if they come out without breaking. Often these are removed from really large homes and there are enough cabinets for a smaller home and the extras can be used to make filler strips etc to make it look custom to your home. This is rarely an overnight exercise -- it could take quite a while and lots of searching to find something that could work, but it would be more budget friendly than all new. With your current budget you'll be choosing from the bottom end of the cabinet market. Also with your budget you should be considering that you might need to do some of the work yourself which is going to be tough with small children. You mentioned you can save $1000/month. Even if you waited a year to add to your savings that would make a significant difference to what you can afford as well as a contingency for other things that will definitely come up, its not an "if" but "when" when you start renovating and taking out walls. Plumbing or electrical or both could give you issues or pipes might need moving, venting moved etc. Plan carefully and come up with a "must have" list, then a "nice to have" list. Work with someone you can trust and work through what you can get from your must have list with your current budget. Good luck and congratulations on the new home....See MoreCharles Ross Homes
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