Choosing an architect in Melbourne
When making the choice to create a new home or change the one you already have you are making decisions that will be life altering. At the very minimum they will be costly. A conflict can emerge in a project if the client and architect are not working towards the same goals. The best possible way to not have this happen is to first comprehend how the ‘architects’ work and to then lay a foundation between you and the person working for.
As Michael Carr: ‘Customers are on their own when it comes to dealing with architects. The hardest part is comprehending the words used. Does the average person really need to know what a proof concept is? I was troubled to hear about a couple who where in dealings with a company who did not explain the workings of their ducted heating fittings in a simplistic way for the average person.’
In an ideal world your architect will help relate any areas that remain not clear, so recurrent and logical talks between yourself and your architects through a project needs to be a shared effort. Many customers don’t understand that architects get very little training at university in regards to communication and residential projects. Architects learn these tools for themselves, usually when they intern at their first job. To have the job done well you need to find an experienced architect.
How do I do this I hear you say? Call around to the major tradies in your area. These companies work on a lot of different jobs and as such know how each architect works and possibly what their good and bad points of difference are. Ask the architects what proportion of their projects are residential, commercial or retail. See if you can get into contact with past clients. Ask things like did it all go to plan, were the plans accurate, did all of the intricacies get explained. Once hired look for schedules do the simple things like doors have finish dates.
Set up early on who will have accountability for any decisions about resources or alterations to conditions that may need to be completed. Stick to this, even in times of high stress.
Picking an architect whose personality is well-matched with yours is just as vital as liking a firm’s work. Remodelling, no matter how small the project, takes time, and architects unavoidably become a part of the family, at least for a while.
