Running a home renovation project is not something you do every day, so, like many homeowners who are willing to leave the living space in the hands of reliable professionals, you want everything to go as smoothly as possible. Your due diligence is the only way to choose the right architects for renovations and start the project on the right foot.
To help you along the way, here are the most important questions to ask your renovation architects before you entrust them with the house:
#1. Is your experience with projects similar to mine?
Your architect’s experience is the ultimate designing force; no collaboration will ever be successful if your contractor knows nothing about the homeowner’s requirements or local building norms. To ensure your architects will be up to the task, ask them to provide examples of projects similar in style, size, and scope to what you are going to set out.
#2. How do you approach the design process?
The architect’s design approach significantly impacts the final quality and convenience of the renovated space. This means that understanding each contractor’s approach to their work helps gauge the project’s overall manageability and accessibility. Being open to suggestions but also being precise in giving feedback to each contractor will lead to a good relationship and better project outcomes.
#3. Can you work within my budget?
Quality service equals value for money, but even the most experienced practices will not be able to remodel without realistic budget expectations. Be ready to start a conversation about your budget before the final plans are established.
#6. What can be potentially challenging about my project? What challenges can we expect during this project, and how will you solve them?
Any renovation project inherently involves a certain degree of uncertainty, be it the discovery of structural deficiencies in century-old houses or zoning changes passed just weeks before construction began. It is your renovation architect’s responsibility to discuss potential issues you may face during the project and explain how they plan to resolve them. This question will not only highlight their experience but also make you aware of the difficulties you may encounter during renovation.
#7. How do you plan to stay on schedule?
Renovation projects are highly dependent on strict schedules. You should ask your renovation architects how they plan to maintain the established timeline and what methods they use to ensure deadlines are met. This question will highlight their project management expertise and show you how disciplined the architects are in cases of delays.
#8. What is your communication style with clients during the renovation?
Proper communication is the key to your renovation’s success. Your architect needs to provide you with the frequency and form of progress reporting and define their preferred way of communication, be it e-mail notification or weekly call. It is essential to understand your renovation architect’s communication style, which will show you how much they are involved in the process.
#9. Can you provide client references?
Finally, before making your decision, you should ask for the contractor’s references. This will allow you to contact the former clients and get acquainted with their project experience, work ethics, quality of work, and end product. Therefore, these references make you aware of any potential red flags before you hire the contractor.
Conclusion
That said, using the above questions will help you identify renovation architects who are both competent and a good fit for your particular circumstances. As mentioned earlier, the purpose of these questions is to create a common ground and form a relationship of trust before any actual construction work begins. In this case, a little extra research will ensure that the organisation of your house renovation is professional and successful and that your living space is successfully transformed.
Ready to transform your home? Trust Architest as your renovation architects. Contact us today to bring your dream project to life! For more information don’t hesitate to send us an e-mail at hello@architest.com.au, or call on +613 9429 2791.