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thirteen
Joined: 09 Feb 2008
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 6:36 pm Post subject: About to finalize home plan and looking for suggestions |
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Would anyone on here be interested in making suggestions on a home plan? I am not the architect, the homeowner, and I am looking for any suggestions of pitfalls to my home plan before I have my architect finalize it. I have .pdf's of a 95% complete plan that I can either figure out how to put on here or put up somewhere with a link. Anyone with free time interested in looking at them? It is my design, the architect pretty much did what I told him to do.
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phansford
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 524
Location: SW Ohio
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 11:48 am Post subject: |
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The first question(s) I have is why are you showing the design here looking for suggestions? If your architect just did what you told him, why aren't you happy? Why are you doubting yourself? Why aren't you asking him to provide design services rather than drafting services..... that seems like mighty expensive drafting services.
Did you hire a residential designer or did you hire a licensed architect? There is a difference. Looking at the drawing - I am assuming you hired an draftsman/designer not an architect. (the drawing does not have any life and there are some proportional issues with the design)
Without the plan - its hard to comment. But I think the use of the "cedar shingle vinyl siding" is a little much. I think the vinyl shingles look pretty cheesey - particular in the quanitity you are suggesting. Shingles work better when there are other textures to compliment them, such as brick or regular lap siding.
Why not look at real cedar shingles - they come panelized which reduces labor costs. Properly applied, paint or stain can last up to 10-15 years. Maybe use real shingles on the front (street) facade and use a simple lap vinyl siding on the sides and back (very traditional application). Spend some money on the public front of your house;save some money and maintenance in other areas.
What do you think of the windows over the garage doors and the location of the garage door (off-center)? Which door is really the front entry? You have three competing entry doors? Why can't the man-door into the garage be off of the little porch...... or just use the door in the little porch. Why is my attention pulled to the garage bay and not the front entry..... which is more important.
Having said all of that...... you are clearly the designer of this house - who has to be happy with it. You or all of your friends and family.
I tell my clients not to show their designs to family and friends for approval. The reason - We provide a design process where lots of questions are raised and answered, decisions are discussed and analysized, options reviewed, modified, and scrapped. So the causal observer won't understand the decisions made and why.... but plenty of thought went into the design. We watch how our clients use their existing house, listen to how they want to work, live, play, and sleep in their house, then work to make the house meet thier needs and expectations. It doesn't pop out of our ear or other parts  .
I'll be dead honest - with over 20 years of experience - the worst projects are the ones where our clients don't listen to our advice, ask all of their friends, family, and neighbors to give an opinion, and the client ends up being unhappy in the end. Some just never get built because the client can't get to the point of being happy being the decision maker and to be confident in their own opinions.
So ask yourself this question - do you really want to hear the opinions of total strangers (such as myself), your friends and family who won't tell you the truth as not to hurt your feelings, or the mother-in-law who has an opinion on everything and it always amounts to you being wrong.
I recommend you go back to your "architect" or actually hire an architect not to be your draftsman or CAD monkey, but as someone who will work with you and your ideas to come up with a house that you like, meet your needs and your budget, and reflects how you want to live......
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contact_if_interested
Joined: 23 Feb 2008
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:24 pm Post subject: How expensive are architects? |
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Hi,
I have a very nice plan and a friend of mine used autocad to draw it.
Now I like to find an architect but I have heard that they are very expensive and may be cost prohibitive for us. I would like to know how much they charge and do they provide 3 d model of inside and outside?
Thanks
Judy
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csintexas
millennium club
Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Posts: 1739
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 8:24 am Post subject: |
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I think the best way to find this information would be to call some in your area and ask. You might also want to consider a residential designer.
_________________
Chris Stewart
Modern Texas Home Project |
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phansford
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 524
Location: SW Ohio
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| Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 6:25 am Post subject: Re: How expensive are architects? |
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| contact_if_interested wrote: | Hi,
I have a very nice plan and a friend of mine used autocad to draw it.
Now I like to find an architect but I have heard that they are very expensive and may be cost prohibitive for us. I would like to know how much they charge and do they provide 3 d model of inside and outside?
Thanks
Judy |
Judy,
Chris is correct. You need to contact some architects and/or residential designers in your area and discuss fees and services. The level of services you need or want is going to determine your fee and vica versa.
The area of the country you live is also going to determine the fee. East/West Coast is probably going to cost you more to both design and build your house.
You need to determine a design budget and a construction budget for your project. Just to be clear - the square footage of your house will start to give you an idea of your construction budget. Here in SW Ohio - we talk about new houses with a lot being in the $110-$120 per SF. That's $288,000 for a 2,400 SF house.
So first of all - can you afford to build the house you already have designed? Do you have a lot?
You should expect to pay 2-4% in design fees. But again - regionally speaking, what kind of fee will the market bear. If you have a fairly simple house and all you want is a simple builder's permit set.... the cost could be $5-7 K.
Depending on your fee - the 3D model might be provided or an additional service. It is typically an additional service (it takes time to build them in the computer and you have to invoice for that time). However, some CAD programs have intragrated modeling. Of course - their fee will be higher and will include the model. (Typically)
Now let me do a comparision - you will pay a realtor 6-8% for providing a service that has NO liability. So on that 2,400 SF - the realtor will walk away with $17,280.00. For what - listing the house in the multiple listing, doing a comparative to set a sales price, do a couple of 2 hr. open houses, and take a few offers.
Yet, I as the architect of that house will not see that kind of fee and I have liability coming out of my ears. The design has to be structural sound, meet life and fire safety issues, be detailed and designed to not allow water penetration (mold/mildew) and it has to please you - the client. <stepping down off my soap box  >
BTW - I have 5-8 years of high education, a 3 yr internship, and 20 years experience designing houses. The realtor was a housewife two months ago and took some classes from the local Board of Realtors and is now licensed to lie and steal. You know.... the drainage ditch is actually a babbling brook.
So you need to think about the entire project and all of the costs assocaited with building. The Architect/Designer is only one cost. But will probably be the driving factor as to whether you're happy with the end result.
Something to consider
No all architects do residential work. And as Chris recommended, you might find a residential designer (they are not architects but can provide design services for single family houses only). Either way, the fact that you have a floor plan - and I am assuming no elevations - many architects/designers will be hestitate about working from your preconceived idea..... for many reasons.
Does it take advantage of the site (Views, topography, daylight and so on). Are spaces located where they should be to be economical in constructing the house. Are bathroom large enough to meet code (that's a classic one I see alot)
Also - can the plan actually be finished into an acceptable form. Can it be framed - what will the forms look like and so on. A good designer is working on the plan and the elevations at the same time. Its how you make sure things work.
So be prepared to have your "ideal plan" adjusted to make it meet code, to be able to be framed (structural issues), and to look pleasing.
You are going to have to make phone calls and interview some architects/designers. Ask for references and addresses of built project. There should be no cost to getting a proposal from an architect/designer. If so - then eliminate them from your list. Same with contractors. They are bidding on the project and they will make 17-22% profit on building the house.... Just a note - Commerical contractors bid for free and it takes much more to put together a commerical construction proposal. So don't get taken. Also - you never pay for any construction or materials except for work completed to date and materials stored on site. If the contractor needs 1/3 up front - then they don't have the finiancial backing to even be building dog houses. That does not mean they shouldn't require you to show proof that you can pay for the project.
Another Option
Some builder's have someone they work with design-wise. You might be able to go to a local builder and they will provide the drawings as part of your construction budget. (You'll still paying for the service - it just gets rolled in the cost of the house - and if you change builders - you can forget about using those drawings - the builder owns them).
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LouTiffs
Joined: 11 Apr 2008
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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phansford is on the money..
Do not ask the opinion of anyone you do not know and trust and limit that input to 1 or 2 people.
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LouTiffs
Joined: 11 Apr 2008
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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| ok, I looked at the elevations... you realy should get a good local architect involved, fast.
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nanrehvasconez
Joined: 25 Feb 2008
Posts: 125
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| Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:49 am Post subject: |
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If you like big and ugly, you have it, this house is like an obese woman, nothing fits, the guts hung inside of the moomoo, I don't thing the guy who drew this is your friend.
If you like reasonable and curb appealing, start looking for an architect, building designer, even a good residential catalog and chose the house you like and you will be happy with, in your case the floor plan can be adjusted to the looks of your house.
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