Architect Referral?

A

Atrus

Forum Member
Anyone here have a good architect they could refer me to? We have a very solid idea on a custom home that we want built but I'd like to have a professional's advice and oversight on the floor plan I had laid out, as well as to have them complete the detailed prints.

Our builder has someone that looks decent - charges a flat fee of $2/sq ft. We'd just like to see if that's a reasonable rate, and if there's someone out there that could potentially fit the style we are going for better.
 
I do not have any referrals but I do have some first hand advice. Make sure the builder is open to the idea of you getting a house designed by your own architect and get in writing the ramifications of what will happen when (not if) there is an issue. Most builders only work with their architect, for comfort/financial and liability reasons.

In 2010 we found a builder and used his architect to design our house. We had some requirements and a general look/layout of the house but then let the architect run with it. About 20 revisions later and we were ready to build. The whole time the builder was working hand in hand with the architect ensuring constructability. Even during construction there were change orders (shocker) and the builder had to shoulder the cost because he and his architect designed the plans. You could run into some finger pointing during construction if you go your own route.

Building a custom home was the most enjoyable and stressful thing I have ever done in my life (and I'm married with kids). Good luck!!

--Joe
 
soap said:
I do not have any referrals but I do have some first hand advice. Make sure the builder is open to the idea of you getting a house designed by your own architect and get in writing the ramifications of what will happen when (not if) there is an issue. Most builders only work with their architect, for comfort/financial and liability reasons.

In 2010 we found a builder and used his architect to design our house. We had some requirements and a general look/layout of the house but then let the architect run with it. About 20 revisions later and we were ready to build. The whole time the builder was working hand in hand with the architect ensuring constructability. Even during construction there were change orders (shocker) and the builder had to shoulder the cost because he and his architect designed the plans. You could run into some finger pointing during construction if you go your own route.

Building a custom home was the most enjoyable and stressful thing I have ever done in my life (and I'm married with kids). Good luck!!

--Joe
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Good to know, thanks for the info! We built a place in 2011, but it wasn't custom. This is a whole new ball game for us.

Builder seems OK with us choosing whoever we want, but I do agree it'd be best to work with "his guy" as there'd be little backlash to me should something go wrong. We have a very specific layout and style in mind, and I've seen a little of the architect's work. Seems like he *should* be able to work in our style well. $5500 is higher than I was anticipating, but I also realize it's a lot of hours to draw them up and I am paying for the expertise and architect's "eye".

I am fully capable of completing the drawings myself, but I just don't have the time and I would really appreciate the eye on an expert before we spend a ton of money and figure out that the layout blows or something.
 
For a custom home $2/sq ft seems about right. That's about what I paid a few years ago. Our architect has become much more expensive and hard to reach, great design but to busy to follow up. Our price from the builder was based off the "print" so most changes impacted our price up and down. I know my builder has seen plans for less than a $1.00/sq.ft but they're very basic homes.
 
Atrus said:
Anyone here have a good architect they could refer me to? We have a very solid idea on a custom home that we want built but I'd like to have a professional's advice and oversight on the floor plan I had laid out, as well as to have them complete the detailed prints.

Our builder has someone that looks decent - charges a flat fee of $2/sq ft. We'd just like to see if that's a reasonable rate, and if there's someone out there that could potentially fit the style we are going for better.
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Whats the cost per square foot that the builder is charging you? Im about to split my property and wanted to build on it.
 
Tough to say exactly - that's what we are getting the plans drawn up for - but it's going to be roughly $160/sq ft
 
Atrus said:
Tough to say exactly - that's what we are getting the plans drawn up for - but it's going to be roughly $160/sq ft
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Wow, really? Im looking at a 2000 sqft house. With that estimate, Im looking at $320,000. Is that normal? When did building get that high?

Is that based on high end products for your house?
 
Driven2slow said:
Wow, really? Im looking at a 2000 sqft house. With that estimate, Im looking at $320,000. Is that normal? When did building get that high?

Is that based on high end products for your house?
Click to expand...

Custom homes can get as cheap or crazy as you want. Anywhere from $100-400/SFT. Most are in the $150-200/SFT range using mid grade materials. Allowances that get frequently blown out of the water are windows, cabinets, flooring and fixtures.

--Joe
 
Driven2slow said:
Wow, really? Im looking at a 2000 sqft house. With that estimate, Im looking at $320,000. Is that normal? When did building get that high?

Is that based on high end products for your house?
Click to expand...

is that with land or without? my new house is coming in right around 155 and that's using a lot of higher quality materials in most area's. granted this is a 2 story. but ranches are generally 15-20 more per sq ft from what i've found
 
kammi10 said:
is that with land or without? my new house is coming in right around 155 and that's using a lot of higher quality materials in most area's. granted this is a 2 story. but ranches are generally 15-20 more per sq ft from what i've found
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No, I have the land.

155 a sqft?

By the way sean, I totally forgot to get those insurance papers signed.

-Sam
 
If you're building a custom home find an Amish cabinet maker. They are not easy to work with, limited phone, no email and they have to hire a driver to deliver.
However amazing craftsmanship, top quality materials, all solid wood of your choice and at a fraction of the cost of anything we looked at. I found a guy in eastern OH. He's now had 100's of jobs in Northern Oakland county without any advertising just word of mouth and he's 3.5 hours away from here. My builder ended up using him after he saw our cabinets, neighbors to with remodels.
 
jack runkle 734-660-2513
registered... and he's an expert on custom garage space too... if you're custom building make room for the toys
 
So $2/sq ft to have an architect design a home, what would the approx cost be if you already have a custom design that you've created yourself, and want the architect to just review it to see if it will work? I've done my home work, figured out joist spacing, size, and layout, footing size, foundation thickness, load bearing walls, etc. Looking to have a custom 4500-5000 sq ft house built on a plot of land in the next few years, and trying to estimate my cost.

I'm hoping to come around $85/sq ft or $400,000 total, but I'm going to be my own general contractor and hire a building, figure out where to get all the materials from, hire all the subcontractors for HVAC, electric, etc. I'll also be doing my own work such as installing some of the finishing touches myself as well. I also don't have to factor in land cost into the build cost, as I'm getting the land for free.
 
Thanks for the referrals!

The price I am quoting is through a custom homebuilder and doesn't include the cost of the land. We purchased 4 acres last year.

I have a fairly detailed layout for a 2750 sq ft colonial with an attached 30x40 garage with a loft space for my woodworking tools above it. I should also mention that the $160ish/sq ft was including Geothermal as we don't have natural gas and I don't want to do propane. I need someone to do formal plans, plus I do have a couple of questions regarding the layout and aesthetics of a few things. With what we are spending, it's probably worth it to have a professional look it over.
 
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