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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
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| Why should I hire a designer? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Is there a cost for an initial meeting? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ How does the design process work for an addition or a renovation? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ How does the design process work for a new house? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ What are your fees? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ What part of the work is covered by your retainer? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ How long does the design and con- struction drawing process take? |
Architects and residential designers have been educated to
think and visualize in 3 dimensions, which means we can
achieve the most creative use of space. We can come up
with solutions to problems that most builders would not
discover on their own.
I will provide you with a complete set of drawings. In so
doing, I can communicate to you exactly what you will be
getting with no unpleasant surprises further down the road.
You will also avoid the costly process of making changes
during the building process because all of the decisions
have already been discussed and finalized on paper.
You will be able to submit the drawings to multiple builders
for bidding, which leads to a lower cost of construction. In
many cases the design fees may be offset by this saving
alone.
No, provided you are located within 20 miles of zip code
27615
The following is a chronological outline of how I work:
The following is a chronological outline of how I work:
Every addition/renovation, and every new house, has its own
complexities and challenges, so there is no single answer
to your question. I have a fee schedule that covers different
scenarios and I will be pleased to review it with you.
The retainer goes toward the design portion of the work. All
other phases are billed on an hourly basis.
That depends on the complexity of the design. For an
addition the time frame could be from 4 weeks to 2 months.
For a new home it could range from 2 to 3 months or longer
for a larger home.
think and visualize in 3 dimensions, which means we can
achieve the most creative use of space. We can come up
with solutions to problems that most builders would not
discover on their own.
I will provide you with a complete set of drawings. In so
doing, I can communicate to you exactly what you will be
getting with no unpleasant surprises further down the road.
You will also avoid the costly process of making changes
during the building process because all of the decisions
have already been discussed and finalized on paper.
You will be able to submit the drawings to multiple builders
for bidding, which leads to a lower cost of construction. In
many cases the design fees may be offset by this saving
alone.
No, provided you are located within 20 miles of zip code
27615
The following is a chronological outline of how I work:
- Determine client requirements - Once I have been
selected to be the designer for your addition or
renovation I will meet with you at length to determine
your requirements. This includes not only the spatial
and functional aspects, but the aesthetic ones as
well. In other words, I need to understand not only
how it works and how it relates to your existing
home, but also what you would like it to look like.
This is probably the most important part of the
project because it establishes the program from
which all of the subsequent work will emanate. The
program may change during the design process, but
the basic scope and philosophy will be set. - Draw existing conditions - Unless the homeowner
already has a set of plans for the existing residence
(which is rare) the next step of the process is to
measure and photograph the property. This is done
so that I can produce drawings of the existing floor
plans and elevations (i.e., what it looks like from the
outside). These drawings are then used as the
basis from which to begin the design process. - Design floor plans - Working from the drawings
produced in Step 2 I begin to conceptualize the way
the addition/renovation will function in floor plan. In
some cases the result may be a single solution; in
other cases, there may be two possible solutions. At
this point I will return to meet with you to determine
which solution works best for you, or, if need be, find
another one which is even better. At any rate, it is not
until I have nailed down a floor plan that makes
sense to you that I proceed further. - Design elevations - Once a floor plan has been
finalized I continue on to determine how the building
will look from the outside (the elevations). Again, I
may arrive at a single design, or I may propose an
alternative for you to choose from. The important
point to make is that I will not be finished until you
are satisfied with the result. - Produce the construction documents - Once the
floor plans and elevations have been approved I go
on to produce the "working drawings", which are the
drawings that 1) you will use to solicit bids from
builders; 2) you will submit to your homeowner's
association for approval; 3) the builder that you have
chosen will submit to the local authorities to obtain
necessary permits; and 4) your builder will actually
build from. In addition to floor plans and elevations
these drawings will normally include foundation
plans, roof plans, details, specifications, interior
elevations, and building sections(s). The beauty of
this process is that you now have a set of drawings
that you can submit to a number of builders to bid on
and they will all know exactly what you want. This
eliminates the guess work, as well as expensive
change orders during construction. - Construction - This phase is handled by your
contractor. However, I am always available to
answer questions or concerns from you or your
builder at no charge. If so desired, I am available to
supervise the construction on an hourly basis.
The following is a chronological outline of how I work:
- Determine your requirements - Once you have
chosen me to be the designer for your new home I
will meet with you at length to determine your
requirements. Part of this process will be achieved
by completing a list of questions that I have
developed over the years to help me understand
what you like and dislike about your existing home,
and what you would like to have included in your new
home. This is the most important step in the
process because it results in the actual scope of the
project both functionally and aesthetically, and it
provides the springboard for all of my subsequent
work. Other topics we will discuss are sustainability
and energy efficiency, as well as interior air quality.
We will also discuss square footage and cost
constraints at this time. - Site visit - At least one visit will be made to the
property to determine building placement. Location
of the home will be determined by topography, solar
orientation, view, existing vegetation, privacy from
neighboring properties, and accessibility. It is vital to
maximize solar heating in the winter and,
particularly in this climate, to minimize solar heating
in the summer by proper placement of the structure
on the land. This will also impact the design phase
in terms of window placement and overhangs in the
quest for energy efficiency, as well as interior air
quality. - Preliminary design - Concepts for the design will be
developed and presented for your approval during
this phase. I will start with a floor plan intended to
meet your requirements. This may take several
meetings as, together, we tweak the plans to the
point that you feel they meet and hopefully exceed
your expectations. From here I move on to the
elevations, or what the house will look like on the
outside. I take my cues on the aesthetic aspects of
your home from your verbal explanations and any
pictures or magazine articles you have to share that
capture your imagination. This may range anywhere
from traditional to modern, or someplace in between
such as transitional. I don't impose any
preconceived ideas on you; rather, I take my
inspiration from you. - Construction drawings and specifications - Once
the preliminary design has become the Final Design
I begin work on the construction documents. These
are the drawings and specifications from which your
contractor will build your new home. But first you will
be able to furnish multiple builders with these
drawings to obtain bids on the work, making it a
more rational process to select a company to do the
work for you. They will also be the documents
submitted for subdivision approval and construction
permits. - Construction - This phase is normally taken over by
your builder. I am always available to answer
questions and concerns that you or your contractor
may have at no charge. Additionally, as an optional
service, I can act as your construction supervisor on
an hourly basis, making regularly scheduled site
visits to be sure that the construction is in accord
with the drawings.
Every addition/renovation, and every new house, has its own
complexities and challenges, so there is no single answer
to your question. I have a fee schedule that covers different
scenarios and I will be pleased to review it with you.
The retainer goes toward the design portion of the work. All
other phases are billed on an hourly basis.
That depends on the complexity of the design. For an
addition the time frame could be from 4 weeks to 2 months.
For a new home it could range from 2 to 3 months or longer
for a larger home.
GellerDesignServices 7501-201 Fairlawn Drive Raleigh, NC 27615 919418.1601 lgeller@nc.rr.com |