Selecting the right design professional to plan, draw and build your new home is one of the most important steps to ensure that your dream home comes to fruition. As a future homeowner, several options are available when it comes to design professionals. In other words, there are more options than ever before, which means the selection process can become a time–consuming and sometimes daunting task.
You can hire one professional to design your home, and another to build it or a professional that can both design and build your home. However, you need professionals that understand your needs and can give you the best options for your home.
Whether hiring one person or separate firms to build and design your home, you will need professionals who understand the nature of your project and can best serve your individual needs.
Time wisely spent can eliminate years of heartache! Spending sufficient time during the hiring and planning phases will eliminate the problems you could encounter during the building and finish–out phase. Interview a variety of building industry professionals. The following are some questions to keep in mind during this process:
- Does the design professional understand your timing, budget and location?
- Have they offered to show you their portfolio of projects similar to yours?
- Do they have both professional and client references?
- What is your comfort level with the design professional?
Architects represent the most highly educated and trained category of designers with a college degree and state certification. Architects can help detail exactly what you want, draw up plans and list material specifications. An architect may also provide oversight for your project while it is in progress. In addition, they can be an excellent resource for other professionals, as they often have already worked with several designers and builders.
Designers are not licensed or regulated in most states, so it is important to verify their experience and professionalism. In addition to checking out a designer’s portfolio, look for design degrees from accredited universities and membership and/or certification from professional organizations, such as the American Institute of Building Design (AIBD), the National Council of Building Design Certification (NCBDC), the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), etc. These organizations help assure professional standards of education, field experience and adherence to a code of ethics.
Residential/Interior Designers specialize in designing residential interiors. Trained to use space most efficiently, residential designers tend to focus on floor plan design, detailed lifestyle evaluation and design functionality. It is not uncommon to consult witha residential/interior specialist to critique a floor plan, kitchen or master bathroom design. Their job is to devote special attention to specific areas of the home. Because many residential designers can also offer advice about the latest trends and products, their roles could overlap with interior designers.
Draftspersons primarily prepare technical drawings of designs created by others, although some can assist with design. Most drafters work in Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) programs. If you have a good idea of the floor plan you want, you can hire a draftsperson to draw the blueprints and have them checked by an engineer before speaking with a custom homebuilder to bid, apply for permits and build.
Custom Home Builders/Contractors often provide the end result of all your plans, designs and dreams. They will take your blueprints and designs, created with the help of building professionals, and build your home per specifications. If you have your builder/contractor chosen during your planning stages, it is always good to incorporate them into what you plan on building so their leads to less confusion on any difficult or technical specifications to your home.
Please keep in mind that custom–building professionals vary in price and availability. Therefore, only you will know which one of the above–mentioned best fits your needs at this present time. Remember, it is never too early to start reviewing and researching which custom home building professional is right for you. Please feel free to contact me regarding your custom home building needs and I can assist in guiding you in the direction that best suits your home building needs.
Lupe Nunez “Owner/Builder” L Nunez Signature Homes 4201 Medical Drive #150 San Antonio, Texas 78229 210–593–4201 Office 210–593–4230 Fax www.lnunezsighomes.com lupe@lnunezsighomes.com
