Why should you use an architect? How the right architect creates value way beyond their cost.
Outdoor Living, Brighton
Picture this….you’ve just been handed he keys to your dream home that has been 12 months in the making. You walk in and it feels amazing. It’s warm and inviting, light and spacious and natural light pours in through picture windows. The feeling is one of calm as you look out onto a tranquil garden and breathe - it just feels like you’ve come home.
In contrast your neighbours, who moved into their new home 6 months ago have complained that their house isn’t comfortable. It’s a bit cold in winter and in summer the sun shining on the west facing glass makes the living area unbearably hot. The rooms don’t really work or connect properly and there’s some awkward dead spaces that don’t really seem to have a purpose. In fact, they are very disappointed with the outcome and thinking of selling already but they spent so much money on it...
So how did you avoid making the same mistake as your neighbours and how did you end up with a dream home whilst they didn’t?
The Importance of Using a Residential Architect
Embarking on a renovation or new home build can be an exhilarating yet overwhelming experience. With a multitude of decisions to make and numerous experts to consult, it’s easy to feel lost. But when it comes to understanding the unknowns, who better to turn to than a trained residential architect who excels in bringing all the components together to deliver a well-designed, high-quality home?
When you’re making a significant investment in your ideal home and future lifestyle, why wouldn’t you use an architect? In this blog post, I’ll explain why an architect designed home can make all the difference, and how our architectural design process focusses on five critical components that can help you achieve your dream home with less stress, reduced risk, and zero regrets.
Bringing Your Vision to Life
Creating your dream home starts with a vision. It’s not just about listing rooms or features; it’s about envisioning how you want to experience your home – the light, the space, the flow, and the connection to the outdoors. It’s about comfort, functionality, and feeling relaxed and restored in your home.
A great design can literally change your life. So, why would you trust this critical aspect to someone without the expertise of a trained residential architect? Expertise that enables your wants and needs plus ideas you may not have thought of, to be combined with the pragmatism needed to turn your vision into reality. Without this expertise, you risk spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a dysfunctional design with spaces that don’t feel right or, worse, don’t work at all and are riddled with defects.
Understanding Opportunities and Constraints
Many people might not realize the significant number of rules and regulations governing what you can and can’t do with your land. For instance, you might want to build boundary to boundary or construct a three-story home to capture distant city views. However, in many places, like inner suburban Melbourne, local councils won’t permit this. There might also be easements or covenants that restrict what you can do.
While many can list out these regulatory controls, will your designer work within these constraints to ensure you still end up with a fantastic home design that meets your needs? An architect’s design will.
The Feasibility of Your Home Design
A beautiful design is only worthwhile if it’s practical to build. A residential architect considers the practicality of delivering the design from the outset and keeps feasibility in mind throughout the entire design and documentation phases. They will also bring together the expertise of other professionals that you might need to assist and ensure each of their inputs is integrated into the design.
Staying on Top of Your Budget
Closely related to feasibility is the budget. In today’s economic climate, with building costs at an all-time high, it’s easy to lose track of costs as you design your home. Instead of stripping out all the special touches and ending up with a bland, characterless build, an architect will work with you to establish your ‘must-haves,’ understand your priorities, and align your vision with your budget.
Quality Control
Finally, quality control is essential. Every item used in your home, inside and out, should be chosen and specified with your end goals in mind. An architect provides detailed specifications and quality control to ensure what’s been designed gets built. Without this expertise, how can you be sure the builder is doing it right?
Conclusion
So, if you’ve heard that architects are expensive and only for luxury, high-end homes, think again. Investing in an architect upfront can give you the lifestyle you deserve and a home you can be proud of, regardless of your budget. Why wouldn’t you use an architect?
If you’re ready to start your journey towards a dream home, contact us today and see how we can bring your vision to life. Let’s talk about creating a space that truly reflects who you are and how you want to live. Contact JDA Lammin Architects today to discuss your architectural needs and discover how they can help bring your vision to life.
