How to hire the best architect near you

An architect is a professional that designs plans for a building right through to supervising the building process. Architects are university-qualified, having completed a Bachelor of Architecture degree that typically runs for five years. As well as this degree, the architect should have developed people skills as they work closely with clients. They also work closely with, and coordinate, other professionals associated with the building project.

Architects must be registered with the appropriate state or national body in order to use the term "architect". This is proof of their experience and qualifications.

Why might you need to hire an architect?

While each architect and job is different, there is a general list of jobs that an architect will typically do in their working day. Architects, particularly architectural project managers, are responsible for the following:

• Preparing a design brief according to the client’s requirements
• Preparing plans, either by hand or using computer-aided design programs
• Coordinating other professionals involved in the project
• Drawing up budgets, contracts and assisting with tenders (see architect tender services)
• Gaining approval from the necessary authorities
• Observing and monitoring building works
• Inspecting work being completed
• Evaluating projects once completed

The architect is also responsible for making sure that the building or project is structurally sound, and this requires an understanding of engineering or bringing in a structural engineer if necessary. You will also want to research whether you choose an architect or building designer for your project.

Also, once the project has been completed, there is usually a warranty period, and the architect is the professional that liaises with the client and the builder to ensure that the work has been completed fully, satisfactorily and safely.

How much does an architect cost?

The cost to hire an architect depends greatly on the job type and size. Architects will generally work their fee out based on a percentage of the total building cost, which may also vary with the complexity of your project based on a scale of charges recommended by the Australian Institute of Architects. While architects are not legally locked into this scale, it represents a close indication of how much certain architectural jobs will cost.

Architects who design your home and then are involved through the entire project may well charge in excess of $10 000, depending on the scale and length of the job. The architecture for a project home vs architectural design will also differ greatly between tradies and jobs.

The overall cost is broken down into percentages for each individual component; a costing could be expressed as follows: 15% for schematic design, 15% for developed sketch plans used for planning permits, 40% for construction documentation and specification (for obtaining building permits), 2.5% for negotiating pricing of the works, 27.5% for guidance during construction etc.

Ensure that you are really clear about what is exactly involved in any project so that architects can quote accordingly and all additional charges are included in a final figure.

Questions to ask when hiring an architect

There are a few questions you should be asking an architect before you hire them, including:

• Are you licensed, registered and insured?
• Can you provide a written quote?
• What other work do you have at the moment?
• Can I see previous examples of your work?
• Who is supervising the work?
• What deposit do you require?
• When do you need progress payments?
• How long will the job take?
• When can you start?
• Who is cleaning the site once the work has been completed?

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