Architects and Designers

Architects and designers are just a few of the underrated homeowner resources for new housing starts, home additions, and major remodeling projects. A floor plan for your new home combines your vision with the deviled details, right down to the last inch of construction. Whether you need to design a home for a sloped building lot or whether you need to troubleshoot the door swing for a small bathroom addition, architects and designers are often the key problem-solvers for your huge residential investment. And with new software programs, it's never been easier to see various choices fleshed out in a wide angle lens. This is equally important whether you're choosing the dimensions of your modified family room or the tile in your bathtub surround. Yet, first and foremost, these professionals of the residential construction industry are poised to turn your dream home into a design reality.

The Role of Architects
An architect will have several roles to play during your residential construction project. Obviously, the first one is to discuss the project with you and create design plans for the construction work. Yet, most architects will also supervise and monitor the work as it's completed. After all, the best designs don't do any good if the work isn't done according to the design's specifications. In this way, hiring an architect is somewhat analogous to creating another layer of quality control, which should ensure consistent construction work and meeting the project's deadlines.

Finding and Hiring an Architect
It's not always easy to find an architect for your residential construction. Cracking the phonebook is unlikely to clearly the point the way to the best option. You may end up spending your time contacting primarily commercial architects, who will fit neither your budget nor your design needs. Connecting you with prescreened architects who have experience and a desire to work in the residential sector is one of the greatest resources HomeAdvisor has to offer homeowners.

There are many ways to configure the cost of these professionals. Many architects offer per-hour rates designed for homeowners who simply need consultation services for their upcoming home building or remodeling project. For more comprehensive services, expect to be charged on the square feet or as a percentage of total project costs. Taken together, the average cost of hiring an architect is $3,750, according to data collected from homeowners across the country who actually completed a project with a residential architect.

The Role of Designers
Designers are invaluable resources for your home additions and remodeling projects. Their connections allow you to secure various discounts from manufacturers and to ensure the right materials are at your home in a timely fashion that will avoid any unnecessary delays. Rather than painstakingly wade through product reviews and warranty policies, you can simply consult with your professional designer and get quickly and confidently get the answers you need.

Finding and Hiring a Designer
It may not be as difficult to find a designer for your project in the residential sector, but our website also offers you free access to quality-controlled customer ratings and reviews. Not only will you be able to see what other homeowners had to say about individual designers, but these reviews create a powerful incentive for designers to meet and exceed your expectations.

Each type of designer has its own cost average, although any number of variables could influence the fees associated with your particular project. Again, it's important to consider not just how much money a designer costs, but also how much money your project stands to save. The following data was compiled from homeowners across the country who actually used design services:

Kitchen Designer: $8,000
Residential Designer: $6,000
Landscape Designer: $5,300
Building Designer: $4,500
Bathroom Designer: $3,150