Not everybody is content to buy a "used" home. They do not want to have to redo cabinets that the former owner adored, nor do they want to have to undergo the sickening task of ripping up yards of freshly laid carpet because they would prefer hardwood floors.
Hiring an architect will allow you to have the home of your dreams, not because you spent months looking for it, but because you gave your dreams a voice and had it created from the ground up.
There are two options when choosing to go with an architect for your home: a total build or a completion. In the total build you take the blank canvas that is your building lot and go from there, literally from the ground up. In a completion, you start with the partially constructed home and design the finishing touches that will make it into your dream come true.
What can you really do with a home that is partially constructed?
- You pick the type of walls that are put into the home- stucco, drywall, fiberboard, etc.
- You pick the flooring- carpet, tile, hardwoods, eco-materials.
- You choose the cabinets, the sink designs, the faucet types and the lighting.
- Color choices are up to you as well.
In a partial constructed home, the framing and outer walls are in place- it is merely a skeleton of a house at this point. It will be up to you and the architect to come up with the plans that will give the building an actual personality and life, to turn it into a home.
What are the advantages of hiring an architect?
- Besides the control of the aesthetic features of the home, you can include eco-conscious features that will save energy and earn tax credits for your home.
- You will not have to pay money pulling out items that were just installed because they are not right for your tastes.
- You get exactly what you want without having to worry about remodeling projects as soon as you move in.
What could the drawbacks be?
- Potentially lengthy time to get on the architect's schedule if he is very busy.
- Custom homes are more expensive than the typical fixer upper.
- Delays in building materials or specially ordered items may keep you out of your home for longer than you have anticipated.