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WORKING
WITH YOUR ARCHITECT
Every
year, thousands of Australians build new homes, or renovate and
extend their existing homes.Unfortunately, many are unhappy with
the finished result
Some owners find their home looks different to the way they
pictured it, is poorly planned, hard to heat or keep cool, or
has cost far more than they thought. This is where an Architect
could have helped.
What Can An Architect Do For Me?
If you are contemplating building a new
house, or remodelling and extending an old one, an Architect can
be of considerable help.
People often feel that Architects are expensive
without really knowing what they do.
This page takes ten minutes to read and aims
to tell you something of what an Architect can do for you.
The title 'Architect' is a legal one, indicating
that a person has demonstrated his or her professional competence
by examination and is registered, or licensed by the State to
practice architecture.
Architects work in four broad stages:
As described in
this pamphlet, attention to detail is the Architect's benchmark.
No other alternative provides this thorough approach, which helps
to minimise worry, and ensure that your building project will
turn out just the way you pictured it.
Comments From People Who Have Used
Architects
"Before we began,
we saw so many other renovations that could have benefited from
professional design advice."
"Renovating
is a process fraught with anxiety. Our Architect saved us a lot
of nervous energy we would have otherwise needed for the project."
"The Architect knows the acceptable standard
the builder should work to - and I don't. If the builder tells
me that the job he has done is to an 'industry acceptable standard'
I can't argue the point."
"At one stage the builder spent a good deal
of time telling me a certain thing couldn't be done, and that
he would have to change it. When the Architect arrived, he showed
how it could be done, and there were no further worries."
"An important role of the Architect is to
help advise what not to do."
"Our Architect interpreted and embellished
our ideas, and found special building materials for us that we
didn't know existed."
"He is the middle man in case of disputes.
Because I did not have to argue with the builder about variations,
I remained on good terms with him throughout the job - and co-operation
was essential, because he was working where we were living!"
What Do Architects Charge?
Your Architect will individually negotiate
with you, to set a fee for the level of service you require. It
is important that this happens as early as possible, to make sure
that everybody is clear about your needs.
The basis of the fee can vary, depending on the
type and complexity of the project. It may be worked out as a
percentage of the building cost, on an hourly basis, or simply
as an agreed fixed sum. Fees for domestic work may range from
7% and 18% for full services but may be considerably less for
partial services.This flexibility enables you and your Architect
to settle on a fee that fits your individual circumstances
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