4 Factors to consider when hiring an architect

Whether you’re looking to start a new build, or you’re upgrading an existing property, you may be thinking about hiring an architect.

Building architects can save time, and money, and make the whole project run all that much smoother. But in order to choose the right architect for your job, there are some key factors to consider.

Here’s what you need to know before hiring an architect.

Budget

One of the most important aspects to consider is the budget available for the project. You need to be realistic about how much you can spend, and the earlier you plan, the better.

This is an area that the top architects can help with. Fully qualified architects in the UK, like MSA Architects, come with years of experience and can tell you how realistic your budget is based on your project idea.

Practicality

Another question to ask yourself is how practical your vision really is. It is worthwhile conducting a little research into how realistic your concept will be to create. Something that may appear straightforward might require a lot more planning permission and red tape than you first anticipated. A quick chat with a building architect can give you an idea about the practicality of your project and how feasible it is with the budget available.

A more complex project, like the old school house in Blairgowrie requires more time due to the Victorian build.

Time commitment

Rome wasn’t built in a day and your architectural project won’t be either. When you commit to building a new development, you need to invest more than just money; you need to invest your time – and oftentimes, a lot more of it than first anticipated.

An architect can offer guidance on how long a project should take to complete and look to streamline the process where possible to avoid time wasting.

The process of seeing your vision come to life is an extremely rewarding one and, if your time is limited, you should look to get an experienced architect who can guide you through the process.

Portfolio work

Once you’ve looked at your budget and the practicality of the plan, it’s time to look at hiring an architect who can bring your idea to life. One of the best things you can do is look at the building architect’s portfolio to get a real feel of their style and see the quality of their architectural work.

Once you have followed all these steps, you are then ready to hire an architect that can bring your vision into a reality.

McKenzie Strickland Associates are award-winning architects based in Perthshire with an extensive portfolio you can view here.

If you’re looking to make your vision a reality you can contact leading Scottish architects MSA Architects here for a free consultation.