FAQs
- What types of customers have you worked with?
Though the bulk of my billings are derived from drafting services for licensed professionals such as architects and engineers, a great deal of my time is spent one-on-one with residential clients; homeowners. Primarily my clients are couples who understand the value of a well-designed, beautiful, and efficient home, and are ready to engage an experienced professional. I spend a lot of time getting to know my clients, their tastes, interests, and values, and use that information to guide every aspect of the design. After one or two initial concepts, we move onto preparing the construction drawings for permitting and bidding.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
I find most homeowners are conflicted as to whether or not they need a designer versus an architect. Designers often have some level of college education, typically 2-4 years, and experience in building design and construction, though the best are those who have spent time actually wearing a tool belt. Architects in the US typically have no less than 9 years college education/work experience before being eligible for the 7-section professional registration exam. Only after meeting those qualifications and passing the exams can a person even legally refer to themselves as "architect". Not surprisingly, architects typically command a much higher fee for their services and accordingly bear the burden of substantially higher liability than other, non-licensed design professionals. So a potential client should ask themselves: "what level of services do I need?" And the answer to that will likely be driven by the nature and complexity of your project. If you are building a shed, an addition or renovation of your existing home, or an entirely new home, most likely a qualified designer can fulfill your needs and satisfy your budget. You may consider the expanded services of a licensed architect whenever special circumstances exist such as unstable ground, new or untested materials and building methods, or other issues which may compound the complexity of a project. Additionally, the law imposes limitations on the size and type of building designers can undertake. In the State of Washington, for example, non-licensed professionals can design any sized home or apartment building, provided there are no more than four attached dwelling units. Other states have similar limitations and, of course, local jurisdictions (i.e. county, city) can impose additional restrictions as regional site and climate factors dictate that necessity.