Steps To Take When Choosing The Right One

Firstly there is an association that reliable and trusting architects join, Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). RIBA has over 40,000 Registered architects in their records. They are there to set the standards for architects to follow and offer training services to their members. They work closely with the government to set regulations for public buildings and new homes.

Legally anyone who states they are an architect and involved in building or designing structures must be trained properly and registered with the Architects Registration Board Without this registration they are not allowed to call themselves architects.

When you know that an architect is required you should note the below:
• Ensure that you get an architect that specialises in the type of work you are looking to get completed.
• Decide if you want to go with a large company or a smaller local practice.
• Choose whether you want an architect that creates a modern design, or specialises in traditional structures.

When you plan your first meeting with your architect you need to ensure that you know what you want to achieve, and maybe write some points down, for example architects can just offer advice on your building, create the drawings for the building, submit plans to the local planning application office or manage every aspect of the project.

Upon your first meeting with your architect, they will want you to discuss the project, talk about the kind of building you are after and offer you lots of advice, both to conform to building regulations and things that just are not possible. Make sure that you discuss the fee (this can be a set project fee, an hourly rate or a percentage cost which relates to the cost of construction), How often you will be updated of the project status, how they are going to keep you informed of anything that may affect the quality or costs of the project, also it is important that you find out all the information they will need off you, for example the deeds of the land, the exact sizes of the land you own etc.

Once all is agreed and you are happy with this company, their team will create a contract in writing and send it on to you, ensure that at the very least the contract states the work you require them to complete, the fee for the work undertaken by them, whos responsible for what and whether there are any special terms for settling disputes.

If for any reason throughout your project you are not happy with the work undertaken by your architect you can complain to www.arb.org.uk and they will be able to help.

« Back