How to Build Your Dream Home

How Do I Build My Dream Home?

A guide to designing and building your custom home.

Blog / How To Build Your Dream Home

Almost everyone I know has imagined what their dream home would be like at least once in their lifetime.  Some people imagine their custom home in great detail, others imagine the feelings they’ll get when living in their own custom home, and some people’s dream home changes with the seasons.  Most children’s dream homes include a slide in lieu of a staircase.  Most men’s dream homes boast a man-cave with a fully stocked bar to satisfy any and every taste.  Most women’s dream homes center around a kitchen that is perfect for hosting family and friends.  While the nature and specifics of each person’s dream home vary, the one thing that is common to most individuals is that their dream home never becomes a reality.  This is in large part because most people don’t know where to start.  With that in mind, we’ve crafted this blog as a guide to help more people turn their dreams into reality.  How do you start building the custom home of your dreams?  Read on to find out.

Step One: Assemble Your Team

Yes, we all love the movie The Notebook.  And yes, we all love Ryan Gosling.  But in the Greater Houston Area, in the year 2023, building a custom home by hand as he did in that movie, one stroke of the saw at a time, is a work of fiction.  Has it been done before?  Sure.  Throughout history and throughout the world most of the homes built were constructed by the people who would ultimately occupy them.  To this day in many parts of the world people are still building their own homes by hand.  The current and local practice of hiring a team of professionals to build a home is relatively new and has been driven by many historical events.  But history is not my passion, so I’m trying not to digress too far here.  The point is, if you want to build a custom home it’s highly unlikely you’ll do it alone.  You need a team of people.  That’s where we come in.

Hiring the Right Architect

The architect is the client’s project manager, designer, and therapist throughout the custom home design and construction process.  We are here to help you find and manage all the people needed to make your dream home come to life.  To learn more about the value an architect brings to a project, see our post entitled Do I Need an Architect?

Hiring the Right Builder at the Right Time

For whatever reason, in the Greater Houston Area, most people think the builder is the first person they should talk to about building a custom home.  There’s nothing wrong with approaching a builder first, but the builder can’t build your custom home until he has a set of plans to build from, and with a few exceptions, most builders don’t have in-house architects who can design those plans, so what often happens when a homeowner approaches a builder first is that the builder will either introduce the homeowner to an architect, or tell the homeowner to find an architect and then contact them once the plans are ready.  Whether you start with the architect first or the builder first, the important thing is to assemble your whole team early.

Find a KNowledgeable Realtor

Unless you already own the land you plan to build on, a realtor will be important to engage with early.  There are many online platforms that allow you to browse real estate listings without the help of a realtor, but when it comes to getting the inside scoop, a realtor is a valuable asset.  Realtors also often have access to off-market and pocket listings, which will never show up on a Zillow or Redfin search, and which can often be better deals than the more easily available options.

Engage the Right Engineers

In addition to the architect, you’ll need a few different types of engineers to have a full set of construction documents to build from.  These include a structural engineer, geotechnical engineer, and sometimes a civil engineer. 

Structural Engineers

The structural engineer will work from the architect’s design to create a supplemental set of framing and foundation plans and details, which will show the contractor, quite literally, the nuts and bolts of the home.

Geotechnical Engineers

A geotechnical engineer will perform what is called a soils boring, which is a process of drilling down into the earth on your property and extracting a sample of the soil.  They then take these samples back to their laboratory and perform a series of tests on the soil to determine things like elasticity, potential vertical movement, and water table depths.  The geotechnical engineer’s findings are summed up in what is called the “soils report”, which is given to the architect, structural engineer, and contractor.  The soils report includes vital information pertaining to the type of foundation suitable for the specific site, the site preparation required prior to forming and pouring the slab, and any additional information the engineer finds necessary for the proper construction of a home on the in-situ soils.

Civil Engineers

In some cases, a civil engineer may be necessary for a custom home.  In general, a civil engineer’s role in a custom home is related to the design of any site-related paving and utilities.  Most custom home projects are not complex enough to require civil engineering, but when things like on-site water detention are required, then a civil engineer would be needed to calculate the size and details of the stormwater detention solution.  This may involve an actual pond on site to collect the rainwater runoff before slowly releasing it into the public storm sewer system, or it could be a system of underground pipes which collect and detain the rainwater.

Find an Interior Designer to Complement the Architect

There is much confusion regarding the roles of architects, interior designers, and interior decorators.  A common misconception is that an architect is not a designer.  The way I like to explain it is like this: all architects are designers, but not all designers are architects.  An interior designer focuses on things like interior finishes, furnishings, and even spatial planning in some cases.  Where interior designers become really valuable in a custom home project is when it comes time to select counter top materials, plumbing fixtures, paint colors, accent wall materials, and the like.  While an architect is trained in and capable of doing these things, it is often the case that the architect’s focus is on the overall design and project management aspects of a custom home, and doesn’t have the capacity to focus on the finer details.  Architects and interior designers complement each other well, and make great teams on custom home projects.  An interior decorator, in contrast to an interior designer, is focused primarily on things like furniture and décor.  Think of throw pillows, window treatments, and perfectly positioned pieces of art.  These are the types of things an interior decorator will help with.

What Specialists Do You need?

In addition to the key players listed above, there are several other “specialists” who are often engaged in custom home projects early on.  One type of specialist is a building performance specialist, who would do a holistic review of the homeowners’ energy performance desires, and prescribe specific equipment, construction materials, and methods to achieve the homeowner’s performance goals.  Another type of specialist that may be involved would be a home automation specialist, who would design a smart-home system that is integrated into the “bones” of the home.

Step Two: Cover the Basics

Before the pencil hits the paper, or the mouse hits the mouse-pad, we need to gather the right information to ensure we are designing your dream home, and not somebody else’s dream home. The thing that makes a “custom home” truly custom is that it is tailored to fit your specific needs and wants. We can’t design a custom home that fulfills your vision if we don’t know things like your budget, your timeline, where you want to live, and what features your dream home will have in it.

What’s Your Budget?

Most of us have champagne taste on a beer budget.  Or at least that’s the joke I hear most often when discussing budgets with our clients.  Whether that joke applies to you or not, it’s important for your team to understand your budget from the very beginning, because the budget will inform many of the decisions that we make. 

What Is Your Timeline?

A typical custom home takes about 24-36 months from the start of the design stage to the day you move in.  Many people are surprised by how long it takes.  It’s best to know your timeline from the very beginning, because if you need to move into your new home in 6 months, a custom home might not be the best option.  On the other hand, if you must move into your new home in 12 months, there are ways to fast-track a custom home project.  However, fast-tracking a home requires sacrificing in other areas.  The quality of the design may not end up being what you hoped for, the craftsmanship may be less-than-stellar, and the cost may be higher.  Knowing what is important to you up front helps us guide you in the right direction.

 

Where Do You Want to Live?

Finding the right piece of property for your home is important.  Families with school-age children are often making real estate decisions based on school district zoning, but there is much more to consider when building a custom home.  First off, you’ll want to be sure the neighborhood you’re buying land in will allow the type of custom home you’re dreaming of.  Most subdivisions have a set of deed restrictions that define the acceptable architectural styles, and it would be wise to know that information prior to signing the contract for the land.  A good realtor can help with this process, and at Moment Architects we know several well-respected realtors in the Greater-Houston area that we can refer you to.

What Will Your Dream Home Be Like?

In the architecture industry we call this “Programming”.  We want to know how many bedrooms and bathrooms you want in your custom home.  Will it be a one-story or a two-story home?  Is the kitchen the focal point and main gathering space in the home, or does your family typically get together around the pool, in the game room, or somewhere else?  Do you prefer an open concept living area, or do you like the benefits of having clearly defined spaces?  Roughly how many square feet do you hope your custom home will be?  These are just a sampling of the many questions we ask during the Programming stage, and your answers are what help us move your dream home from your head to our computers.

Step Three: Acquire the Land

Some people approach us after they’ve already purchased their land, and there is nothing wrong with that.  However, if you haven’t purchased your land yet, don’t feel like you must buy the land before talking to an architect.  We can assist you in your land-buying process on an hourly basis, review different properties with you, provide conceptual site plans to see if your dream home will fit, and research things like deed restrictions and flood plain issues to help you purchase with confidence.

Step Four: Design and Engineering

So you have your team, you have your land, and you have your vision.  What now?  Now the fun begins.  The architect and engineers are ready to start their work, and the architect is usually the first to move.  

The Schematic Design phase

This is where the architect works to develop what we call the “schematic design”, which is a fancy way of saying a preliminary set of floor plans and elevations that communicate the basic spatial layout and exterior design of the custom home.  The schematic design phase usually includes a lot of meetings between the architect and the homeowners, multiple revisions, and a general discovery of what the home will be like, which neither the architect nor the homeowner could have fully envisioned before the schematic design phase began.

The Design Development phase

Once the schematic design phase is complete, we move into the “design development” phase.  This phase starts typically when the homeowners have given their approval of the basic design of the home, and the architects then begin the process of further defining the systems and structures that make that home come to life.  It is during the design development phase that engineers and other specialists often get started.

The Construction Documents Phase

The “construction documents” are the final set of plans issued by the architect and engineers, which describe in great detail exactly how the house should be constructed.  The construction documents are often referred to as the “blueprints”, although this is a name that does not properly apply anymore.  Blueprints were called blueprints in the past because of the process by which they were “printed”, which made them be blue in color.  Construction documents are no longer created using the same technique, and therefore are no longer blue, so the term “blueprints” is no longer accurate.

The Permitting phase

Depending on where your property is located, a building permit may be required prior to the start of construction.  An architect will often guide the homeowner through the permitting process, by filling out the necessary paperwork, compiling the full set of construction documents, and issuing all the required documents to the governing authority.  This process can be quick in more rural areas, but in urban areas it is often a lengthy process.  The City of Houston permitting process, for instance, can easily take three to six months from the first date of submittal to the day when a building permit is finally issued.

Step Five: Construction

Once the construction documents are complete and the building permit, if required, has been issued, the actual construction can finally begin.  Hopefully the general contractor has been involved through all the stages of the design and engineering process, so they are well-versed in all the decisions that were made along the way, because this eliminates most of the confusion and mistakes that can take place during construction. 

How Long Does it Take To Build A Custom Home?

The length of time required to build a custom home depends on a few things.  The size of the home, the home’s location, the budget, the weather, and the materials being used will all impact the schedule.  In general, though, construction of a custom home will take a minimum of six months to complete if the home is relatively simple, being built outside of the city limits and therefore not requiring many city inspections, the weather conditions are optimal, and the materials being used are readily available.  However, most custom homeowners should expect the construction process to take more than six months, and a range of twelve to twenty-four months is more realistic in most cases.

The Punch List Phase

At the end of the construction process, an architect will typically perform what is called the “punch list” inspection.  During this inspection the architect goes through the home and does a complete inspection of all the final elements and makes note of any items that are either incomplete, in need of repair, or that do not meet the original specifications.  The contractor then works from the punch list to make the necessary repairs and/or completions, so that the homeowners receive their home in exactly the way it was intended to be.

Congratulations On completing your dream home!

As you can see from the steps involved in the custom home process, there is a great deal of work that goes into it.  Therefore, when the home is finally move-in ready, a celebration is appropriate.  The whole process, from start to finish, can easily take up to three years to complete, if not more, but it is totally worth the time and effort required.  There is nothing quite like living in your dream home, and at Moment Architects, we hope we can assist you in making your dream home become your next home.

How To Hire The Right Architect

How to Hire the Right Architect

A Guide to Finding the Best Architect for Your Home

Blog / How to Hire the Right Architect

The decisions to be made when building a custom home are never in short supply, and as it goes when planning anything, starting in the right place gives you a better chance of ending in the right place.  The best place to start when planning your new custom home is to select the right architect for the job.  A good architect can then assist you in all the other decisions that need to be made, from selecting a suitable piece of land, to meeting quality home builders and engineers, an experienced architect can help you every step of the way.  But how do you find the right architect for your home?  Here are a few things to keep in mind when conducting your search.

Design Approach

Every architect’s approach to the design process is a little different, and while there’s no right or wrong way to do it, some homeowners will mesh very well with one approach and clash terribly with another, or vice versa.  Here are a few different approaches to keep in mind when interviewing architects.

The “Architects Know Best” Approach

Some architects like to impose their personal “expertise” on their homeowners, feeling as if they know their clients better than their clients know themselves.  This approach is perfect for the homeowner who has no real sense of what they’re looking for, and simply wants an architect to tell them what kind of home they’ll be happy living in.  

The “Homeowner Knows Best” Approach

The opposite to the “architect knows best” approach is the “homeowner knows best” approach.  The architects who apply this mentality to the design process are typically high-volume operations that are not opposed to using plans a homeowner has purchased online, reviewing and stamping them for local permitting purposes, and moving on.  This approach works for those homeowners who already know what they’re looking for and don’t desire any input from an architect.  To call these projects “custom homes” is a bit of a stretch, but if a homeowner is getting exactly what they want, then who are we to argue with the process?

The “Synergy” Approach

Synergy was all the rage in the 90’s, right?  The idea that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” has been applied to every field imaginable, and for good reason, it’s an idea founded on solid principles.  Architects who take a synergistic approach to their projects are going to listen intently to their clients’ needs and wants, combine those needs and wants with their own industry experience, and produce a final product that neither the architect nor the homeowner could have come up with on their own.  It’s a beautiful thing when done right, and this is the approach we take at Moment Architects.  This approach is right for those homeowners who have spent months, years, maybe even a lifetime thinking of what their dream home would be like, and now they’re finally ready to share those ideas with an architect who can turn their vision into reality.

Communicative Style

Building a custom home is a team effort, and therefore open communication between the architect and the homeowner is vital to the project’s success.  When interviewing architects, it’s important to pay attention to their communicative style.  Is the architect doing all the talking the first time you meet?  If so, it’s likely he or she will do all the talking in future meetings as well, making it hard for the homeowners to share their own thoughts and ideas.  On the other hand, is the architect doing any talking at all?  An architect who hesitates to speak up could be a red flag for a few reasons.  Perhaps he doesn’t want to reveal his ignorance, or she is too timid to speak her mind, or he’s too distracted to listen and respond accordingly.  Whatever the case may be, an architect serves as their clients’ main advocate throughout the design and construction process, is the homeowners’ primary source of information, and is responsible for understanding and interpolating all the homeowners’ wants and needs to the necessary parties, so you will need an architect who is informed, engaged, and ready to stand up for their clients’ best interests.

At Moment Architects, we make every effort to listen when it’s time to listen and speak when it’s time to speak.  We don’t claim to have all the answers, but fortunately, it’s not the architect’s job to have all the answers.  Our job is to find the answers, and often that means reaching out to a contractor, engineer, or consultant for guidance.  Custom homes are complex undertakings, and clear communication between all parties involved is essential to their success.

Teamwork

Because a custom home involves so many different parties, we feel it is important to have the key players involved as early as possible.  A builder, architect, structural engineer, and interior designer are the most common stake                holders in a custom home, and each plays a different role.  A homeowner should look for an architect who is willing not only to assist in assembling this team, but also in leading the team with an unselfish, humble, cooperative attitude.

Budget Management

One of the benefits of assembling a complete project team early is that the budget management becomes far more accurate.  A good architect can typically provide accurate ballpark figures when discussing overall construction costs, but when the builder, interior designer, and engineers are involved, the cost estimates throughout the design process are much more accurate, meaning we can help you hit a target cost with greater certainty.  The architect’s job in the process is typically not to generate the cost estimate, but to coordinate that effort, and ensure that everyone involved has all the necessary information to perform their role well. Ask the architects you’re interviewing whether they provide guidance on construction costs and estimates as part of their service. Some do, and some don’t, but ultimately the projects that turn out the best are the ones where the homeowners’ budget is factored into the decision-making process as early as possible.

Architectural Styles

An important part of selecting the right architect is finding an architect who is willing and able to design to your preferred architectural style.  There are countless architectural styles to choose from, and finding a style you like is usually a good early step in the overall design process.  Putting together a Pinterest board of favorite images or compiling a folder of inspiration images in a sharable drive is extremely helpful during the design process, and this information should be shared with any architects you are considering hiring before you sign a contract with them, just to make sure they’re comfortable designing a home in the style that you like.  Some architects build reputations designing a specific style of home, and if their “niche” is contemporary they may not be interested in designing a modern farmhouse or a craftsman bungalow.  Our team at Moment Architects has experience designing homes in almost every style imaginable, and we firmly believe the right style for your home is the style you like best.

Reputation

The design and construction of a custom home is a lengthy process, which means a homeowner will spend a considerable amount of time with their architect before the project is complete.  Therefore, it’s important to get to know the person you’ll be working with and see what past clients have to say about their experience.  Google Reviews are a good place to start, but it’s also smart to ask architects for references.  Consider asking the architects questions, like “how much of your business is repeat clients?”, or “how many of your clients come through referrals?”.  Repeat clients and referrals from past clients are typically the best indicators of a job well done.

Fees

Fees for architectural design services vary greatly depending on the unique circumstances of each project, so it’s important to ensure you’re comparing apples to apples when interviewing different architects.  Consider asking for a list of the services provided.  For instance, some architects may include 3D renderings and interior design services as a standard part of every project, while another may exclude those services unless they’re specifically requested.  Similarly, some architects coordinate building permits, assist their clients in hiring a qualified builder, and stay engaged throughout construction, while others may provide a basic set of architectural drawings and consider their work complete.  When it comes to architects’ fees, you typically get what you pay for.   At Moment Architects, we tailor our fees to each project, and the services we offer are similarly tailored to meet the needs of each client.  Feel free to check out our blog post How Much Does It Cost To Hire An Architect to learn more about the subject.  Also, click the button below if you’re interested in finding out roughly how much Moment Architects’ fees would be for your residential project.

Availability

Finally, when interviewing architects, it is wise to ask about each firm’s typical timeline and backlog.  Architecture is an industry the ebbs and flows, meaning an office may have a few slow months with only a handful of projects in the works, followed by a period when new work is piling up faster than it can be produced.  As a result, one architect may be able to jump onto your project right away, while another may not be able to start on it for another month or two.

In Conclusion

The architect you hire will have a significant impact on the outcome of your future home.  Consider interviewing multiple architects, ask pointed questions, and take notes.  At the end of the day your decision may come down to any number of factors, from the architects’ fees, design style, reputation, or perhaps just a good vibe.  Feel free to reach out to us if you have any additional questions, we would love the opportunity to assist you in your search.  

Do I Need an Architect? A Guide to Navigating the Decision

Do I Need an Architect?

A Guide to Navigating the Decision

Blog / Do I Need An Architect?

When preparing to design or renovate your home, you may find yourself pondering an important question: Do I need an architect? We understand that hiring an architect is a significant investment, and therefore we believe it’s important for anyone considering a construction project to understand when an architect is required, the value an architect adds to projects even when our services are not mandatory, as well as the times when an architect would of little or no assistance. In this blog post, we will elaborate on the role an architect plays in the design and construction process, as well as provide some guidance on when an architect is and is not required by law, so that hopefully you can make an informed decision regarding your own personal projects.

Understanding the Role of an Architect

If you’re like most people, when you hear the word “architect” you think of someone sitting at a drafting table hand-drawing a pretty picture of a skyscraper. While there might be an architect somewhere in the world doing exactly that, most architects, including us at Moment Architects, operate on a more down-to-earth level. Moment Architects is a full-service firm specializing in residential architecture, which means we design custom homes for homeowners and builders, production homes and multifamily apartment complexes for developers, and additions and remodels of existing homes.

In addition to not designing skyscrapers, we also don’t draw our construction documents by hand anymore. Almost everything is done on the computer these days, and while I spend a lot of time at home drawing pictures of unicorns, dinosaurs, and chickens with my kids, (I don’t know why they ask me to draw so many chickens…) the only time I pick up a pen and paper at work is to sketch quick ideas with my team, which we then quickly translate into computer drawings.

Architects Do More Than Draw Pretty Pictures

An architect is a licensed professional trained in the art and science of designing and constructing buildings. The licensing process to become an architect involves at least three years of experience working under the direct supervision of a licensed architect, as well as a series of six grueling licensing exams that often take aspiring architects several years to complete. The reason for this intense path towards licensing is because an architect is responsible for the life-safety of every individual who will ever enter any building he or she designs. This is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly, and a good portion of the licensing process is dedicated to training architects on how to understand the manifold life-safety matters present in every project.

Beyond that, even, a skilled architect serves as a project manager for their client through the entire design and construction process, contracting with and managing a variety of engineers, consultants, and contractors to ensure the client’s project is delivered within the originally established time and budget. Like life-safety issues, project management is a big focus in the training and testing required to become a licensed architect.

Yeah, but, Do I Really NEED An Architect?

There are certain instances where an architect is required by law, other instances where an architect is not required by law but still highly valuable, and other instances where an architect is not required and wouldn’t add any value to the project. In this section, we’ll review a few common examples of each situation.

When is an Architect Required by Law?

To list all the circumstances when an architect’s services are required to be engaged for a construction process would be a task as tedious to write as it would be to read. Luckily, the State of Texas and the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners have collaborated to come up with an easy-to-follow flow chart that can answer most of the questions you may have. Follow the link below to view the flow chart in all its flowing glory.

When Is An Architect Required - Flow Chart

However, keep in mind that the flow chart is only specifying what is required by the State of Texas, but each municipality within the State of Texas can set their own requirements that supersede the requirements established by the state, and many cities and counties require architects even when they’re not required by the state. So, in general it’s best to call whatever city or county your property is located in to find out whether they will require an architect’s involvement.

When is an Architect Not Required, But Good To Have Anyways?

If you looked at the flow chart in the link above, you’ll see there are many instances where an architect’s services are not required in the State of Texas, such as for the construction of a private single-family dwelling. However, at Moment Architects we are experts in single-family dwellings, and are hired to design many single-family dwellings every year. Is that because our clients don’t know any better? We think not. In fact, since most of our clients are either builders or developers working in the industry, they are usually well-versed in the state’s requirements, and elect to hire an architect not because it is required, but because they understand the value an architect adds to a project.

What Value Does an Architect Add to a Project?

Even when not required, an architect can be an invaluable asset on many project types. The benefits of having an architect involved come from an architect’s deep understanding of building construction techniques, building code requirements, and the permit approval process.

Additionally, architects are trained problem solvers in the realms of spatial flow, energy efficiency, sustainability, and aesthetics. We revel in the puzzle-like nature of every project, in which we’re given bits and pieces of information, wants, needs, restrictions, and so on, and asked to put all the pieces together in a visually stunning structure that is safe, sustainable, cost effective, and constructable.

One of the most common misconceptions about architects is that we are expensive and time-consuming. While it is true that there are additional costs associated with hiring an architect, our expertise can save you money in the long run. The old adage “measure twice, cut once” can be applied here, in that architects seek to answer every question and resolve every detail before anyone picks up a shovel or hammer. You might be surprised at the number of people who contact us after they have started a project without an architect, only to find out during the construction process that they really should have hired an architect to begin with. We are happy to help in those instances, but the sad reality is that once a project has progressed to a certain point, there’s only so much an architect can do to help. Our knowledge and expertise is best utilized when applied from the earliest stages of a project through completion.

Is it Always a Good Idea to Hire an Architect?

With what was said in the paragraphs above, one might be led to assume that architects believe we are necessary always and everywhere. This is not the case. There are numerous times when we get calls from a potential client asking for our services on something, and we respond by saying that an architect is not needed, and we proceed to refer them to the professional who can better serve their needs. I will give a couple examples.

One day we got a call from a woman who owns a business that leases tractor equipment, and she had an existing office building that needed a new driveway to access one side of the building. A friend of hers had told her she needed an architect to help her get the design and permit process completed before she could start construction. After asking several questions, we confirmed that there were no alterations or additions to the existing building being proposed, there were no new structures being proposed, and the scope of work truly consisted in a driveway. As architects, we are certainly capable of drawing a site plan that shows the existing conditions and the newly proposed driveway. However, our expertise on creating construction documents for paving, utilities, and site work stops there. A civil engineer is usually involved in projects involving commercial site work, and their construction documents would provide the details needed for permitting and construction, not ours. Since we work closely with several reputable civil engineers, we were happy to refer her to a few that we know can help her and informed her that our architectural services would be an unnecessary expense.

On another occasion we were contacted by a husband and wife who were planning to remodel several rooms in their home. We enjoy residential remodel projects, so we were excited to hear from them. However, as our conversation continued, we began to understand that the scope of work didn’t really necessitate an architect, because they were not trying to relocate, remove, or add any walls in the home, they weren’t trying to move any plumbing fixtures, appliances, or electrical fixtures, and they weren’t making any changes to the exterior of the home. In truth, what they needed was an interior designer to help them select new finish materials, and provide them with guidance on color schemes, furniture, and the like. In this case, we were happy to refer them to a good interior designer and told the couple they would be better served in that way.

in Conclusion

Ultimately, the decision to hire an architect depends on the specific requirements and goals for your project, and if in doubt, please give us a call! We will always seek to give you the best advice possible, even if that advice happens to be that you’d be better off not hiring us.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Architect?

a comprehensive guide to understanding architectural fees

Blog / How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Architect

How much do you charge for architectural services?  That is one of the first questions we are asked by clients looking to build their dream home or do an exciting addition or remodel to their existing home.  It seems like it should be an easy question to answer, right?  Surely an architectural firm knows what they charge for their services, right?  Well… it depends.  That is our most common answer, and although it’s not a popular answer, it’s the right answer.  Setting appropriate fees for architectural services can be tricky given the large number of factors that must be considered.

Building your dream home or undertaking a major renovation project can be an exciting but complex endeavor, and hiring an architect is a crucial first step in turning your vision into reality.  In this article, we will delve into the factors that influence architectural fees, shed light on different pricing structures, and provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the cost of hiring an architect.

Before we get to that, though, we want you to know that at Moment Architects we’ve established a pricing system to help guide our clients in their early planning stages.  The button below will take you to a form that asks a series of questions to determine the type of project you are undertaking, and based on your answers the form will automatically generate an estimated cost for Moment Architects’ architectural services.  Please note that the fees generated by our automated form are not a contractual agreement, and we would want to meet in person and discuss your project in more detail before providing a formal proposal.  The idea behind the tool is purely to give homeowners a ballpark figure to work with, so that they can then approach an architectural firm with a healthy understanding of what they might expect to pay for the architects’ services.  Also, Moment Architects specializes in residential architecture, so the form and fees generated will not apply to any project types outside of the residential sphere.

How Do Architects Determine Their Fees?

There are many factors that go into determining the right architectural fees for a project. 

Architectural fees can vary significantly depending on the size, complexity, and scope of the project. Whether you're planning a small residential addition or a large commercial development, architects generally base their fees on the project's scale and the anticipated amount of work involved. Smaller projects might have a flat fee or an hourly rate, while larger projects often involve a percentage-based fee structure.  In our experience, there are four common methods for determining the right fees for a project.  These include the Cost Per Square Foot Method, the Percentage of the Cost of Construction Method, the Time and Materials Method, and the Resource Allocation Method.  We will explain each of these methods in more detail.

The Cost Per Square Foot Method

Using a certain dollar amount per square foot of total covered area is a standard way for architects to set their fees for a residential project, especially if it’s new construction.  When setting fees based on the cost per square foot method, an architect has typically determined in advance what their firm’s standard rates are going to be, so that when meeting with a client they can quickly and easily provide a quote based purely on the size of the project.  In general, the dollar per square foot costs to hire an architect for a residential project can range anywhere from $2.50 per square foot up to $15 per square foot, depending on the services being provided.

How is the total Square Footage Determined?

In most cases, when an architect discusses fees based on a dollar per square foot basis, the architect is referring to the total covered square footage.  This should be understood to be different than the total air-conditioned square footage.  Here’s the difference between the two.

Total Air-Conditioned Square Footage

Total Air-Conditioned square footage, also sometimes referred to as the Total Livable Square Footage, is calculated by adding together all the areas of a home that are within what we call the “thermal envelope”.   The thermal envelope is the insulated exterior wall system that keeps cold air in and hot air out during the summer, and vice versa during the winter.  The air-conditioned spaces include all the living areas, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, closets, hallways, offices, game rooms, stairways, etc.  The total air-conditioned area does not include spaces such as a garage, a covered porch, a breezeway, or a unique feature like a roof deck or atrium.

Total Covered Square Footage

The total covered square footage of a home, however, takes into account all the spaces that will be constructed as part of the project.  This includes the air-conditioned square footage, and it also includes all the unconditioned spaces such as the garages, porches, roof decks, and the like.  The total covered area will never be less than the total air-conditioned area.

Drawbacks to the Cost Per Square Foot Method

Although calculating a fee based on a certain cost per square foot of building area is the most common way for residential architects to set their fees, it has its flaws.  Just because a house is bigger doesn’t always mean it will require more work.  Sometimes the opposite can be true.  For instance, there could be two homeowners looking to build a custom home for themselves; Joe wants to build a new 5,000 square foot custom home, while Mark is only wanting to build a 1,500 square foot home.  An architect who bases his fees purely off the cost per square foot method might charge each of these clients $5.00 per square foot, meaning the fees for Joe’s home would be $25,000, while the fees for Mark’s home would only be $7,500.  However, Joe may be thrilled with the very first design option presented to him, he may make decisions quickly, never change his mind about anything, and be a pleasure to work with.  Mark, on the other hand, may require 7 or 8 preliminary design options before finding one he likes, he might drag his feet on getting the architect the necessary information, prefer one thing one day and something completely different the next, and may have a personality that is very difficult to work with.  In this case, the architect would invest a far larger amount of time and energy into Mark’s project, but get only a fraction of the return.  Similarly, Joe would be paying his architect far more money, and although he’s ultimately getting what he is paying for, Joe is getting it for a far higher price per hour of the architect’s time.

The Percentage of the Cost of Construction Method

Another common way for architects to establish their fees is known as the percentage of the cost of construction.  An architect will typically base their fees on a percentage of the overall cost of construction in larger or more complex projects.  Typically, the percentage can range from 5% to 20%, depending on factors such as project complexity, location, and architect's experience. This approach aligns the architect's fee with the scale and budget of the project. 

Common Objections to the Percentage of the Cost of Construction Method

As with most things, there are pros and cons to this approach.  The most common objection given by clients against using the percentage of the cost of construction method is that the fees paid to an architect may increase drastically because of the selections made by the client, even though the selections don’t seem to change the amount of time or effort the architect must put forth.  For example, if an architect’s fees are 10% of the overall cost of construction, and Joe buys a refrigerator, oven, and cooktop from Best Buy for a total cost of $10,000, then the architect’s fees on those three appliances would be $1,000.  However, if Joe decided to buy his refrigerator, oven, and cooktop from Wolf and Subzero instead, the total cost of the three appliances might be closer to  $50,000, resulting in an architect’s fee of $5,000.  Arguably, the architect is going to draw and note the oven, cooktop, and refrigerator in the construction documents the same way regardless of the price, so why should there be a difference in the fees? 

Why Architects Feel a Fee Based on the Percentage of the Cost of Construction is Justified

This argument has some validity to it, although in general, the time and effort expended by an architect on a project in which appliances are being purchased from Best Buy is going to be less than the time and effort expended on a project in which the appliances are being purchased from Wolf and Subzero.  Not because of the appliances themselves, but because projects with larger budgets usually, although not always, come with more complexity, higher expectations, and greater levels of involvement from the architect.

Time and Materials Method, or Hourly Rates

Another method commonly used by architects to establish fees for a project is the Hourly Rates method, sometimes referred to as “Time and Materials”.  This method is most commonly used on projects where the scope of work is not clearly defined in the beginning, and therefore establishing an appropriate cost per square foot or even a budget to set a percentage-based fee on is unrealistic. 

How Do Architects Determine Their Hourly Rates

When an architect proposes an hourly rate for a project, those rates should be established in advance by the architect based on their own in-depth knowledge of their business.  At Moment Architects, we have established the hourly rates for each of our employees based on the following factors. 

First, we take into account the salary of each employee, add to it the additional compensation offered through benefits, plus the taxes Moment Architects pays for payroll, Social Security, Medicare, and the like.  We convert these costs into an hourly rate using the average hours worked in a year, and call this number the “Direct Hourly Cost”.

Second, we calculate the overhead costs incurred by Moment Architects over the course of a year.  This number includes things like rent, computer software subscriptions, costs of goods sold, Professional Liability Insurance, office supplies, and so on.  Also included in the overhead calculation are the salaries of any employees who are not part of our “production” team, such as our office manager, business development managers, marketing director, etc..  The reason administrative personnel’s salaries are added to the “overhead” cost is because these employees are rarely, if ever, spending what we would consider “billable time” on a specific project.  Instead, they are providing behind-the-scenes support to the employees who do log billable time. The number we calculate in this step is called the “Overhead Cost”.

Third, we take the Direct Hourly Cost and add it to the Overhead Costs to calculate what we call the “Total Hourly Cost” for each employee.  This number is different for each employee, because although the Overhead Cost is constant for all employees, the Direct Hourly Cost varies.  The “Total Hourly Cost” is basically our break-even number, at which rate we don’t lose any money, but we don’t make any either.

Finally, we multiply each employee's Total Hourly Cost by a profit margin of 25% to get the final actual billable rates. 

What are the Pros and Cons of Hourly Rates?

Clients may hesitate to agree to an hourly rate agreement due to the inherent uncertainty around what the final cost will end up being, and understandably so.  For many clients, they may not have ever worked with an architect before, and therefore have no idea how much time typically goes into a project, so an hourly rate is useless in helping them properly budget for their project.  To counteract this, most architects will agree on an estimated number of hours up front, and even set milestones throughout the project in which they inform their clients of how they are progressing in relation to what was originally estimated. 

Hourly Rate to fixed fee hybrid

Another common way of reducing the uncertainty of an hourly rate agreement is by establishing that the hourly rates will only apply until the scope of work has reached a degree of clarity that makes it possible to set a fixed fee based either on the cost per square foot or the percentage of the cost of construction method.  This typically means that the Schematic Design Phase will be at an hourly rate, and the Design Development Phase, Construction Documents Phase, and any other included phases will be at a fixed rate.  Typically, this involves two separate contractual agreements; a initial agreement that outlines the hourly rates and the services provided under those terms, and a second agreement that establishes the fixed fee and the defined scope of work associated with that fee.

The Resource Allocation Method

The final method of calculating fees that we’ll discuss here is a method we’ve termed the “resource allocation method”.  This method is the most advanced of the four methods we’ve discussed, and although it takes the most time to establish project-specific fees using this method, the fees established are going to be far more well-suited to each project’s unique scope of work.

How Does the Resource Allocation Method Work?

The Resource Allocation Method for determining fees has become more and more prevalent as architects begin to use advanced project management tools such as Monograph and BQE Core.  These systems streamline the process of tracking the time and expenses that go towards each project, prepare a multitude of reports and data for the architects to review, and in general assist architects in better planning their future based on solid information about their past.  These platforms also make it easy for architects to set up the total hourly costs for each of their employees, and then assign time for specific employees to work on various aspects of a potential project, using historical data as a guide.  The system then calculates the total architectural fee based on the time (resources) allocated to the project.

Why Doesn’t Everyone Use the Resource Allocation Method?

While the resource allocation method will usually produce the most suitable fee relative to the anticipated time and effort put towards a project, it is not always used for several reasons.  The first is that not all architects have access to a software or online platform that makes this type of tracking and calculating possible, and sometimes the costs of these platforms is a deterrent, especially when an architect has been “doing okay without it” for many years. 

Another reason this method is not always used is that it prevents an architect from giving a client a fee on the spot.  This article is written precisely because the most common question we get asked at Moment Architects is “How much do you charge?”, and nobody ever likes the answer, “Well, it depends, let’s talk about what you’re looking for and then I’ll send you a proposal in a week or two.”  It can be argued that giving a client a fee quicker will help land more jobs, especially if a potential client is talking to several architects at the same time, and one architect gives them a proposal on day one, while the other architect takes two weeks to turn around a proposal.  Not everyone is willing to wait that long for a proposal.

There Is No Fool-Proof Method

Moment Architects leans more on the Resource Allocation Method than any other method, but we recognize the benefits of each, and use them all from time to time.

Every residential construction project is unique, and therefore there is no single best way to establish architectural fees for every project.  Some factors that can affect the fees include the project’s timeline, location, budget, size, scope, and the parties involved in the decision-making process.  Additionally, there are several additional services an architect can offer that may be desirable to one client and not to the next.  These additional services may include 3D renderings or virtual walkthroughs, obtaining building permits, managing the bidding process, overseeing construction, and coordinating with contractors.  For these reasons, most architects will want to meet with their potential clients in person, gather as much information as possible, and then determine the most appropriate method of calculating fees based on the project specifics.

A construction project of any size is a big undertaking, and it’s important to plan ahead.  Knowing what things cost is a crucial part of this process.  If you are planning a custom home, addition, or remodel, we would love to meet with you and discuss the services we provide in more detail.

(Note: The information provided in this blog post is general and may vary based on specific architectural practices and regions.)

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