Do I Need an Architect?

Since there’s no actual law that says you have to hire an architect to design your home, you may be wondering just how necessary it really is. Technically, you can simply design your home yourself and as long as it meets building standards, build it.

So, do you really need an architect? The short answer is . . . yes. Even though you can create your own design and have them built, there are some very good reasons for hiring an architect to look over your plans and then give them a few tweaks. You may feel like it is a waste of money, but you’ll quickly realize why someone went to school to study for this career.

Benefits of Hiring an Architect

There are quite a few reasons to consider hiring an expert in design. They will often come up with ideas to help you out with your design and that can be invaluable. However, there are a number of other reasons to consider an architect.

The End Quality Will Be Better

It’s almost guaranteed that the end result of the project will be far better if you have an architect design it all. That’s because they know all the tricks to make a home really a home. You may have features you want to be incorporated, but the architect is the one who knows how to blend them all together into a beautiful place to live.

They’ll Help You Find Builders

One great thing about those in the industry is that they tend to have a lot of connections. They also hear a lot of information that you wouldn’t be privy to. This means your architect is the best person to help you find the right builders for the job. They’ll also be good at selecting plumbers, electricians, etc. because they already know how each of these people work.



As long as you have a trusting relationship with your architect, you should be able to get through the housebuilding process easily.

The Builders Tend to Work Better

When an architect is on top of the project, they will often check the builders and make sure everything is done to perfection. This is something that even the house owner, who is paying the company, can rarely manage. There’s something about an architect that makes the construction crew work harder and better.

This is partially due to the fact that they’ll likely work together again if everyone does a great job. There’s nothing like a little incentive to ensure the building project moves along smoothly.

They’ll Catch Details You May Miss

Have you considered which way each door will open? The ideal height for outlets and switches? Where the outlet pipes should run?

Architects are trained to look at everything to the last detail and that’s something that most people will miss if they haven’t built a few houses before. Even things like the roof angle are important and can drastically affect how your home functions once it is built.

Your design will include everything from electricity to plumbing, which you need to know quite a bit about in order to design a home that will function properly.

Get Everything You Want in Your Lot

Have a small lot to build on? An architect will help you create the perfect house for space. They can incorporate everything you need and give you options that will allow you to select exactly what you need. From built-in storage to carefully created closets, you’ll be surprised at how much space a home can have in it.

Just the knowledge of how to layout a house means an architect will maximise the space and make each room count.

They’ll Save You Money

While you’re worrying about how much money you may spend on an architect, they’ll actually offset a lot of their own price with things like:

Adjusting measurements: Sometimes, trimming a few inches can result in one less piece of drywall being used or a smaller amount of another building material. Since architects know the measurements, they can reduce the walls to maximise the number of materials purchased.

Moving windows and doors: Again, sometimes a small change can reduce the costs drastically. Using a standard window size, for example, can save you thousands of pounds.

Reduced spaces: An architect may be able to reduce the amount of space you need, simply by adjusting the design a little. Every change can reduce the price.

Green design: By planning for sunlight and winter and designing accordingly, your design could end up saving you money for the rest of your life by reducing utility costs.

Keep Everything Legal

If you’re new to building a home, you will find that there are a lot of regulations that you need to know about. They cover everything from plumbing and electric to roof types and angles. This is even more of an issue if you are altering a historic building.

Hiring someone who knows all these rules and regulations will not only save you time but also money. There’s nothing worse than realising after a job is done that it won’t pass inspection and you have to redo it. This can cost money and will set your timeline back considerably. It is a definite advantage to know these things ahead of time.

They Look at the Big Picture

You may want windows and lots of natural light, but an architect will also make sure you have the right light in the evenings when the natural light fades. The windows will be designed to fit the home, but also to save you money, both on installation and in the longer term with energy costs.

As you can see, using an architect has a lot of benefits. There’s no reason not to use one. In fact, if you take a simple home plan that you’ve found online or designed yourself and show it to a professional, they will immediately point out several improvements that will make the home that much more liveable.

How Much Will an Architect Cost?

The amount your architect charges will depend on many factors, including how many years of practice they have, the complexity of the project, and whether you want them to handle the project management. However, you can expect to budget around 15-20% of your project budget for the architect.

That may seem high, but when you consider how much money they can save you by simply making a few tweaks to the design, it actually ends up being pretty cost-effective. Most architects will save you quite a bit of money, making it well worthwhile to hire them.

Talk to the architect first to find out how they normally charge and then get an estimate for your project. This will give you a starting point, though if there is more to the scope of the job, later on, you may pay more.

How to Choose an Architect

If you are planning to build a home and know you want an architect involved, how do you decide? The simplest way is to find an architect whose designs you enjoy. You should be able to get a good idea from looking at their previous work if the style will mesh with yours. Most architects are quite good at a variety of designs, so ideally they will have a few different looks in the portfolio.

The next step is to see if you’re a match in personalities. You want someone who will listen to what you have to say and translate it into a home for you. However, the building process is a long, drawn-out one and you will be dealing with the architect throughout that time, so it’s important that you both get on well. If you find they just try to push their own ideas onto you, walk away and find someone else.

It may be a good idea to talk to a design firm, where you have a few people who may work on the project. This gives more interaction possibility and also helps ensure that everything will be covered, from design flaws to little details you haven’t considered yet. It all matters and multiple architects looking at a project will give you more choices in who you work with.

Are you considering building a home or adding on to an existing one? Integrated Design has the specialists you need. From structural engineers to architects, we’re the place to come if you want to build. Let us help you out. Contact us today for a quote on your project.