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Millard T. Pratt Principal

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Home Renovation/Addition Checklist
Issues To Think About Before Hiring An Architect

What are your goals?
In order for an architect to help you build your dream house, you first need to know what you want. Below are a few questions to help you develop your goals.

1.	How do you want to live?
	a.	Do you entertain frequently?
	b.	Do you spend a lot of time in the kitchen?
	c.	Do you have/want a high-tech home entertainment center?
	d.	How do you like spending your time at home?
2.	How do you want your house organized?
	a.	What rooms do you need?
	b.	Do you like rooms to be open to each other? For example, do you like your kitchen to be visually connected to the dinning room and/or the living room?
	c.	What rooms do you want next to each other?
3.	How do you want your house to look? Style is often a personal statement. Identifying your likes and dislikes can help your architect more quickly create a design that you will like.
	a.	Is there a house that you have seen in town or in a magazine that you like?
	b.	Do you like to retain the look of your house or would you like to change its looks dramatically?
	c.	Do you want your house to fit into the neighborhood or would you like to make a design statement?
	d.	Do you have materials that you would like to use such as stone, glass, or timber?
4.	How much do you want to spend? Having a realistic budget is the most underappreciated part of the design process. Many projects are doomed from the start because their budgets do not support their lofty goals.
	a.	Are you willing to spend what it takes to get what you want?
	b.	Do you have a budget in mind and want to get the most out of your dollar?
5.	How long will it take? Unfortunately, conventional wisdom in construction is "it always takes longer than you think."
	a.	When do you want/need to move into your new home?
	b.	Do you live in a community that requires planning or design review for home renovations?
	c.	Have you interviewed and/or selected an architect and contractor for yourproject?
6.	Other things to consider: Are there other things you care about that are not part of the standard design criteria? If there are, you should communicate them to your architect during the interview process to see if he/she has interest or expertise in matters that concern you.
	a.	Greendesign: are you interested in the use of sustainable and ecologically sensitive materials and methods?
	b.	Do you want an energy efficient house?
	c.	Do you want Feng Shui integrated into the design of your house?
	d.	Do you want your house wired for smart appliances?

Have questions about your home renovation or addition project? Feel free to call me for a free consultation at 415.538.3465. Or email me at ted@mtparchitects.com.

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BUILD TO SUIT
Why fit your life into a house built by a speculative builder? When you design a custom home, you can build your house around your life.

I have client who designed a small stage into his living room large enough for a string quartet to perform when he entertained.

GET IDEAS FROM MAGAZINES
If you find it hard to put ideas into words, try putting them into pictures. I recommend starting a scrapbook for design ideas. Fill it with photos of houses you like and make notes about why you like them. You can find lots of design inspirations from home design magazines and books found in your local architecture bookstore. Once you know what you want, you will find it easy to talk to a design professional about your dream house.

BUDGETING YOUR PROJECT
A good "Rule of Thumb" is that construction costs start at $200 per square foot. Beyond that, you have to budget professional fees (architect & engineers) of 14% to 18% of construction cost. New buildings and building additions may require a soils test ($3,500) and a land survey ($2,000 to $5,000) as well. Don't forget permit fees; they will run about 2% of construction cost.

PROJECT SCHEDULE
Depending on size, a house can take 3 months to 1 year to design. Some communities require design review that will add 3 to 4 months to the project. Building permits will take 4 to 8 weeks. Finally, construction can take anywhere from 3 months to 2 years. Expect to wait at least one year before you can move into your new house.

PERSONAL EXPRESSION
What are your values? Your Home Space is a reflection of you. It's more important than even the car you drive as a means of expression.

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