Talking Points for your First Meeting with an Architect
Fri, Sep 11th, 2020
Starting the journey of building and designing your own custom home can be exciting and a bit overwhelming. One of the initial steps during this process is to schedule the all-important first meeting with an architect. Whether you have a company in mind, or you're playing the field and searching for the right fit, it's important to be prepared for the first meeting.
Selecting an architect that expands on your vision will help maximize the overall potential of your home. It's very important to discover if the architect's experience is tailored to your specific needs. Rushing this decision can result in miscommunication and a frustrating design adventure.
In this blog, we'll discuss talking points for the initial meeting with an architect and how these details can help make this a seamless process.
Who are you?
Unless you want the chosen architect to call you over every detail, small and large, it's important to let them know who you are. They will be making a lot of important decisions on your behalf. Things to let the architect know about yourself are:
- Who you are
- Who is in your family and home?
- How is your time spent?
- Hobbies you do at home together and separately
- Why did you opt to go the custom home route?
If the architect knows these things about you, it will help them understand how the home needs to accommodate your family now and in the future.
How do you want to live?
If you're moving out of your current living situation, there's a chance you want the design to be much different than it is now. What lifestyle are you looking to live and how should the home tailor to that?
- Is your family growing?
- Do you have active kids that love to be outdoors?
- Do you need personalized space?
- Do you need to be able to keep your eyes on the kids while getting things done?
- Do you need space to entertain?
Your home should be an extension of who you are and the life you're living.
How big do you want your home?
You might not know the exact answer to this. But providing details such as the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, cars you want to fit in the garage, etc. will give the architect the information they need to determine the size of the home.
How do you want your home to look?
This is where you can really leave a lasting impression on your new custom home. The more information you provide the architect, the better. There are more design styles out there than ever before; rustic, modern, transitional, Scandanavian, arts and crafts, mid-century design, Florida syle, etc. It's important to relay your taste in style because the options are endless.
If you say you love a "Hamptons Style" home, what does that mean? There are numerous variations and different features to implement into one style. Collect an abundance of examples from your favorite magazine or Pinterest to better convey your vision.
Budget
Some people are pleasantly surprised by what they can do with their design budget, and others are disappointed. If you're unsure, be honest during your meeting. That way, you can determine what you can and can't afford from the get-go, avoiding major issues down the road.
South Florida Architecture
It's very important to be prepared for the initial meeting with an architect. It sets the tone for the rest of the project and significantly reduces the risk of design errors. At South Florida Architecture, we pride ourselves on excellent communication. Our mission is to take your vision and transform it into reality. Give us a call and Let's Get Started on your project!
(239) 777-0616 (Bonita Springs)
(239) 778-6694 (Naples)