Frequently Asked Questions: Working with JRA to Design Your Home
We love to work with clients who are excited about the process of designing their home and solving their architectural problems. Here are some questions that have been frequently asked by clients. We hope this will help you better understand the design process and what it’s like to work with us. If you have any other questions, please let us know!
How much do Architectural Design Services Cost?
This is a very subjective question, because it depends on what your project entails, and each project is unique! Cost is dependent on if you are designing an entire home, adding to a home, renovating a home, or a combination of all of the above. Generally, the cost to design a project should be expected to be approximately 8-10% of construction costs… which can lead right into the next question!
What is the average cost of construction?
Again, a tough question to answer these days, because supply costs are increasing all over the world, as well as labor costs. Total cost will depend on the size of your project and the finishes that you choose. If you are looking for a complete design with top of the line finishes, such as what we show on our website, we recommend budgeting at least $300 per square foot for your project. If you are looking to remodel your current space without adding any additional square footage, your project cost may be approximately $150 per square foot. It must be noted, however, that these numbers do not include the cost of furnishings and fixtures, which means your total project cost would then also include added features such as the cost of a cabinetry, appliances, plumbing and light fixtures, custom woodwork, etc.
How long does the design process take?
The design process will depend on the scope of work you would like done. We can generally start a project within 6-8 weeks of receiving a signed proposal. Of course, smaller projects take less time to complete than larger projects. If you project requires a variance, there can be a delay while managing application deadlines and waiting for zoning or town meetings to occur. In general, our average design process usually takes 3-6 months.
How long does construction take?
There seems to be about a 6 month wait to get construction started in our area once you have selected your builder. Construction itself is dependent upon how large and how complicated your project is, as well as availability of materials, lead times, subcontractor availability, etc. We are seeing larger projects in our area take an average of 6-12 months for completion. We recommend that you ask this question when interviewing contractors.
What does your typical project process look like?
We are involved with our clients’ projects from the very beginning until construction is complete. It’s important to us to be fully involved to guide you through the process and ensure that you are happy with the end result. We typically break a project down into phases: Pre Design Phase, Schematic Design Phase, Variance (if necessary), Construction Documents Phase, and Construction Administration.
Pre-Design Phase
The Pre-Design Phase is where we gather all of the information we need to beginning designing your project. We visit your home to measure and photograph all accessible areas and then use this information to create base drawings that will be used for our Schematic Design Phase. During this phase, we will also attempt to uncover important information pertaining to your project - identifying laws, codes and agencies having jurisdiction over the project. We will ask you to communicate with us your needs, wants and desires for your project. Once we have the base drawings completed, we will ask you to attend a Pre-Design meeting to begin getting your initial project desires on paper and get to know you better so that we can provide you with the best possible design plan that you can enjoy for years to come.
Schematic Design Phase
The Schematic Design Phase is the fun part and the most creative part of the process! We begin by generating ideas to address the problems you are trying to solve while taking into consideration the aesthetic you would like to achieve. We use the existing conditions drawings as a base, sketching out different ideas and concepts and exploring architectural solutions. We will meet with you a number of times during this phase. The Schematic Design Phase is an iterative process and we will continue until you are comfortable with a master plan and basic layout scheme. At the end of Schematic Design, we will have defined how your plan will lay out and what your home will look like.
Variance Phase
If it is determined that your project will require a variance, it is in the stage that we will put together the required architectural documents to submit and guide you through the approval process.
Construction Documents Phase
During the Construction Documents Phase, we will help you make any necessary decisions about how to appropriately phase the project and discuss building material selections, sharing our knowledge so that you can make informed decisions. We will develop the plans further with specific material selections, dimensions, etc. and finish the construction documents for bidding and permitting. At the end of this phase, the construction documents will be ready to guide your contractor as the project is built.
Contract Administration Phase
With the Construction Documents package, complete, we will help you find the right contractor for your project’s scope and type. Once you have a construction contract in place, we will assist the contractor in getting permits and required approvals. Once construction begins, we are there as a resource for both the homeowner and the contractor, able to provide assistance in many ways, from interpreting drawings to reassurances as questions arise.
What are my responsibilities as the client during the design process?
We are a full service custom residential architectural firm, striving to provide the best fit for each and every one of our clients. We encourage you to be involved throughout the process, sharing your requirements, ideas and desires. We want you to be open to exploring unique and creative solutions to the problems you would like addressed. We will schedule meetings with you to get your input regularly throughout the design process. We also help our clients to make decisions regarding their project, which can range from layout and special features to material selections. If your project should require a variance, we will help guide you through the process, but you as the homeowner will have responsibility for certain items required in the approval process such as fees and notices to neighbors. In general, some of your responsibilities will be:
- Providing a property survey.
- Attending scheduled meetings.
- Defining any problems that need to be addressed.
- Communicating a vision for the lifestyle you intend to have.
- Sharing your aesthetic preferences.
- Having an open mind in considering unique and creative solutions.
- Setting a realistic budget for your project.
- Hiring contractors .
Can we use our own contractor or do you recommend contractors?
Yes, you can use your own contractor. Or we can provide names of respected contractors in our area that we think would be a good match for your project. We recommend that you check references and choose someone that you feel is trustworthy and that you can communicate with easily. We have local contractors that we frequently work with and we are also always open to meeting new collaborators.
What’s the first step to get started?
Please contact us by filling out the form on our contact page. We will reach out to you to schedule an introductory phone call to discuss your project and answer your questions. If after our phone call, we seem to be a good fit for working with each other, we will set up an in person meeting to see your project location, meet you in person, and discuss further any anticipated collaboration. We want to build a personable and comfortable working relationship with our clients, so meeting you is an important part of the process. If we connect at our meeting and both feel we would like to work together, we will provide you with a Proposal for Architectural Services. Once you review, sign and return the contract with a small retainer fee, we will be excited to begin designing your home!