An architect’s fees are not insignificant, but they must be considered in a wider context of a building or remodeling project. A better question to ask, rather than how much architectural services will add to the cost of a project, would be, “With an architect, can the investment I’m putting into my project deliver stronger benefits to my business or family?” The answer to this question is always “Yes.”
When project budgets are in the five-to-seven-figure range, as most residential or commercial building projects are, professional architecture services are critically important. At this project level, clients need to protect their project from expensive mistakes and delays. A good architect’s precision and wisdom can help small businesses and homeowners get the most from their investment and deliver a better end result.
At our Long Beach architecture firm, we’ve seen many instances of homeowners or business owners trying to “go it alone,” without a Long Beach architect on their team. We’ve seen others who choose to rely on their general contractor to aid them with the design and permitting processes. Often, these people come to us after spending many frustrating months trying to get their design plans approved or running into other roadblocks that keep their project from moving forward. Those who work with an architect from the beginning tend to have their projects completed in a more timely manner.
An experienced architect will not only draw up the plans properly—in a way that city planning officials are accustomed to seeing them—but he or she can also help homeowners and business owners navigate the process of getting everything approved and keep construction moving forward. Grisafe Architecture, we are your advocates! We will work on your behalf with all relevant city officials, as well as other professionals, such as general contractors and engineers.
While we certainly understand that those undertaking a large remodeling or building project would want to save money and cut costs where they can, forgoing the services of an architect is not recommended. A good Long Beach architect who is familiar with local codes can often help save their clients money. At Grisafe Architecture, we specialize in helping our clients come up with creative solutions that meet all of their needs in the most cost-effective way possible. We also do our best to help minimize future expenses by selecting durable and time-tested materials and working with well-respected contractors who do quality work.
As for what the services of an architect will add to the overall project cost, you can expect to spend approximately 10-15% of a project budget on architectural services. The cost will vary based on the complexity of the project and the level of involvement you need from your architect. Contact our Long Beach architecture firm to discuss a quote for your specific project.
