Finding the best Long Beach architect for your project may take a bit of research on your part. Some architects specialize in commercial projects, while others do only residential. There are those that prefer to do only small home remodeling or tenant improvement projects, and then there are those who do only large, ground-up building projects.
At the bare minimum, you should be sure to verify that any architect you work with is licensed in the state in which your project is located. If your project is in California, you can check an architect’s license on the California Architects Board website. It is also recommended that you find an architect who regularly works in the city where your project will be completed. That way, they will likely be familiar with local codes, all well as how city planning departments tend to interpret those codes.
At Grisafe Architecture, we find that many of our clients come to us based on referrals from past clients. But not everyone who is in need of an architect knows of someone who has used an architect before. If that’s you, you will probably start your search for a Long Beach architect online. You may do a Google search for something like “architects in Long Beach” or “Long Beach architecture firm.” As you come across the websites of different architects and architecture firms, really take the time to look through their websites. Look at their portfolios to see what types of projects they’ve completed. Read their blog if they have one. Read their About page to get a sense of their approach to architectural design and working with clients.
Once you’ve narrowed down your search to a few good local architects or firms, start contacting them. Schedule an initial phone call or meeting to talk about your upcoming project, ask some questions, and get a quote. As you compare quotes, don’t just look at the bottom line, but at the services they will be providing as well. Make sure their service offerings match your needs. Also consider how easy or difficult it is to communicate with them in your initial conversations, as that will likely be indicative of how the communication will be once your project commences.
You may even want to ask some specific questions about the amount of involvement the architect allows their clients to have. If you want to be able to check in frequently with your architect or be heavily involved in the project design, you need to make sure this is something the architect welcomes.
Not every project will be the right fit for every architect, and a good architecture firm will know when to say “no”’ to a project that doesn’t match their skills or expertise. If your project is not right for us at Grisafe Architecture, we will do our best to refer you to another Long Beach architect or architecture firm that we think would be a better fit. However, with our team’s years of experience on projects of all sizes and types, we are able to help a majority of the commercial and residential design clients that come our way.
Best of luck in your search for the right architect for your upcoming project! If you think Grisafe Architecture may be able to help you, contact us to get the conversation started.
