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Here’s our 10 point guide to choosing one.
Where to Start?
If you have read our earlier Newsletters, you would by now have enough reasons to consider the next step which is to hire an Architect to help you materialise your Dream Home; but where do you even start?
Selecting an architect seems to be such a daunting task considering there are many out there, each with their own design style, flair and strengths. The following tips hopefully will help you in making the selection.
Qualifications
This is the most basic thing to check, yet many are not aware that only a qualified registered architect is allowed to practice and set up his company as an architectural practice. The first thing to check is if his name has an Ar pre-fix. Only a qualified person who is registered with the Board of Architects or Lembaga Akitek Malaysia (LAM) can be considered as a qualified architect and carries the AR prefix to his name. It is widely known however that many unregistered architects (who sometimes call themselves ‘Designers’ or even architects) usually claim to have a registered architect partner to sign or stamp the drawings for approvals from the local authorities. This sort of setup is illegal and should be scrutinised as there is usually a very good reason they are not registered. Some clients do not mind having an un- registered architects working for them as they do not see it as a major impediment in building their homes; however be warned that since they are not governed by any regulating body or organisation, when things go wrong there will be no avenue to resolve a dispute or a complaint. The Board of Architects have been trying to clamp down on these sorts of practices however they are still rampant especially here in Malaysia.
Resume and Portfolio
An effective way of sieving out the architects that can meet your objective in building your dream home is by checking out his work. Most architects have their portfolio loaded up on their website and it is quite easy to get an overall feel of the sort of work they do and their repertoire. Make sure that they have extensive experience in building the types of home you have in mind. The big corporate corporate type firms usually carry out large commercial projects and may not be interested in carrying out small commissions like a house so it’s best to look up medium to small practices that specialise in residential projects. Some are more experienced in traditional vernacular style, some may be more on a classical style whilst others may be better at a modern contemporary style. Narrow down the architects that produce the sort of work that stands out or captures your imagination.
Sustainable or Green credentials
If sustainability is a priority to you and you feel that a proper home has to be energy efficient, with low carbon foot-print then lookout for architects that produce houses with these features. As global warming and environmental concerns of the destruction of our planet keep growing it is hard to see why this point should be overlooked and not considered in your decision makingh process.
The phone call
Once you have shortlisted possible architects you could start with a simple phone call to access the personality of the architect and whether you think communication flows easily as this is probably one of the most important aspects to consider, as poor communication can cause unnecessary misunderstandings in the future. Gauge how interested he is in undertaking your project and whether he is willing to meet up with you to discuss your requirements and his possible involvement in the project. Be sure you are talking to the principal or director and the next step is to make an appointment to discuss in more detail. Never ask for the architect’s charges and fees during a phone call as this is quite complex and depends largely on the construction budget. This can be discussed during an eye to eye meeting (explained further in item 10).
The Interview
This is a very important stage of further narrowing down the architect of your choice and there are important considerations to be made. You will need to see if you can get along with the architect, is he someone who will dictate the whole design of your house or is he the type who will follow and obey what you say, neither of-which is useful. Remember that the relationship with your architect will go on for at least 2 to 3 years before the house is completed so it does help if you have the same outlook, philosophy, and understanding.
His Experience
The informal chat gives you the opportunity to see his office and how he runs it as well as to check out the projects that he wants to share with you and this is the best time to ask as many questions as you like. His experience especially in bungalow projects will now be evident. Ask if the company was to be awarded if he the principal or director himself would run it, do the designs, chair the meetings with the client, consultant team and contractor, inspect the site, if so how often, etc; or will he delegate some of the works to his subordinates. Some architects may only involve themselves in the design but not get involved in the day-to-day issues with the contractor and site issues, for example. This overall description of his work and direct involvement will give you an idea on how committed he will be on the project.
Strength and weaknesses
Find out what are his strength and weaknesses. Some architects are good at design and are creative but may not be so good at contract administration or dealing with the contractor. On the other-hand some are good at contract details but may have a lesser flair with design. Frame your questions such that you can make your own assessments based on his response and draw your own conclusion. An architect handling a bungalow project will require to have a balance of good design skills, creativity as well as a competent knowledge on contractual matters, the building codes and by-laws and the ability to stay organised.
The team
Find out the team of architects, designers and support staff he will put into your project for the various stages till completion. Also check with him on the other consultants that need to be engaged like the engineers, quantity surveyor, interior designer etc. Does he already have the consultants to recommend and will he be able to obtain their fees and scope of works. Determine how he will coordinate the team to ensure the works are completed in a timely manner to avoid any delays.
Choice of Mechanical and Electrical systems
With the advent technology there are many options you can choose to make your house more high tech. With Smart home systems for example, you can control the lighting, air-conditioning, motorised curtains, and the type of music you want to listen to etc, virtually at any part of the house.
Another important aspect is security. You could have a fully-fledged swcurity system based on your requirements and specify the type of CCTV you need and where to locate it and it all could be accessible through your phone.
Another feature rarely seen is CAT 6 high-speed internet cables in the study, TV areas and bedrooms where you could have access to LAN lines instead of depending on Wi-Fi which can be quite slow and have unreliable signals.
These by no means are cheap features to have however the cost is getting more and more economical. Developers very rarely provide these features and should you want to add this on later it would mean hacking the walls and re-doing all the wiring works which can be an expensive and messy affair.
The cost
Probably the most important question of all is what the overall cost is. The cost component will comprise of the building or construction cost and the consultants fees. Other costs that will not be included in-which you will need to allow a budget for is the fees to pay the authorities, the loose furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E). The architect should be able to give a ball park figure in terms of the construction cost after learning in detail of your requirements, estimated built-up floor area, expected level of finishes and fittings, and rough idea of architectural style. It must be remembered however that the figure is still very much a ball park figure. until the detailed design is completed and only then he will be in a better position to advice on the likely cost.
For Architects the fees is based on the percentage of the construction cost which is based on a sliding scale. The higher the cost the lower the percentage of the fees and vice-versa which is spelt out in the Architects Act. The fees schedule can be downloaded from this website: https://www.lam.gov.my/index.php/scale-of-min-fees.html
The rest of the Consultants fee is very subjective and depends on the level of service and quality of the consultants involved. Generally, fees are governed by the Board of the professional associations the consultants belong to but this can vary depending on the profession. However, as a general rule the total consultant fee would range from 10% to 15% of the construction cost depending on the size and complexity of the project.
After you have collected the data and information from various architects that you have shortlisted you will be able to make an assessment on who would best suit you considering the factors described above. If you are still undecided you can go the extra mile by requesting to perhaps visit one of the houses he has recently completed and perhaps have a chat with the owner to understand the challenges in the project and how the architect finally overcame them to successfully deliver the project.
Most clients tend to focus on the fees and the discounts they can get but this is a total misguided approach. Focus instead on the Value you are getting as that will eventually determine your true total cost of the project. You are making a once in a life time decision on your Dream Home so you cannot afford to compromise on the importance of a competent architect that will be able to hopefully see to its fruition.
"Price is what you pay, Value is what you get" - Warren Buffet
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