On today’s blog, we are looking into a question frequently asked by prospective clients who want to build a custom home. The best explanation is to first examine the differences between an architect and a custom home builder. Understanding their roles and how they can assist will help you avoid mistakes that cost you money and interfere with achieving a quality build.
So, do you need to hire an architect when building your dream home? Or can a builder handle the production of custom house blueprints and other tasks? Let’s break it down.
The Role of an Architect
A professional architect designs buildings and other structures, generating detailed custom house blueprints that lay out every aspect of a project. These plans can then be utilized by a contractor to guide the construction phase. Architects generally are hired by a client to collaborate on their respective project so that it aligns with their vision for the building and surrounding property.
An architect can:
- Explore concepts and prepare detailed plans for a wide range of building projects.
- Provide design solutions to meet a client’s needs.
- Make the most of views, natural light, ventilation and energy efficiency.
- Navigate local building codes and approvals.
- Provide oversight during the construction phase.
Architects have several years of education and must be professionally licensed by their state, while draftsmen and designers usually have a technical diploma or associate’s degree and put greater focus on technical execution rather than overall design.
The Role of a Custom Home Builder
A builder takes custom house blueprints, whether generated by an outside architect or its own in-house design team, and oversees construction of the home. Its design team may include architects, draftspeople and designers that work with clients to create plans based on their needs and budget.
A custom builder can:
- Provide home design as part of the company’s service offerings.
- Suggest appropriate design, material and finish options to meet a client’s needs.
- Prepare detailed plans to be used during construction.
- Manage the design/build process from start to finish, with a single point of contact.
- Provide faster turnaround compared to separate design and build processes.
In summary, an architect focuses on designing a unique structure with consideration to the client’s goals and the lot being built on. A custom builder focuses on bringing a design to life and may offer turnkey design services too.
Do You Need to Hire an Architect?
The short answer: typically not. While the services of an architect are necessary when designing an expansive commercial building, most residential properties do not require the involvement of an architect. Most often, homebuyers turn to their builder or contracting company, or rely on their own design ideas. And since the advent of the internet, stock house plans created by an architect or a home designer can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of hiring an independent architect.
In general, a homeowner only needs to hire an architect in the following scenarios:
- You want to design something architecturally unique, highly customized or to build on a sloped or oddly shaped lot. In these situations, an architect can help you maximize the potential of the building and lot through intelligent design.
- Your local building codes require an architect. Densely populated urban areas often have stricter building codes, increasing the likelihood of needing an architect. However, a large majority of building regulations throughout the country do not require an architect.
- You want guidance on building choices and don’t mind paying extra. If you don’t possess the expertise to design your own home and don’t want to engage in the design/build process with a qualified builder, hiring an architect may be a good choice. Architect fees vary according to project size, service type and location, and are typically billed as a percentage of the total construction cost, usually between 8% and 15%.
Gateway Offers the Best of Both Worlds
If your future home will feature a relatively straightforward design, a home builder with in-house design capabilities may be all you need. Many contractors, including Gateway, offer the best of both worlds: in-house designers and a construction team that can bring a design to life. We combine the vision and creativity of experienced designers with the project management expertise and know-how of builders. You get beautiful, practical architectural design without the delays and miscommunication that often occur when an architect and builder aren’t under one roof.
However, if you have an existing relationship with an independent architect you know and trust, we will have no issue working with that individual. Our goal is simply to help you realize your dream home! Not sure if a custom build is right for you? Take a look at our previous blog article, Building a New Home vs. Buying: Key Points to Consider, to examine the advantages of each path.
To discuss ideas for your new home build, give Gateway a call at (307) 632-8950 or complete our online contact request form. For our latest news, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. You can also take a 3D tour of our home designs on our YouTube channel!