The
Planning Process
Once
you've settled on the Architect that best fits your needs,
you can get started on planning! Now you're a team, working
together to create a beautiful home!
You
and your team have 3 major tasks:
- Explore
the Site Potential
- Determine
Design Restrictions
- Maximize
Construction Dollars
Explore
the potential of your site.
The property where you’ll build your home may present
some distinct design opportunities and perhaps some hidden
hazards. Your architect can examine how such factors can work
for you and how to avoid potential problems. You’ll
probably want to take advantage of each favorable view and
sun exposure, while protecting your home against wind and
weather. How much privacy do you want between your house and
the surrounding community? Are there existing trees on the
site that you want to save? Your architect also can assess
the hidden character of your site, such as type of soil, slope
and drainage. A clear understanding of such factors can help
you make smart decisions in the design of your home.
Determine
if local zoning and other restrictions will affect your project.
Before setting your heart on a one-of-a-kind design, it’s
critical to know if any zoning ordinances or regulations exist
that might restrict development on your property. These might
dictate how much of the property can be covered by a structure,
its height, how far it must be set back from the property
line or roadway, protection of existing trees and landscape.
Likewise, you’ll want to know about any proposed development
of adjacent or nearby properties, such as new roadways or
commercial construction. Familiar with the building codes
and zoning ordinances in your area, an AIA architect will
help you determine where these apply to your project and can
assist with the filing applications or obtaining the necessary
permits.
Maximize
your construction dollar.
It’s critical to have a realistic understanding of the
potential — and limitations — of your project’s
budget. There are so many decisions to be made in the planning
stages of a building project and afterward during construction.
And these decisions will drive how your new home will function,
what it will cost and what it may be worth in the future.
If consulted in the earliest planning stage, an AIA architect
can help you make smart decisions about your home’s
design that can serve and save you in surprising ways. The
architect works with your budget and helps you select the
appropriate materials and workmanship at a fair price. And
long after your project is completed, the architect can help
you save money. By incorporating energy efficiency into the
design of your home, the architect can help reduce fuel bills
down the road. By helping you choose materials and finishes
that are durable as well as beautiful, the architect can save
you money of frequent maintenance and replacement costs. And
a well designed home has a higher resale value.
>>>
Next: The Design Process >>>
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