14 Ways to Make the Most of your Architect

Your architect will want to do everything they can to make your dream home become a reality, but that relies on you letting them know exactly what you want.

It can be easy to say this, but putting it into practice can be more difficult. You might know what you want exactly in your head, but you can’t find the words to describe it.

Communication is key when you’re trying to show your architect what your visions are. Here are 14 ways you can make the most of your architect.

Invite them into your home

Architects need inspiration to come up with a design that suits your needs. Invite them over so they can see what your style is and how to make the new house fit with your ideas.

Tell your architect about yourself

400x400-arcitect-8 We’re not saying you have to tell them your life story, but letting your architect know what you’re like as a person will help them to come up with a design that reflects your personality. If you’re interested in energy saving, or you enjoy cosying up of an evening reading a book, let them know so they can fit this into their plans.

Define their role

Make sure you’re clear about budgets. Define the architect’s role from the outset, and make sure they know the absolute upper end of your budget so they can ensure they don’t go over. Also let them know whether you’re expecting to brief the builder or whether you’d like them to take control.

Collect pictures

A great way to show your architect what you’re thinking is to collect images. You could put them into a scrapbook or create a moodboard, showing them things you like and dislike. An easy way to share ideas is to create a Pinterest board and share it with them so they can access your thoughts wherever they are.

Write lists

A perfect way to compliment your moodboards and images is to write lists. You could provide an outline describing what you’re looking for – the more information, the better.

Let them know your routine

If you think elements of your routine could affect the architect’s design, make sure you tell them. For example, if you need a separate area to eat breakfast in the morning compared to your evening meals, let your architect know.

Think about mood

What kind of spaces do you want in your home? Are you a fan of light spaces that set you up for the day but then cosy areas for you to wind down in the evening? Make sure you tell the architect what kind of room or rooms you want, as they may assume you’d like the same mood all the way through.

Tell them your storage needs

bedroom storage to tell architect
Image via Pinterest

If you’ve got a large family or simply a lot of clutter, make sure you specify how much storage you’re going to need. Architects can come up with clever storage solutions that will hide the fact that you’re a secret hoarder.

Let them meet the family

If your architect meets everyone, they’ll be able to see how the new home design needs to work for everyone. If you don’t have children at the moment but are planning to, it’s probably worth mentioning this so they can factor in space.

Introduce them to the pets

Yes, really! If you’re a pet owner, you have different needs too. So help your architect see how they need to think about how the design will work with animals as well.

Don’t rush

It can be really difficult to take your time, as you can just want your home to be built. But if you try to sit back and enjoy the process, you’ll feel more involved and will be much happier with the results in the long term.

Try to be specific

lighting for architect
Image via Pinterest

Keep up to date with your architect every step of the way and ensure that you know what they’re thinking about things you might take for granted, like lighting. The worst thing to happen would be to end up with lights where you weren’t expecting them. Be specific about every aspect of the build throughout the process.

Communication is key

Keep in touch with your architect throughout the project. Speak to them over the phone, by email or in person often and remember to be patient – they’ll be busy. If you show them respect, you’ll get the same respect in return.

Keep them with you, if you can

If your budget allows, keep your architect with you throughout the whole build. If things start to go differently to what you expected, your architect can step in and sort things without you feeling like you’re on your own.

Emily Rivers

Emily Rivers is the Customer Experience Manager at Quotatis. She informs customers of the latest developments in a range of products so they can make the best choice for their homes and ensures they get the best out of our service.