Allot of people these days are going to Residential designers instead of Architects to design their homes. What do you think about this? Do you think that there is a great price difference between the two. Does a stamp and schooling on design make allot of difference to you. Chdsi.com?

It depends on what style you are trying to build.

Many contracting firms are design/build and can often cover the entire project - from initial ideas to completion. In many cases, the architect or designer is needed if you just can't come up with a design. An architect may only be responsible for the design and leave the structural details to the contractor, or the architect may provide site management services throughout the entire build process.

Also consider - some parts of the country require an architects stamp, others do not.

I actually think you should.
You are going to live there. You are going to use it.
What do you want? Need? Like? Dislike?
Do you want a ranch or a cape? Laundry off the kitchen or buried in the basement? Gas or oil heat? Heat pump? How many bedrooms?
Once you have that figured out then you go to an architect or whatever for the final plans. You'll have to check local codes and see what or who is needed.
Good luck & enjoy.
Then they help you make it come to life.

While some architects perform residential design, most don't. Residential Designers on the other hand, specialize in home design. Many times they have worked up the ladder from the trades and may have a better understanding, a first hand understanding, of home construction. Some residential designers may be less costly than an architect. I don't think price alone should be the determining factor in choosing a designer.
I believe experience, knowledge, skill and a desire to do home design will add more to a satisfied homeowner.

A good Designer will interact with their client, determine their needs and desires, work with a budget, adapt the home to its environment and the result will be a satisfied home owner.

If you have the bucks in your budget, using a good architect who specializes in homes can be a good thing. A good architect can (in some cases) save you money by designing a space more efficiently.

They are often expensive. I wouldn't use one unless I was designing a home that was in excess of $500,000 (construction cost).

There are many talented residential designers. The primary differnce between the two is licensing and in some cases but not all, education. Only licensed architects may design commercial buildings. Another option to consider is a pre-drawn home plan. Residential designers and architects offer these plans through magazines or Internet brokers. There are literally thousands from which to choose, they can be customized to suit your needs, and typically cost about 1/10 the services fees charged to design a custom home from scratch. As mentioned in other posts, the plan you choose may require engineering, stamping or sealing by a licensed architect or engineer but you save thousands of dollars in design fees.

Speaking for other fellow Architects, I can only say that I have worked with a number of Residential Designers and Interior Designers. Most of their knowledge is limited to Design only, with no regard to framing or structures whatsoever. Have you ever seen a window pass thru a floor joist successfully, just because it looks aesthetically pleasing on the Front Elevation? All I can say is, go to the experts. If you needed surgery on your eyes, would you go to an opthamologist or someone who sells you
the eye glasses? Architects are trained in all aspects of construction and design, and although I argue that there should be a separate exam for Residential Design, I agree with one of the other responders that a lot of Architects do not like to do residential because there is more money in Commercial jobs. I am the opposite. I customize only in Residential houses and Additions. Those other Architects can keep the big money... I like to stay small. And I find it very rewarding.

Having just seen this message board I have a few comments about the previous postings. First I will mention that I am an Architect with my own 2 man firm working in a county that at this point does not require a stampp for a one time use single family home.
Pete, what are you thinking. MOST Architects do mainly residential. While commercial jobs are good money the bread and butter for a lot of firms are the residential jobs. Residential Designers specialize in homes. Very "profound" statement. Hope you didn't think too long on that one. Just becuse they use that title does NOT mean they are good or bad. It is just what they do. It is all they can do. It is all they are allowed to do. Municipalities will not allow an unlicensed designer to do any type of commercial, industrial, or large residential building. They do not have the education or the experience to do it.
Most municipalities, but not all require an Architects stamp in order to get a permit for the plans. Those that do not require the stamp sometimes require a licensed professional such as an Architect or structural engineer to review all the structure before issuing a permit.
Jaybee: An Architect who designs a home or any type of building is responsible for the structural elements of the building in addition to the design. It is NOT the contractors responsibility. That's why Architects carry errors and omissions insurance. Most times it's to cover screw ups of the builder. A residential designer has absolutely no responsibility for defects in the plan and cannot get insurance as Architects can, because they are not licensed professionals.
Matt: The problems with the home plan books is that most of the design firms that sell them are in warm climates that have totally different requirements then the northern areas of the country. Order a plan from Design basics or one of the others in Georgia or Tennessee. Then find me a place in Illinois or Wisconsin that will let you do a home with a foundation wall that's only 18 inches tall. Not going to happen. Now you have to have the foundation plan redrawn. Added cost. And have you tried to negotiate with these plan book companies to have changes made? Very very time consuming and expensive if you can get them done at all. And where I live and work the local building departments do not want a redlined set of plans with changes submitted for permit. So now you have to have them redrawn completely. More money over and above what you paid for the original unuseable sets. Plus, at least in Illinois, it is illegal for an Architect to stamp plans done by another. So now you have to go back to the plan service and pay them to stamp your plans for permit. But now you find out that their Architect isn't licensed in your state. So now you've bought a set of plans that you can't use.
Take the time and find an Architect. I know a couple good residential designers but they always end up coming to me to help them with structural and design issues. Many Architects do not have the huge fees that I've seen quoted in Dwell and other magazines. Personally I, and many others in this area charge based on the square foot area of the house, not on a percentage of the cost to build. If you check around you'll find a good Architect who will help you get the most for you money. A good cost efficient design that will suit your needs, not the needs of some tract home builder. A good Architect will do a home for you no matter what size you want. I've done 1500 sf homes and 20,000 sf homes. And while there is a big life style difference between the 2 clients they were both very happy when the projects were completed.

What about for additions? I'm planning to add a fairly sizeable addition to my home in the next year (workshop/garage area downstairs; home theater/entertainment area upstairs). The neighborhood covenants require me to keep the addition in the same style as the rest of the house (which is something I'd want to do anyway). Should I use an architect for something like this, or is that overkill?

The information being provided on this forum is extremely inaccurate.

I will say upfront that I am a residential designer.

The previous quote about comparing the use of an architect to using an eye surgeon for eye surgery, etc is ridiculous.

When it comes to residential architecture, talent is talent. Remember, 50% of all architects finish in the bottom half of their class. And great design sometimes has more to do with artistry than with wood studs and nails.

I know architects who couldn't design a porta-potty let alone a custom home, and same for some residential designers. The decision should be based on the talent of the architect or residential designer, not the license on the wall.

Ask for references, or go to see work done by both. Find someone who designs the type and style of house you want, someone you can work with, who understands what to do when problems arise. A good architect or residential designer will add 10% or more to the value of a design, same for a good builder.

I know spec builders here in Arizona who aren't licensed, so they can't act as a general contractor, but they do excellent work. Houses ranging from less than a million to 5 - 6 million. And they do great work. Since they aren't licensed does that mean they aren't good. Not at all.

I will reply below directly to inaccurate quotes.

Municipalities will not allow an unlicensed designer to do any type of commercial, industrial, or large residential building.
Yes they do, depending on where you live.

Under Federal law, a residential designer can design any single family residence of any size. No municipality can override Federal law. A residential designer can design any commercial building up to and including 3,000 sq. ft.

They do not have the education or the experience to do it. - Give me a break. I do houses ranging from 4,000 to 20,000 sq. ft with very satisfied clients.

Most municipalities, but not all require an Architects stamp in order to get a permit for the plans.

Very few employ this practice and when challenged about restraint of trade and federal laws they usually back down.

Those that do not require the stamp sometimes require a licensed professional such as an Architect or structural engineer to review all the structure before issuing a permit.

Agreed that either an architect or structural engineer should stamp plans. Structural engineer stamp not required in most jurisdictions for houses under 4,000 sq. ft. But, for the minor added expense, I would always recommend using a structural engineer.

Jaybee: An Architect who designs a home or any type of building is responsible for the structural elements of the building in addition to the design. It is NOT the contractors responsibility. That's why Architects carry errors and omissions insurance. Most times it's to cover screw ups of the builder. A residential designer has absolutely no responsibility for defects in the plan and cannot get insurance as Architects can, because they are not licensed professionals.

Residential designers can in fact get errors and omissions insurance, you only need to know where to find it.

Matt: The problems with the home plan books is that most of the design firms that sell them are in warm climates that have totally different requirements then the northern areas of the country. Order a plan from Design basics or one of the others in Georgia or Tennessee. Then find me a place in Illinois or Wisconsin that will let you do a home with a foundation wall that's only 18 inches tall. Not going to happen. Now you have to have the foundation plan redrawn. Added cost. And have you tried to negotiate with these plan book companies to have changes made? Very very time consuming and expensive if you can get them done at all. And where I live and work the local building departments do not want a redlined set of plans with changes submitted for permit. So now you have to have them redrawn completely. More money over and above what you paid for the original unuseable sets. Plus, at least in Illinois, it is illegal for an Architect to stamp plans done by another. So now you have to go back to the plan service and pay them to stamp your plans for permit. But now you find out that their Architect isn't licensed in your state. So now you've bought a set of plans that you can't use.
Take the time and find an Architect. I know a couple good residential designers but they always end up coming to me to help them with structural and design issues.

I don't know of any architect that does their own structural calcs. That is why we(architects/residential designers) use structural engineers.

Many Architects do not have the huge fees that I've seen quoted in Dwell and other magazines. Personally I, and many others in this area charge based on the square foot area of the house, not on a percentage of the cost to build. If you check around you'll find a good Architect who will help you get the most for you money. A good cost efficient design that will suit your needs, not the needs of some tract home builder. A good Architect will do a home for you no matter what size you want. I've done 1500 sf homes and 20,000 sf homes. And while there is a big life style difference between the 2 clients they were both very happy when the projects were completed.[/QUOTE]

Everyone keeps mentioning price. I plan to have a few additions added to my house eventually and would very much like to have it professionally planned. Can someone give me a ballpark figure on what the price of an architect or residential designer will cost me? I would hate to approach one without having saved up enough money.

Thanks to all.

We have a bit of experience along these lines...had 2 residential design/build firms AND a sealed/stamped architect approach our custom home job...if you use an existing design/house plan from a book and you are not looking to make many changes to that plan, then I would suggest a design/build firm...it will save you ALOT of money, however, there is a drawback to not have the training/skill level of an architect who can really put the finishing touches on your home with detailing that many 'designers' miss.

We started with a designer [this is someone who does not have the education of an architect and does not require ANY education whatsoever, at least in Michigan]...the designer did an okay job, but couldn't quite 'hit' the target [and we had given him 50 pictures of the type of house and detailing we wanted]...we switched to an architect and he was able to turn the plans into something closer to what we desired, but at quite a cost...you have to be prepared to spend some money if you want a truly, one-of-a-kind custom home from an architect...

You should go to the book store and peruse the books and magazines for home plans first to see if there is an existing plan you can work with...collect as many pictures and ideas as possible before you approach either a designer or an architect and stand your ground on items you can't live without versus those you are willing to compromise on...your budget will dictate alot of your decisions...[that is especially true with architects as some of them feel they know best and cringe when you, as the client, make suggestions...we had to let one person go because of his ego...he wouldn't listen to any of our thoughts or ideas...listening should be a priority for any designer and/or architect].

Good Luck...it will be the most frustrating and most rewarding process you ever signed up for!

P.S. In Michigan, you MUST have a sealed architect sign off on any house over 4,000 sq. feet, so that is another consideration...check your state's requirements.

Know what you want before you engage either professional. Build what you will use with the materials you like, and what you can afford. Build to impress yourself not anyone else. Big isn't better, it just uses more resources, and costs more to build, heat, cool, maintain, and clean.

Choose a professional (designer or architect)whose work you admire; nothing like a house for a reference. Knock on the door and talk with the owners. Ask questions. Visit show homes with your camera, notebook and measuring tape. Does the house invite you in? Make you feel warm, safe and welcome? Entice you to explore other rooms? Or is it stunning, but so expansive that you feel dwarfed, marginalized and out-of-place? How tall is the ceiling? How wide is that kitchen island? What is the distance between the island and the adjacent counter? How big is the bedroom? Measure what you like and what you don't.

It takes more talent to design a 3,000 sqft home that feels like a 5,000 sqft home than it does to design the starter castles so common today. Go to your bookstore or library and choose a couple of home design books - get the ones with lots of photgraphs; you're just gathering ideas. Don't be afraid to sketch out your well-designed home. It'll be a good starting point.

Do you own your land or do you know where you want to buy land? Check with the local building department, find out what they require. Some developments require that you use certain designers/architects/builders, don't be suprised. Buy the land first, but make sure it has utilities, water, access, and a buildable site. (If you don't know and you have money to burn, take your design professional shopping with you.) Design your house to fit your site, a well-designed home looks like it belongs there. If your designer doesn't ask to visit the site before starting the design process, don't hire them.

Now interview your professionals. You know you like their work, do you like them? Do they listen to your ideas, do they ask questions to further explore those ideas? Or do they talk over and around you. Get a contract, know exactly what you are getting for your money and when. Require that the final design and all supporting drawings are your property and that you own the copyright. You paid for it. Remember you are the client, they work FOR you.

That said, I designed and sited our barn, detached garage and home. The garage and barn are built and we break ground on the house this spring. I am an engineer, but not a structural engineer, so I spent many evenings studying tables and formulae. I built a scale model of the house, just to be sure. And yes, the design is realistic, I can frame, sheath, plumb, wire and finish, but my real forte is directing my endearing and enduring husband. Good luck!

I love these types of conversations. I grew up in a building family with a father and three older brothers. I was helping build homes from the age of ten years. Carrying blocks, mixing mortar, bringing shingles to the roof, etc. By thirteen I was framing, pouring concrete, drywall, trim and installing cabinets. By the time I was fifteen I was dropped off at various residences to install cabinets by myself. I was the youngest and never really understood collage, nor was there any talk about it in the family. My older bothers all went into becoming their own contractors. The oldest was the only one who didn’t quit high-school. He is 49 now and has retired a very rich man. Another brother, who is 46 could retire - if he wasn’t more interested in teaching his two boys how to become the best builders they can be. He now develops large parcels of land to build his homes. My other brother is now fully into land development and sales. Me! I’m tired of being the pawn. I work for more than 80 builders, sell my house plans all over the US and Canada. Draw over 350 residential homes and condominiums a year. I have through the last 16 years spent far more time in books and teaching myself computer and cad stuff than most any architect has spent in 8 years of full time schooling. I have learned more than 10 programming languages to develop our Cad software and integrate it with our own in house designed database and web sites. I have spent the last several years and thousands of dollars helping the builders I work for become computer literate and ready for the next generation of technologically demanding customers who are already working in companies far more advanced than the construction industry. I have built many homes and understand structure better than most architects who seem to try their best at times to make something beautiful and miss the opportunity to design for standards at the same time. One architect called me to ask if you can add different pitched roofs on the same house… Hello!!

So, did I write all this to brag on myself – perhaps a little. But more than this is the fact that I have learned that a person can excel to great heights on his or her own determination. Are you a great architect because you have been through school and have a license? Are home designers great because they decide one day to design homes? Are builders great because they have a license to build?

Let me answer that this way. I have three employees. One is now managing the design department because I am going into building. (You saps can now work for me!) Two of my employees are employees. Let me explain. They come to work to do a job. While I work diligently with them, they continue to fail to be good designers – they will be detailers until they quit or get fired. I do not believe they will ever be great home designers. I have been through more than 10 people in the last 7 years. But my manager is different. He I believe is truly gifted. Design for me is very simple and straightforward. I love designing homes. My manager also loves designing homes. What makes anyone great at what they do? They have to love it. I was a toolmaker for 11 years, designing and making tooling for many different industries. (Remember, I not only did not go to school, but quit school in 10th grade.) However, I never said schooling was bad, on the contrary, schooling and a love for what you do is what creates great people. In our society one must be schooled to obtain recognition in the form of a license or degree. Do I wish I had gone to school for architecture? Absolutely. But I’m afraid there are far too many people holding degrees that have never known what it is to love what they do. The result is architects and designers creating poorly designed homes and builders who should be working for the manufacturing homes market, or just recently, doctors who misdiagnose a symptom causing me to spend time on the Internet figuring out for myself what I had. Good Night!! I was coughing, chocking and gasping for air. Three emergency doctors, my own doctor and finally a throat specialist – all failed because of what? Their lack of love to be the best. Do I trust doctors anymore? Not the licensed doctors I met.

Let me put it this way. Everyone has his or her taste in music or art. These are just other forms of being creative, showing others the talents and ability to do the job the best they can. While we have different tastes; are there better artists than others? Have you ever looked a painting or listened to a piece of music and said to yourself; “what on earth is that person doing?” Some people have the ability to torture others with their inability to formulate words, paint, lines, etc. The bottom line is that many people are not gifted to do what they do. Or, are unwilling to continue their out of school education.

May I conclude by saying to the Architects and Home Designers; learn to love what you do, and never stop opening up the next book or web page to acquire all you can. Do not shun builders, because the smallest and newest builder does and will always know more than you for real world circumstances. I have often thought that in any occupation, the professional should work his or her way up through the industry he or she wishes to design for. If you are an Architect, Designer or Engineer, bless you if you spent your years studying and working in your field besides your years at school. For those of you who grew up playing video games and decided one day to become an architect; you need to listen carefully to those who have years of hands on experience. Plus, we really do not want to hear your opinion yet because until you have gone through any type of real world experience, you will never know all there is to know to be a really great architect or home designer. I have been drawing plans for more than 26 years, now that I decided to go into building; I have already learned a great deal more. Each one of you who want to stand up for yourself because you believe you do a great service for your community, lead by loving what you do. There isn’t a marriage on earth that grows to beautiful proportions without continual proactive love. Are you still reading? Are you implementing even a small piece of new technology into your firm? Are you taking the time to program some new systems to reduce overhead or work at getting the clients plans back sooner?

If you are an Architect, thank God for the opportunity and financial backing that allowed you to become a licensed and recognized home designer. If you can design commercial buildings, why aren’t you doing so? There’s a lot more money in it. If you aren’t, why? If you like designing houses, you should have known that most builders’ years ago drew their plans on a paper bag or napkin. Things have changed over the past years, but I do not think you should be angry at home designers and builders because they just want to continue what they have been doing for hundreds of years. Maybe you should look at what occupation you decided to compete in.

If you are a Home Designer, thank God that most states still recognize you as a viable service to the construction industry. Because of your choice to quit school long before your fellow architect, or not go to school at all, you will never be able to produce plans for large commercial buildings. Find your niche and do it to better your community. Start to take a closer look at what is truly beautiful and proportional. Too many homes being designed that are ugly because designer and architects do not study history and look closely to why something look nice. One designer can draw four columns on a house and make it look beautiful while the next designer adds columns but lacks the understanding of proportion and creates an eyesore. If you can’t do it right – do something else.

This isn’t about Architects vs. Designers. This is about people qualified by the works of their hands for the service of their fellow man. How you achieve that ability and status is up to you.

I live in north eastern Fl., and I have a home that is on the river and I have a lot of mildew and mold all over the inside of the house, and I'd like to know what kind of contractor, home inspector, etc. to come in and evaluate the damage?

Florida, I live on the Gulf Coast and have friends who had a similar problem. They had an inspector come in, and he CONDEMNED the house! They had to move out while the work was done. The company they hired to do the 'clean up' took 6 months ... and cleaned them out of a lot of power tools in the process! They got plaster and paint all over the furniture and flooring as well. It was hard for my friends to over-see the work as it was being done because they couldn't be there very often (the inspector's condemning the place made it a health risk for them to go in the place until it was nearly done).

Be very careful who you choose to do the work ... and I'd try to steer clear of an inspector in case he decides to condemn YOUR place!

PS You might want to talk to your insurance company. They may cover the cost of the repairs, and have several reputable companies for you to choose from. You may have to pay a deductable, but it would probably be a lot cheaper than paying for the whole job yourself.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SNUZI,

Now I have a question of my own. I have a house that I'm not very fond of. It is too small for my liking, and I had bought it with the intent to remodel. 7 years later, nothing has been done, but I'm so frustrated that I'm ready to take sledge hammer in hand and start the 'walls' rolling.

I would like to enlarge the bedrooms, add a dining room (and make over the dining room to a formal living area) and pave the courtyard ... for starters. I am also toying with the idea of going up ... making a second floor!

I have a large lot (6 acres) with access to 2 roads. Should I invest in the remodeling of my home, or would it be best to build what I want on another part of the property and sell this place. Which option would be the most cost efficient? I'm tired of doing nothing!

If it were me, I'd go ahead and build a completely different house. Remodeling an existing house is a major disruption to your life. If you build a new one, though, you'll still get to live in your existing house and won't be so much at the mercy of the weather and other factors.

Good luck.