The Value Of Hiring An Architect With A Remodeling Contractor In Portland

By Erik Heidrick


Renovating a house can mean different things to different people. It could be anything from throwing up a new coat of paint to removing walls and moving rooms around. Simple projects don't usually require professional supervision. Major renovations are best handled with good architectural oversight and a remodeling contractor Portland natives recommend.

Architects can study your plans and make design and engineering suggestions. This kind of advice doesn't come cheap however. Before you talk to an architect, you should consult local contractors to get their opinions on the best way to proceed.

You hire architects for their expertise, so you should expect yours to take over the project. As long as you are comfortable with that arrangement, you can sit back, observe, and sign the checks. It will probably be a relief to let a good architect handle the contractors and budget decisions.

It's a good idea to bring your architect in right at the beginning. Instead of taking over someone else's work, she can create the original design, including floor plans and exterior restructuring. The architect will be familiar with what information contractors need to make competitive and informed bids. She will even walk you through the bidding process.

If you hire an architect, you have someone who will see the project through from start to finish. Instead of different people being in charge of individual parts of the job, contractors and crews are going to work together under the leadership on one person. This will make for a much smoother process. It will be significantly more expensive however, than if you were dealing with contractors on your own.

Based on economies of scale, it is probably worth it to hire an architect to manage large projects. It will likely cost you 5 or 10 percent more to let them deal with getting bids and managing the contractors performing the work.




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