How to Find and Choose a Trustworthy Commercial Architect

If you're the proud owner of a real estate project or a simple property, you'll know how important it is to build on it, maintain it, and renovate or redesign it when the time comes. For many real estate investors, their best friend is their architect, who stays by their side to design any buildings, making sure they have as much value as possible. The architect's role in this process cannot be understated, and that is why choosing the right one is so important. In this article we will discuss about how to find and choose a reliable commercial architect.

1. Define the scope of your project

Before you're ready to work with an architect, you'll need to know what to approach them with. Any architect you find will be willing to help you with whichever project you choose, so it'll be up to you to identify what your building needs. Some owners prefer to have simple renovations or total remodels, while others opt to create entire expansions or new floors, all of which will require your trusty architect. If you're still not sure about what your building needs, you can ask different architects for their opinions or hire a private contractor to inspect your building and tell you what you can change. Once you know what you want to change, you'll have a clear scope for the project.

2. Consider the design you want to go with

Architecture is one of the oldest art forms for a reason, and it has been preserved for thousands of years. It's a practice that has been built over centuries of refinement from the greatest minds in history, resulting in mind-blowing works of art and practices that improve with each passing year. These different disciplines each created their form of architecture and art, and these come in the form of trademark designs that suit each building differently. If you're interested in building a house, you can go for an older, Victorian-era look, and if you're building an office, you should go with a more modernist look. Whichever design you choose, there will be an architect that specializes in that field.

3. Gather recommendations from qualified people

There's nothing better than word of mouth when it comes to finding and hiring qualified and competent people. No matter how convincing a firm's sales pitch is or how attractive their advertising is, the best way to understand how they work is by asking someone who's worked with them previously. If you know other owners and developers of real estate, you should approach them and ask them for recommendations, as well as their opinions about the firms you’re interested in.

4. Check every architect’s job history

Architects have the best form of resumes in the world. All you need to do to check their references and job history is to simply see the buildings they've made. You can do this online or, preferably, in person. This way, you'll be able to hear about how they work and the level of care they put in. You'll also have real-life examples of the kind of designs they specialize in, and what you can expect your project to look like if you hire the specific firm you're investigating. Lastly, checking out buildings can help you spot when an architect is being dishonest or lying about work they've done in the past.

5. Consider your relationship with the architect.

Having a personal relationship with the architect you’re working with is more important than many people realize. Some architects are unwilling to work with others, and this can result in a corrupted or unfulfilled vision, causing dissatisfaction. Luckily, commercial architects all over the United States are working on how they interact with customers and bring their visions to life. Thanks to the internet, it's now incredibly convenient to find a commercial architect nearby. 

Conclusion

Architects form the backbone of any good real estate project. This is because any building you own only has value if it's usable and if there are interested tenants or buyers. You can only make that happen with a good, practical design that's flashy but functional. However, getting an architect that's not right for you can be incredibly damaging, too, resulting in a loss in investment.