It could be said that architects and builders have had a tenuous relationship ever since there have been architects and builders. Architects can feel that builders don’t fully grasp the importance of the aspects of thoughtful design, and builders can feel that the architects should spend time in the field of construction to understand that what looks good on paper, simply can’t be produced in the physical world. Anyone who has seen the works of M.C. Escher knows what I mean.
Architects are essential for new construction designs; they will have all the details accounted for once the design goes through a multitude of renderings before it’s eventually completed and approved. Note however, that the architect will likely not be putting any cost figures on the design. When choosing an architect, you would also want to look at the body of their work and the style of their portfolio. The Portland architect may have very modern, angular, industrial projects while the Cape Elizabeth architect will have a coastal, cozy, beachfront feel.
Remodelers are essential for remodeling designs of older homes. If you listen to the house, it will tell you what it wants; if you fight the house, it will cost more money. I have experienced several situations where the homeowner hired an architect for a considerable amount of money for their residential remodel and the overall cost to build/remodel as designed was hugely outside of the homeowner’s construction budget.
Moreover, the final value of the home, if it was built, would have exceeded the median home values for the neighborhood by, in this case, about $350,000. It would have been the only $700,000 home in a neighborhood of $350,000 homes.
They would not have been able to sell it for what they had invested; they couldn’t rent part of it out because it wasn’t two separate units and if it were, the rent wouldn’t have covered the monthly payments on the construction loan. The two bathrooms would have been placed in the farthest possible point away from the sewer line. The existing staircase would have been torn out and moved over four feet to allow for a 2nd floor laundry/ wash-dry closet. It would have maxed out the usable and most enjoyable part of the private back yard.
It would not have made the kitchen more spacious or functional, given them a mud room or give them a second covered spot for off-street parking. The windows were specified to be Anderson’s most expensive line, where the existing windows in the main house were good quality but didn’t match the newly proposed windows. You may have guessed by now, the architect got paid and the remodel never happened. What you may not have guessed was the backlash I received from the homeowner. Sure, no one wants to hear that they needlessly spent a lot of money, but I’d rather rain on their parade now than be the captain of a sinking ship later.
Much like the parameters for finding an architect, the same should be taken into consideration when finding a builder/remodeler. Do they have a body of work which represents the type of build you are looking for? Are they experienced in 100-, 200-, or 300-year-old homes. Do they only do remodeling? Do they do a mix of residential and commercial or is it all one or the other? Do they have a team of subcontractors that are familiar with, and willing to, get their hands dirty in these old buildings? Truth be told, I have had some very professional and accomplished subcontracted tradesmen and employees stop doing remodels with us because new construction is easier and cleaner.
As with any construction endeavors, make sure the business and its subcontractors are insured and their workman’s comp policy is up to date. Certificates of Insurance should come directly from their insurance provider, not from their personal docs, as info and dates on their declarations page can be changed.
As per the Maine Attorney General’s guidelines for construction and home repair, always get a contract in writing, always speak with more than one contractor, and don’t pay more than one third of the total cost of the contracted project up front.
https://www.maine.gov/ag/consumer/housing/home_construction.shtml <
Warren O'Shea is the owner of O’Shea Builders LLC, Maine’s most award-winning remodeling contractor. He has 35-plus years of residential remodeling experience. He is a certified home inspector and has been featured on HGTV, Food Network, and Maine Cabin Masters. He is a recipient of the Portland Police Department’s “Citizen Award,” and is a staunch consumer advocate. Warren has, and continues to, co-author articles for nationally distributed trade magazines.
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