How to Choose a Residential Design Specialist?

How to Choose a Residential Designer

So, you’re finally ready to take the first steps along the path of home design! Beginning the process can feel like an uphill battle and it’s hard to know where to start.

If you view this process as though you are hiking a mountain you will see the necessary steps required to prepare yourself for the journey, plan appropriately for a smooth ascent, and select the right guides to lead you to your destination.

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The Trailhead

This is where your journey begins.

There are MANY paths to the final destination of a new home.  All paths will get you there, but where they differ is in degree of difficulty.

You want your process to be as easy as possible, with the understanding that the path of home design and build is inherently arduous.  Yes, it is rewarding, enlightening, and beautiful!  And, also arduous.  Do not be fooled.

You want to make sure your designer is fully equipped to walk this path with you!

How many times has your home designer been here before? Is this new territory for them or do they know this path like the back of their hand?

Do they have expertise in solving unique issues related to your property, wants, and desires?

How long have they been in the business? Investigate their proven track record.

Have they been recognized for excellence in design and service? Look to see if they’ve won any awards or received other prestigious recognition.

Do they have good reviews? Do they come recommended from others who have worked with them? Pay close attention to what previous clients are saying. Click HERE to read our reviews.

Are they an accredited Certified Professional Building Designer having completed the National Council of Building Designer Certification (NCBDC)? This is the only standardized certification for residential design specialists not recognized as architects (check out the Who’s Who article to learn more about the difference between a residential design specialist and an architect).
Is your designer also a teacher? Are they willing to educate you on the process of designing and building a new home?

Is your designer a skilled guide? Will they hold your hand through some of the more difficult terrain and provide numerous thoughtful options and referrals to guide you to the best possible solutions for your home?

Does your home designer have excellent reviews? Or have your friends or colleagues stated their challenges with getting their designer to understand what it is they were looking for?

Is your designer accessible? Can he or she be reached? Or is it hard to get through to them or their staff? Paying close attention to the way your home designer communicates with you from the very beginning is essential.

Can the designer answer you directly or do they seem to dance around your questions?

Is there an organized process for how they go about providing you with design solutions? They should be able to lay out for you an overview of their process, recognizing that all designers operate differently.

Can your designer give you a CLEAR fee schedule that explains exactly what their services are and how they charge?

Does your designer elicit a deep feeling of trust for you? This is important! Transparency and communication are key to building trust.

Does your designer listen to you, ask you tough questions, and spend the time to truly get to know you? If you don’t feel heard by your designer, you know it’s time to hit the road! That path is NOT for you.

Your Pack

These are the things you’ll want to prepare ahead of time.

Spend some time determining your needs and wants. Successful home design begins with plenty of ideas, so it’s never too soon to begin gathering information such as pictures, sketches, magazine clippings, etc.

Pinpoint the architectural styles you are drawn to.

Establish a budget and timeline. An experienced designer should be able to give you guidelines on budget prior to putting your project out to bid. Keep in mind the total overall cost of home design and build is a moving target, based on the scope of the project, as well as the fluctuating costs of labor and materials.

Know what your goals are for your home. Choosing your designer will be MUCH easier if you can explain what your goals are and can provide a list of your must have’s and would like to have’s.

Physical Training

These are the aspects of health and wellness designers often overlook.

Does your designer take your health into consideration? Think carefully about what you need in specific to support your and your family’s health. Consider how long you plan to live in your home. Will you retire in it? Will it be your forever home? Do you or others living in or vising the home require any kind of physical assistance?

Does the designer take into consideration the health of the planet? Few people realize the significant impact their home has on their health and the environment. Fortunately, the elements of home design that are healthy for the environment end up being the healthiest for you as well.

Choose a designer who is able to create a home that’s healthy, functional, sustainable, adaptable and flexible for long-term living without the need for costly future renovations to meet the changing needs of your family.

I'm Ready! Let's Begin!

The Guides

Now it’s time to put together your Team for support!

Who are the specific professionals that will be needed to complete your project? Get them involved ASAP! The sooner the entire Team is assembled the better. As the saying goes “two heads are better than one.”

Does your designer work well with a Team or do they like to fly solo? What is their reputation working with a group? Home design and build is a process that requires many people to work together regardless of each person’s teamwork skills.

Is your designer able to refer you to other Team members who offer superb quality, high integrity, excellent communication, and work cohesively with others? The value added of assembling a Team from the very beginning is paramount by saving you time AND money! (Read more about A Team Approach: Key to Home Creation Success & Savings)

The Map

Your home design drawing is the map that will be used by your entire Team to successfully create your dream home.

Find the designer that will design the best, most creative solutions for YOU!

Is their design tailored specific to YOUR happiness, needs, wants, desires, and future or is it a general design template they use for everyone? You might be surprised to learn that most designers have a “look” or “style” they like to use repeatedly. This is not a bad thing at all, so long as their “look” or “style” is right for you. If you’re looking for unique and personal, perhaps finding a designer who is able to expand outside the box is more up your alley. Look at their gallery to see if previous home designs cover a wide range of styles or if they all kind of appear to be similar or have undertones of a signature pattern.

Are all aspects of your project being considered? Custom home design should take into consideration far more than the clients wants and desires. Factors like budget, lay of the land, movement of the sun across the property, views to be maximized, lifestyle and habits of the homeowners, and the ways in which the client wants to live into the future are all crucial components of design drawing. For these reasons no two homes should look similar.

Is your designer a problem solver? Challenges will arise. Find a home designer with the gift of conceiving an unlimited number of solutions to a design challenge. Do ideas flow to them readily or do they have a limited number of tools in their pack?

Are they able to hand sketch design ideas? A designer who can hand-sketch concepts to help you visualize ideas before spending time in CADD is a true visual creative.

Is your designer detail oriented? Ask to see previous client’s construction drawings to get an idea of the level of detail that goes into each project. The more detail provided upfront will make for a seamless transition when the design changes hands to the builder and other team members, but only if those details are accurate and reflect the intent of your specific design.

What do builders have to say about the designer? Talk to builders who have worked with your designer in the past and ask them if the construction drawings they receive are detailed, accurate, and easy to build from.

The Terrain & View

The terrain and available views of your building site should be top priority for your designer.

Many new homes have challenging building sites, especially those in the lake and mountain areas where we specialize.

Is your designer adept at designing for your specific building site environment? Does your property slope dramatically or have a very odd shape to it? Does it have shoreline or other easement setbacks? Does it have a beautiful view that you want to maximize? Make sure your designer is very knowledgeable about how your home will interact with Mother Nature. A design challenge that’s often overlooked is maintaining even indoor temperatures (especially in the hot southern summer) while preserving the beautiful views that attracted you to that site.

Does the designer take into consideration how YOU want to interact with Mother Nature? Can they design outdoor spaces that you’ll use all year round? Blending indoor and outdoor living spaces seamlessly is a key desire for many homeowners today.

Designing a home is like putting together a puzzle. Some of the most important pieces of the puzzle come from the environment. Make sure your designer has already established an intimate relationship with Mother Nature and is able to decipher important clues like lay of the land, movement of the sun, seasonal weather patterns, tree coverage, water runoff, and more.

When your home is complete it should look as though it truly belongs on the site it was designed for.

The Summit

You’ve finally made it!!! Your dream home is complete, and the view is oh so sweet!

Will your home feel like it fits you like a glove and is exactly what you intend to come home to each day?

Will your home exceed your expectations, giving you a sense of elation and confidence in your designer choice?

Will your designer feel like more than just a designer to you once your home is completed? When you travel such a path with someone who is supportive the entire way an unbreakable bond is often created. You should not only have a new home, but a new friend!

The Descent

It’s all downhill from here! Allow yourself to feel the ease and joy your life now embodies. It’s as easy as being guided by gravity. Congratulations!!! You deserve this!

As Residential Design Specialists with over 34 years of experience, we have led MANY treks along the Home Design trail. We’d be honored to walk this path with YOU!

Our Award-Winning Homes with a View are always You-Inspired for Joyful Living!
Give us a call or email us today!

How to Choose a Residential Designer

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