Expert: Ted Barnhill (Principal, Design45 LLC) - 10/24/2008

Question
We would like to have a new home built in a remote mountain ranch area in AZ. Would you recommend hiring an architect (~$42,000 fee for $600,000 home)to design and engineer that new home or use a designer/builder to get it done? This website will give you a preview of the primitive land we will build on: http://www.photoshow.com/watch/rE3CV2MX

Answer
Len,

You have a beautiful piece of land; I recommend that you build in a way that complements the landscape, working with the local climate and maximizing views while controlling light carefully.  These are things that many builders do very poorly, even "design/builders".  The fee for a good architect or residential designer, while significant at 5% to 15%, is small compared to the dramatic improvement in quality of spaces, durabilty/efficiency of the home, and increased resale value.  In short, good design is money well spent.  The ways to get great residential design are to:

1. Hire a good residential designer.  These professionals specialize in residential work; sometimes they are registered as architects, sometimes not.  You should like their work, and be comfortable with their way of working with you, the client.  Ask about their training, experience in your area, and be sure to talk with their past clients.

2. Hire an architect.  Some architects are very good at residential design, others may focus on other work and do residential projects just to "fill in the gaps"  in their schedule.  In addition to the questions above, you probably want to ask how much residential design they have done recently, as technologies and methods are constantly changing.

3. Hire a design/builder.  In my experience, some design/build firms offer outstanding design, others do not.  The process can be more efficient than having a separate designer and builder (though sometimes not), but you are still paying for the design services as part of the overall cost.  You may lean more toward a design/builder if they have good experience in a specialized construction method that you want to pursue, such as adobe, strawbale, passive-solar, etc.

I hope this helps clarify your options.  Good luck building your new home, and feel free to post follow-up questions.  -Ted