Architects

Architect Help

We are about to start a huge reno\restoration of a 3-story limestone + basement in Windsor Terrace. Any recommendations on an architect with associated costs, and other helpful hints would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

by
09/27/2006

We are about to start a huge reno\restoration of a 3-story limestone + basement in Windsor Terrace. Any recommendations on an architect with associated costs, and other helpful hints would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Architects

Comments

  3. We thought we could keep our costs within the $150-$200k range for a 3 story house restoration, but found that the architects out there who work in bklyn are actually right when they tell you it will be a minimum of $150k per floor when all is said and done. I didn’t believe them and worked my tail off to get costs lower, but at the end of the day it’s costing the same anyway. So give in to what the pros tell you and you will save yourself time, if not money. Also I actively discourage people from getting recommendations on line. One of the architects mentioned above isn’t great. So it’s much better if you do your legwork the old fashioned way, meet a bunch of people, find out who’s too busy to take on your project, who’s moved on to bigger and better things and doesn’t want to do the average reno job anymore, and check recent references only. And ask the contractors about the architects and visa versa. There is no such thing as a perfect team of architects and contractors. There are always going to be things they do that drive you nuts….architects that are too involved and cost a fortune because they are charging you hourly. architects that aren’t involved enough or are too busy so you can’t get updates or plans or revisions done when you really need them. and by now for sure you have heard all sorts of horror stories about contractors. if anybody tells you that a contractor and/or an architect is perfect on all fronts just ignore their recommendation because there is no such thing and either they weren’t involved in the nitty gritty of their job or they are lying, or the job is so long ago in their past that they’ve conveniently forgotten all the little annoyances along the way.

  4. We thought we could keep our costs within the $150-$200k range for a 3 story house restoration, but found that the architects out there who work in bklyn are actually right when they tell you it will be a minimum of $150k per floor when all is said and done. I didn’t believe them and worked my tail off to get costs lower, but at the end of the day it’s costing the same anyway. So give in to what the pros tell you and you will save yourself time, if not money. Also I actively discourage people from getting recommendations on line. One of the architects mentioned above isn’t great. So it’s much better if you do your legwork the old fashioned way, meet a bunch of people, find out who’s too busy to take on your project, who’s moved on to bigger and better things and doesn’t want to do the average reno job anymore, and check recent references only. And ask the contractors about the architects and visa versa. There is no such thing as a perfect team of architects and contractors. There are always going to be things they do that drive you nuts….architects that are too involved and cost a fortune because they are charging you hourly. architects that aren’t involved enough or are too busy so you can’t get updates or plans or revisions done when you really need them. and by now for sure you have heard all sorts of horror stories about contractors. if anybody tells you that a contractor and/or an architect is perfect on all fronts just ignore their recommendation because there is no such thing and either they weren’t involved in the nitty gritty of their job or they are lying, or the job is so long ago in their past that they’ve conveniently forgotten all the little annoyances along the way.

  6. Re: cost of architects services
    anywhere from 15-20% of cost of construction
    for reputable firms
    beware: what you pay for is what you get (goes for contractors as well)

  8. I just renovated a 3 story (inclusive of basement) in Windsor Terrace and without an architect it came to 280k or 104psf (home is 2700 sf). I echo mg’s comment, 100-150k is a fantasy. My project was reno only, if restoration was involved the costs would have risen dramatically.

  9. last poster: are you dreaming?
    3-story house w/ basement huge reno, if kitchen, baths, electric, plumbing and many other things which come with major renovation come to play, even at $100 per sq.ft will give you $300,000.
    And finding a good architect to do it for 9% – questionable.

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