Find the right Architect or Designer
in Christchurch

If you are planning to build a dream new home, do extensive renovations to extend or change your existing Christchurch property, a qualified architect can help bring your ideas to life.

Your architect will be the one who takes your ideas and turns them into workable concepts, so it is important to find a contractor who understands you and your style.

Start with the right foundations

Before you look for an architect, think about what you want from your partnership and what you wish to achieve with your property.

If you are looking to build in a certain way such as eco-building or renovating a heritage property then seriously consider finding an architect with experience in your chosen area. It may cost you a little extra, but the specialist knowledge they bring could be the difference between your build being average or spectacular.

Develop a list of questions to ask an architect at a first meeting to help you decide if they will be a good fit for your project. This might include questions about their working style, how varied their work is and how involved they are in each project.

How hands-on you need your architect to be may depend on your circumstances and whether you can be available to answer questions from your builder and make decisions. If you are not confident about interpreting plans or cannot be on site regularly, then ask if your architect can help you with this and liaise directly with the builders.

Choosing your architect

Before you make your final decision look at some previous work done by the architects you are considering. Most firms will have a gallery of work on their website or at their office and if they are a local company you may even be able to visit, or at least drive past, some of the buildings they have worked on.

Have clear expectations when you discuss the details of the contract so you know exactly what you are paying for and what services you will be getting. For example, you should find out whether the architect will charge extra if revisions have to be made to the original plan or whether these are included in the initial price.

Working with an architect

Once you have chosen your preferred architect, it is important to develop a good working relationship with them as you could be working closely together for some time depending on the size of the project.

Be clear about your expectations and be firm about parts of the design that are important to you, but be prepared to be flexible if your architect says something is not feasible or will be too expensive. They will have experience in building for Christchurch conditions and may recognise issues that you do not expect, especially if you are a novice builder.

Talk to your architect regularly and keep them updated about any issues that might arise once the building has started so they can help you work around any potential problems sooner rather than later.

Building a new home is a significant milestone but finding the right architect on Builderscrack can help your dreams become a reality on time and on budget, so pick your contractor carefully and you will reap the rewards.