You’ve been planning and saving for years, and now it’s finally time to make your dream home a reality. You probably have a vision of how you’d like it to look, including the overall style, the floor plan, the landscaping, and the finishes. You may even have photos of homes you’ve seen in magazines or on the internet, and you can clearly see in your mind’s eye how it will all come together. So do you still need a design professional for your house plan?
Advantages of working with a custom home designer
Even if you have a detailed, well-developed picture of what you want your dream home to look like, you can still benefit from working with a design professional. You may even find that, rather than adding to your budget, partnering with a designer can actually reduce your costs and add to the value of your home. Here’s how a designer can help:
Knowledge of building codes - In Ontario, both architects and designers are required to take exams on the building code for residential buildings. They will ensure that your house plan is safe, that it will receive the needed building permits, and that it will pass its inspections.
Understanding your current and future needs - When you picture your dream house, you probably think about the beauty and functionality of your ideal space, but not the details of how you will use the space and what you’ll need from the house 10 or20 years down the road. Designers are skilled at asking questions that tap into the things you may not be considering at the design stage.
Seeing the big picture - A designer will carefully consider how your house and landscaping will fit into your neighbourhood. Will it dominate the homes on either side of yours in size or placement on the lot? Does the style complement the homes in your area, or is it too much of a contrast? Will each elevation be attractive as viewed from the street?
Sweating the details - You may not notice that the floor plan you sketched out doesn’t leave enough room for a double vanity or that you won’t be able to open your fridge door all the way. Still, a designer will pick up on these things and correct them before they become a years-long annoyance.
Adding value to the home itself - You may want to sell your home eventually, and a designer will help you choose the style and features that will make your house appealing to a future buyer. For example, you may want only showers and no bathtubs in your bathrooms, but this will make your home unworkable for a family with young children. A designer can also advise you about the features that will add to or subtract from the future sale price of your home.
Helping you select materials - Designers have extensive knowledge of the available building materials and finishes, along with their advantages and disadvantages. New products are constantly coming on the market, and designers can find you options that give you the features and look you want while keeping you within budget. Overwhelmed with the choices? Many designers will happily direct you to the best tile stores, the flooring retailers with the lowest prices, and the bathroom fixtures outlets with the most extensive selection.
Communicating with the build team - Your architect or designer will visit the job site regularly to check on the build’s progress, correct anything that’s not consistent with the house plans, and update the build team on any changes you request.
Negotiating with the neighbours – Custom home building can get messy and noisy, and you’ll be living elsewhere while your neighbours live right next to the building site. Your designer can reduce any friction between you and your neighbours by informing them of what will be happening at the site and taking steps to minimize their impact.
Saving you time - There are many steps involved in the design and building process, and a designer can ensure that the process moves along as efficiently as possible by putting pieces in place in advance. A smart designer also anticipates delays and prepares for them, minimizing the impact of any delays to your move-in date.
Types of Design Professionals
- Many homeowners opt for the full services of an architect. Architects earn a degree in building design before completing an apprenticeship and taking licensing exams. Of all design professionals, architects have the most extensive training and the broadest base of knowledge.
- Designers (sometimes called “architectural designers) are not required to have an undergraduate degree, although they may have one. They have many of the same skills as architects, but they work exclusively on residential buildings.
- Interior designers (not to be confused with interior decorators) are trained at the community college level to enhance the functionality and beauty of all types of interior spaces: residential, commercial, and retail. They don’t design entire structures but can guide you on the design of your interior spaces.
The 76 Construction Team
With over 25 years in the construction business, our team has guided many homeowners through the various stages of home design and construction. Our complete range of home building services includes access to a full slate of design professionals, integrated seamlessly with the build team. Still, need to choose a lot for your house? We can help with that too. Working with 76 Construction, you’ll have all the consulting services you need, with none of the hassles.
Ready to get started? Get in touch with us to talk about building your dream custom home.
Turn your dream home into a reality!