Eric Rawlings makes some interesting observations regarding the appraisal and banking industry valuation of architects services. It is my understanding that a realtor's fee can be financed in with the mortgage when buying an existing home so it seems to me that an architect's fee could be financed in when constructing a home. In any case, I advise my clients to save the invoices for my services and to submit them to the bank with the first construction loan draw along with the other pre-construction invoices of land surveying, engineering evaluations, site services, etc. The realtor's fee is for services in selecting a home as an architect's fee is to designing one. I must admit that I have not followed up on whether or not the banks have allowed it, but we are contemplating a survey to past clients and could include that question in it of whether or not they successfully included our fees in the home's financing.
When I made the realtor/architect comparison to one really good client, he thought it was worth further mentioning to others and I have been doing so over the past five years. I've only had one client tell me that the comparison was downright scary, but that was one that I ended up terminating the services for anyway due to other communications issues.
In submitting the invoices that other industries might see, perhaps we should start including the services that we provide, especially along the line of construction administration. I have seen some language in financing forms that required the architect to "oversee" construction and that surely should be broken out separately as a unique service since we look out for the owner and the bank. The services need to be emphasized over the plans.
Some new thoughts on why people may not hire architects. I've formed these opinions since I also sell "stock plans" - gasp! In working with clients on new designs, choosing an existing plan, or modifying an existing plan, I am convinced that it has to do with an uncertainty factor both in terms of construction costs (which can be really difficult to nail down) and whether or not architects can design something that they will like. When you look at an existing home, you know the cost and you can walk through it to see what it feels like. The closer that we can come to identifying the costs by working with a builder early on (isn't this the "integrated design" part of the green building programs?) and producing 3d drawings that allow people to virtually experience design prior to construction, the closer we could come to reducing the financial risk that is involved with hiring an architect. A longer term goal of mine is to close these gaps.
And lastly, I think that some people do not have the time or patience to deal with the design process including the ability to articulate what they would like in a home. I know that I ask an awful lot of my custom design clients in terms of identifying their needs and in reviewing drawings and continuously thank them for their time. Is it more time than what they'd spend with a realtor if they were choosing an existing home? I really do not know that one, but I do think that one key is to make the comparison. (I've also just noticed in typing this up that spell check says that "realtor" is spelled wrong, but "Realtor" is spelled correctly! What does that say???)
-------------------------------------------
Debra Rucker Coleman AIA
Sun Plans, Inc.
Citronelle AL
-------------------------------------------