Housing and Community Development

Both of these things are sorely needed.  When appraisers look at an architect designed home they say "what a shame there's no way for me to value this. I can only use comparable sales"

And I wholeheartedly agree that it would be good for business to require an architect's seal more often, but when you are dealing with individual homeowners and their right to do what they want with their own home there will always be that loophole where the owner can sign off on his own plans.

Even so, I agree the AIA should do more lobbying to help us in this regard.

-------------------------------------------
Paul Kiss AIA
Principal
Olivieri, Shousky & Kiss, P.A
Pennington NJ
-------------------------------------------

Following this thread with interest.  Sadly, all the points are true about appraisers and their ability (or inability) to influence the real estate or banking community.  I have had several homes which I designed (both new and addition/renovations) sell very quickly and near asking price. My clients have attributed this to the design and execution of the project.  These same clients have been loyal proponents of my practice and have not hesitated to tell prospective clients their experience and the "real" value they obtained from a well designed home.

I too agree reading through this thread it is all true.  We all need to become advocates and not wait for anybody to do it for us.  Its up to us.

As far as appraisers, on every job we do I get a call from appraisers asking what our fee is to a new construction home.  This gets added into the value of the home.

Most of the local realtors tell me that since my homes are better designed, have more logical floorplans and can actually be furnished sell for more than other homes of the same size and location.   This is one aspect in this down economy when someone is looking to build, one client informed me that he knew if I designed his home it would be worth more and be a better investment.   Our fee is usually recouped in this scenario.

If your appraisers and realtors aren't doing this inform them of the VALUE of an architect.   I've been proactive working with realtors who have existing homes that are beyond economic value of renovating.  So we took a spec house that was never built and presented it to this realtor has a price from the contractor to tear down and build this new home.  That is adding value.  It will help them sell the lot, give the contractor work and get us more fee.


-------------------------------------------
Christopher Rose AIA
President
Christopher Rose Architects, P.A.
Johns Island SC
-------------------------------------------







Original Message:
Sent: 03-25-2011 09:45
From: Andrew Fethes
Subject: Architect-Designed Homes

Following this thread with interest.  Sadly, all the points are true about appraisers and their ability (or inability) to influence the real estate or banking community.  I have had several homes which I designed (both new and addition/renovations) sell very quickly and near asking price. My clients have attributed this to the design and execution of the project.  These same clients have been loyal proponents of my practice and have not hesitated to tell prospective clients their experience and the "real" value they obtained from a well designed home.

I will venture that we all have at least one client like this, and we should exploit their good will. Ask them to write a letter, post to a blog, make a LinkedIn recommendation, whatever. Trust me, they will be happy to do this, not only to help their architect, but to also reinforce the good decisions they made. 

Ok, this is just one small step in regaining public confidence, but amplify this over and over and I'm certain it will gain traction.

-------------------------------------------
Andrew Fethes AIA
President
Andrew Fethes Architects PA
Oradell NJ
-------------------------------------------