Why Do You Need to Hire an Architect?
“Hindi ba dagdag bayad lang sila?” (Aren’t they just additional payables?”) – This is the most common notion when people think about architects.
Imagine you are building your dream house. You may have the will and time to start it but you are on a tight budget. Should you still hire an architect? The answer is– Yes, you should.
As stated in the Republic Act 9266 or The Architecture Act of 2004 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR),
“only the licensed architects are allowed to engage in architectural providing services in the Philippines”. This means that if you are looking to have your house built, you don’t call a carpenter or an engineer, you should call an architect”.
Architects, like other professionals such as doctors, lawyers and nurses, are the licensed, trained and qualified individuals designated to provide architectural services. Equipped with the proper education, expertise and training in the planning, designing and construction of buildings, architects ensure that a building is not only aesthetically pleasing and stable but also optimally functional, safe and sustainable.
Capable of seeing the bigger picture, architects don’t just design a building with four walls and a roof. Nor do they just draw and design your ideal house on paper. They plan it, construct it and help concretize your dream house into a reality.
Now let’s go back to the first question? Why do we really need to hire an architect?
1. To have a house that would address both your needs and wants
Just by listening to your lifestyle and desires for the house, architects are capable of creating and designing your house that would match your budget, your needs and even your wants. They have the ability to draw and design construction plans and express it into an architectural structure yet still in compliance with the community and environmental laws. With that, you won’t have to worry about the hassle brought by not complying with the building and city codes, construction practices and regulations. At the same time, they can ensure that your house is safe from natural disasters like earthquakes given that they know the safety practices to prevent or at least mitigate its effect.
2. To have a house that would address both your needs and wants
In every time wasted, money follows. Architects can help you save time and money by providing the best solutions to the problems encountered along the house construction. Being well versed in the construction, they could provide you with options on the best materials to be used for your house thus reducing both construction and maintenance costs.
For instance, you wish to use an incandescent light which is cheaper. An architect could advise you that although this type of lighting is cheaper, having an LED light will let you save more electricity thus reducing your electric bill in the long run. They could also advise you on the materials that are safe, cost-effective, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
Having a professional architect guiding the construction team can also reduce structural design errors. With that, the need for starting again from scratch or the need to repair can be minimized. Aside from that, they are also capable of maximizing the space and function of the house, making the house worth its price.
3. To have someone accountable
In his vlog, Slater Young, an engineer, a Youtube vlogger and a former TV personality, shared some tips on how to save money when building a house. He compared the process (of building a house) to buying a mobile phone. Highlighting the importance of being keen on specifications and utilizing suppliers, he also stressed the significance of hiring professionals in the construction industry- architects, engineers, plumbers and electricians and the need to ensure their professionalism and trustworthiness.
“Ang dami kong nakikita na mga people that are just building their home or extending using a foreman or pakyawan. The problem with that is these people will not come back because you have a problem with your home in the future.” (I’ve seen too many people building their house with only the help of a foreman. The problem with this is that these people won’t be accountable for the problems your home might encounter in the future), he said on his vlog.”
In building a house, it is almost impossible not to encounter problems along the way. Having an architect who will be accountable for the building is of a big relief to the owner. An architect could help them address the problems encountered in the process of building it and the problems that may come after it was done.
4. To ease your burden
House building could be as tedious as it sounds. No doubt it would require both your time and money. Having an architect with you is a big help to ease that tedious task.
A trusted architect can provide you with a sense of stability knowing that the construction of your house is going smoothly. The architects will also help you in encountering problems along the way.
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So, what will happen when you don’t hire an architect? Well, obviously without their help several problems will arise. The following are the disadvantages of not hiring an architect when you are building your house:
First, you tend to go beyond your budget. Let’s all debunk the theory that architects are additional payables for house building because, in fact, their absence will lead to more costs. People usually decline the help of an architect to save money. But unfortunately, the opposite does occur. Having no architect with you would mean spaces not fully maximized, mismatched structural plans, incorrect room measurements, absence of important details and hiring of wrong contractors.
After all these problems have arisen, what do we expect next – if not stress? Unfortunately, the stress won’t only last from the beginning and process of the house building but even until the house is entirely finished. Dysfunctional facilities and mismatched furniture, underwhelming or overwhelming house details- these are the problems you will have to deal with as long as you will not seek the help of a professional to fix things for you.
So, did you save a lot more when you didn’t hire an architect? Absolutely, the answer is a big no.
Now for all your architectural and construction needs, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
