Getting Started on Your Home Addition or Remodel

Getting started on your home addition or remodeling project should be simple.  However, many homeowners need some advice from an architect who can help get things started on the right foot. 

An important first step is to develop your program with an architect.  Your program is the establishment of your project goals, needs, priorities, design expectations, requirements and wish list.  This first stage, called programming, also includes determining your available budget and the identification of pertinent building code requirements and local zoning regulations which help define your project.  The programming stage is some of the most valuable time spent with your architect and you will not want to rush this phase.   

During the programming stage, you should analyze your wants and requirements.  You should share with your architect your design thoughts, likes and dislikes.  In order to communicate your thoughts, share with your architect photos from magazines, other houses and anything else that illustrates ideas you wish to convey.  It’s important to explain the way you plan to use the spaces and the changes you are hoping for.  You should also explain what works and what doesn’t work in your home and what you hope to accomplish with your upcoming construction project. 

This is also a good time to begin to test fit between what you want, what you need and what you can afford.  Be prepared for the architect to ask you a number of questions to get a better sense of your goals and needs.  Keep an open mind with possible solutions your architect will investigate since some of the greatest value in working with an architect is his or her exploration of new and creative ideas to address your needs and wishes.