Renovating an old home involves different parameters than building a brand new home, where the starting point is a blank slate. Here's what you should know when hiring an architect, designer or contractor. While their skills can range from conceiving all or part of a project to construction management, architects usually design projects by thinking about what you need today and what you'll want in the future. If your contractor doesn't want to wait for your blueprints to be completed, consider finding another contractor. An architect's fees vary.
Some architects charge a percentage of the construction costs, ranging from six to fifteen percent.
Designers This term can be misleading, since some designers handle all aspects of a project and simply have an architect with whom they're affiliated review and sign off on their plans. Others concentrate only on interiors. And some designers fulfill both functions. Many designers specialize in a certain area, such as kitchens, bathrooms, lighting and remodeling. Others have their own teams to handle entire projects.