You’ve found the perfect plot of land on Barbados. You know you’ll be able to get a building permit. And you’ve watched every episode of Dream Homes on HGTV. You know what your want from your property. It’s now time to hand your dream to an architect and help them put your plans on paper.
But choosing an architect to bring your building project to life is difficult. Do they share your vision? Can they do what you want? So we’ve put together some tips to help you choose.
Architects can provide a wide variety of services for the home-builder in Barbados from basic consulting and a complete building design, to managing the entire project.
Choosing the right architect to work with can potentially save you enough money during the building process to at least cover their fees, as their knowledge and experience in construction and building projects can help to avoid potential pitfalls.
1 Decide what you want from your architect
This doesn’t just mean the style and design of your property, although of course, that’s important. Tell them about your chosen site, lifestyle, future plans, preferences and – most important – the budget.
Also, check that your architect understands new building methods and products like roofing systems. And green environmental practices too such as solar panels for electricity generation and rain water-saving techniques and changes in housing design.
Finally, decide how involved you want your architect to be. Are you just looking for plans or do you want them to manage the construction and liaise with your building team?
2 Do they have local knowledge?
Having an understanding of the Caribbean environment is critical. What they design needs to handle natural disasters, take advantage of local breezes to keep you cool and make the most of your views. And when it comes to the finishes, you need to make sure they can handle a coastal location.
3 Ask for recommendations
Like the look of a property, then ask the owner. Or speak with one of the island estate agents and they will give their advice. You can also call or visit various listed companies on Google and request a brochure or even a meeting to find out more about their experience and capabilities.
4 Meet the architect face to face
When you are building a property on Barbados but you live overseas, it can seem a good idea to do all your meetings on Skype. But this is a mistake in our opinion. Make sure you meet the architect who would be working directly with you. Ask questions about their experience, current workload, procedures and fees. Do you feel confident about working with them?
5 Understand what you are paying for
Architectural fees are usually made in advance of each phase of the project: the design itself, the required building documents, any bidding and negotiations, and finally overseeing the construction. Have this in writing and make sure you understand timelines and currency transfers.
6 Are they members of the Barbados Institute of Architects?
This guarantees a certain basic standard of work as members must follow a professional code of conduct. You can find a list of their members here.
7 Ask to see their portfolio
Visit their website and take a look at the other houses they have done – and ask to speak to past clients (if they say no, ask why!). This will help you decide if you like their style.
8 Check they have insurance
Mistakes and accidents happen so make sure your architect has professional indemnity insurance in case anything goes wrong and you need to pursue compensation.
9 Compare architect with architect
Compare like for like – fees compared to the level of service that will be provided.
Berkan Construction can help you choose the best architect for your dream home in the Caribbean sun. We have relationships with a number of experienced architects on the island and will be happy to make any introductions.