Good design makes money and reduces building costs

There exists, without a doubt, a perceived notion that architecture services are expensive. Unfortunately, this deters many people from enlisting an architect’s help. They go it alone, and attempt to manage a number of vendors, contractors, and designers to knit their project together. 

The reality is many clients end up losing money if they don’t retain an architect. Problems arise that could’ve been avoided, costs aren’t accounted for, and projects take longer than expected. This isn’t always the case, but something that’s very common in the industry.

Hiring an architect to design and manage your project thoughtfully will reduce overall costs, streamline the entire process, and increase profits. How? There are many ways in which good design makes money, and we’ll demonstrate those methods in this blog. Keep reading to learn more. 

Substandard design drives costs

Unexpected delays.

Let’s face it; time is money. Building projects that encounter unexpected delays due to inadequate planning lose out on precious revenue while their business is shut. This is especially true for restaurants that rely heavily on clientele dining-in and a functioning kitchen to make money. 

Not only do delays negatively impact your pocket, but they can also lead to personal stress and strained relationships between the client and the contractors. The quicker a project reaches its completion, the quicker a business can get back up and running and reel in profits.

Escalating costs.

Poorly coordinated projects often result in unforeseen issues that widen the scope and drastically increase costs. This usually happens due to a lack of foresight and inefficient planning on the part of one or more of the vendors or contractors.

At times, escalating costs can even result from stubborn architects who let their egos get in the way and might try to influence the client to move outside of their strict budget constraints. Without thorough planning and budgetary boundaries in place, sudden changes can drastically hike up costs, and come as a shock to the owner. 

Issues post-build. 

With so many plates spinning between interior designers, engineers, and contractors, without an architect to make sure plates don’t move too slowly or fall, construction defects can easily happen. There is a lot of moving parts in any new build, or renovation. It requires an experienced architect to keep everyone, and everything on-track and organized. 

Even minor miscalculations and errors in the planning or building phase can have a snowball effect, leading to unforeseen repairs costing thousands or even millions of loss revenue if the business must close for reconstruction. 

The benefits of good design

Collaborative efforts.

Though working with an architect will incur an upfront fee, the costs will inevitably pay for themselves in the long run. 

At Schimberg Group, we quarterback a single collaborative team made up of trusted architects, interior designers, engineers, and contractors. This allows us to streamline every aspect of the build with a cohesive design, strict deadlines, efficient planning, and quicker execution. 

With the key personnel working together in-house needed to fulfil each project, construction runs smoother and faster, so that businesses can open on time. 

Seamless design.

By offering interior design in-house (a rarity for an architecture firm) our designers are involved at every stage of the process, ensuring design is consistent, logical, and practical. 

This also ensures that the exterior and interior design flow together fluidly to meet the exact goals of the client. It also guarantees that the client has a clear view of furnishing, materials, and decor costs from the outset. 

By employing the help of an architect with interior design capabilities, you’ll receive an intelligent, functional, and on-budget design that will appeal to your customers and boost profits. 

Eliminates uncertainty.

When we are tasked with a new project, we go through extensive planning protocols to ensure that the client fully understands the project specifications, cost estimations, and scope. At Schimberg Group, we do not use hourly billing, as this can lead to escalating costs. 

Instead, we determine the scope and agree upon the monthly fee upfront. We will never invoice outside the predetermined price unless the scope dramatically changes, in which case a new agreement will be drawn-up. 

We understand that every project will require changes to some degree, but we don’t let this affect the agreed-upon price, meaning you won’t face unexpected fees. 

Transparent pricing.

We require that contractors are fully involved in each project from the get-go. We work closely with them to define the scope and estimate costs accurately, giving the client complete transparency before moving forward. 

With ‘PAAT’ (pricing as a team), our 3-phase cost estimating approach, we give our clients the clear information they need on expenditure from day one. Our packages are designed to respect our clients’ budget limits, and protect them from pricey surprises. 

Phase 1: Schematic design package.

In the first phase, we outline the complete project execution costs along with estimated pricing for design plans, preliminary specifications, consultations with our engineers, and at least one meeting with subcontractors and vendors. Our estimate typically lies within 10% of the actual total costs. 

Phase 2: Design development package. 

The next phase includes additional architectural information, interior design plans and documents, furniture, fixings, equipment costs, engineering design, and a second meeting with subcontractors and vendors. This package estimate lies within 3-5% of the final expenses. 

Phase 3: Construction documentation. 

The final phase includes the cost based on our detailed bid documents. These documents are created to clearly state the goals, scope and expected outcomes of anything related to pricing, permitting and construction.

Revenue outweighs fees.

We manage every aspect of your project. This ensures that projects are completed on time, costs don’t unnecessarily escalate, and each design is purpose-built to meet your goals now and in the future. 

We give you more time to focus on making your business stronger, alleviate project management stress, and offer a perfectly executed, cohesive design that won’t leave you a victim to hidden expenses or issues down the line. 

Increased return on investment.

Our architects and interior designers are trained to maximize the potential of any property or plot of land. We study the site or building thoroughly to indicate any cost-saving measures that can be put in place in areas like refurbishment, lighting, and materials. 

With our help, buildings are designed to function exactly how you need them to, look exactly how you want them to, and cost what you expect them to. 

Allowing an architect and their team to take on your project safeguards you against surprising fees, financially damaging delays, and costly construction oversights. 

Final thoughts

We hope reading this blog has helped you understand the true value of hiring an architecture firm like us to reduce your next project's long-term costs and see that the upfront expense is completely worth it in the long term. 

We take deep pride in our commitment to our clients. We don't want to just be any architect, we want to be YOUR architect.

Learn more about our unique approach to architecture services. If you'd like to discuss an upcoming project, give us a call on (941) 894-6888, or to share your thoughts, email barron@theschim.com. 

Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter, Methods and Madness, for more insights, information, and visual stimulation for all things architecture and interior design related. 

Photo by Alexander Mils on Unsplash