Selecting a Design Professional

In no particular order, here are some key things to look for as you select a design professional for your renovation project. You should decide on the relative priority of these issues before interviewing designers.

• Experience with your project type – Design professionals that focus on new commercial development may not have the specific expertise to take on a historic renovation.

• References/Portfolio – Get suggestions from people who have been through the process before. Most design professionals will have a “portfolio” of projects they have participated in – feel free to ask to see it.
• Experience in your location – Different neighborhoods have different historic codes and requirements.
• Cost and budget – As with any service, the lowest cost option is not necessarily the best. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples when considering the services provided by two different firms. Incomplete construction documents can end up costing more in the long run if contractors are not clear on the scope of the project.
• Personality and Working Relationship – Do you get along with the designer? How much involvement do you want in the project?
• Design sensibility – Look at the designer’s previous work and determine if your tastes align. How well does the designer listen to your thoughts and concerns?
• Is the office in the City – Designers that live and work in the city are more likely to share your commitment to rebuilding that led you to do a rehab in the first place.

Design Fees

Fees for professional design services have a huge range. The methods of determining fees usually fall into two main groups: percentage of construction cost and hourly. Designers whose fees are figured as a percentage of construction cost will typically fall in the 5% to 8% range. The problem with this type of fee structure is that there is a small, though not insignificant disincentive for the designer to promote cost effective design solutions. Though the architect will bill progressively through the project, it is unlikely that there will be a "refund" at the end of construction.

The hourly rate structure, however, provides little incentive for the architect to complete the drawings in a timely manner. A good compromise is the "hourly-not-to-exceed" rate structure. The architect estimates the amount of time it will take to complete the drawings and provides the client with a "cap" on the fees. This way the client has a good sense of how much design will cost, and is still protected from unexpected design fees.

A few design professionals who have significant experience in renovation projects will bid by the square foot.