In this episode of NS Builders Podcast, I delve into the all-important question: Who should you hire first? The builder or the architect? But before I answer that, let’s define the roles of each.  

THE ROLE OF THE BUILDER

As home builders, our role at NS Builders is to facilitate and contract a job. It involves putting the many pieces of the project together—from pulling in the trades to procuring the materials to constructing—all with the ultimate goal of delivering a home that the client loves. There’s so much complexity to what we do—dealing with schedules, managing people, delays in lead times for products, ever-changing availability and costs of materials. And this all starts in the preconstruction phase. 

We need to understand the constructability of the home. And this is why it’s essential to begin working with the architect early on in the preconstruction phase. We need to ask the right questions to the architect and not be shy about it. For example, when we’re provided a set of drawings, we need to ask about the budget, specific materials, and make sure we know what the expectations are. If they provide plans and a budget that we know, based on previous experience, will cost double what they are anticipating, we’ve got to discuss that. If I know we can’t build a house for that amount, I’ve got to tell them right away; I don’t want to waste their time or mine. Or it’s a situation where we see the plans, but they’ve left out things such as energy efficiency, lighting controls, or smart home systems. If those things aren’t detailed on a pricing set of documents, that can make a huge difference. Electrical is always one that surprises me—the estimate I get from my vendor is often double what I was thinking. 

As a builder, we’ve got to ask the right questions, figure out accurate pricing, constructability, site access, and so much more to be able to build and warranty a product that we’re going to be proud of.  

THE ROLE OF THE ARCHITECT

The architect is predominantly concerned with understanding what the client wants. Once they have a firm grasp on the wants and needs of the client, the architect can design the home and then make revisions based on the constraints of the budget and desired timeline. 

WHO DO YOU HIRE FIRST? 

So the question naturally comes up: Who do you hire first? The builder or the architect? In my experience, I think the best answer is a parallel decision where a homeowner talks to both parties concurrently. Many of our clients turn to us first as the builder. They specifically ask us about architects. And we help facilitate the relationship with the architect based on aesthetics, their goals, and how we think the relationship will work. It’s not uncommon to have new clients approach us first because they respect our level of work and sincerely want our advice in finding the right architect. Conversely, a client may go to the architect first and express that they want to get a builder like us in on the conversation right away to ensure the goals and parameters set are feasible as the design unfolds. 

The best scenario a homeowner can hope for is for the builder and architect to work together as early as possible, figuring out a way to the common goal—but realistically addressing what’s constructible, the schedule, and a budget that allows for everyone to walk away happy. It’s all about collaboration and open communication. 

Get the builder, the architect, and the homeowner on the same page, and you’ll be setting yourself up for a successful project. 

It’s time to discover what NS Builders can intentionally craft for you! Contact us today to get started on your custom dream home. Together, we can make it happen. 

—Nick Schiffer