How architects select contractors for their projects



An architect may be the first person who comes to mind when you think of building a home, but from beginning to end, the architect will be involved with many different teams and individuals. One of the most important partnerships an architect will have during the construction process is with a contractor. A contractor is the person responsible for finding the right subcontractors and other construction professionals who will complete the job to the highest standard. The contractor also manages and oversees this team for the duration of the project. 

Residential architects use the following criteria to choose the best contractors for their projects:

  1. Experience. An architect will try to find a contractor who has worked on similar projects in the past, and who has an impressive portfolio of work. Contractors often have specialized experience, like building homes on a steep hill or building homes that are fully wheelchair accessible. 
  2. Aesthetic alignment. If an architect has been hired to build a modern-style home, they’ll want to hire a contractor who has experience building similar style homes. 
  3. Strong references. It may not always be possible to work with a contractor you are familiar with, so if that’s the case, then an architect will rely on references to choose the best contractor for the job. 
  4. Great communication skills. It’s essential for contractors to be effective communicators – they’ll be coordinating with many different teams and individuals throughout the build. 
  5. Effective project management. An architect will expect that the contractor manages the aspects of the build that they’re responsible for, and that includes managing the workers, materials, and everything else that falls under their remit. 

Residential architects and their teams 

As mentioned earlier, building a home requires many different teams to work together, and while misunderstandings sometimes arise, architects, contractors, subcontractors, and construction workers should all be on the same page. Residential architects often have networks of people they’ve worked with on past projects who they trust, so depending on the type of build, they can generally assemble a team quickly so construction can begin. 

If you’d like more information about residential architecture, or if you have any questions about how we choose our contractors, please contact our team today. Our architects will be happy to help and we look forward to hearing from you.

Originally posted https://leeb-architecture.com/how-architects-select-contractors-for-their-projects/



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