These are common pitfalls I see in other architects’ work and common questions I get from other architects who reach out to me for advice:
Check your zoning requirements first (setbacks, lot coverage, environmental). Then do it again!
Figure out the steps in the permit process before you start designing.
Trust NOTHING the building department says - ever. They know very little about your project (and likely very little about their own job), so the generalized stuff they say is commonly wrong.
If a developer asks you to design a project for them, ask yourself, “hmmm… what happened to the previous architects they worked with.” Do some vetting. Developers care about 1 thing - and no, they don’t want to give you that 1 thing - they want to keep it for themselves.
Don’t turn down work because you think it’s not good enough for you. You can learn so many things from all types of projects, and you can truly help someone who really needs your expertise. That person you help will later connect you with future clients.
Turn down projects for people you don’t like. Trust your gut. If they seem shady, they won’t be good to work with.
Get 100% of decisions documented in writing. Arguments are time-suckers and not productive. There’s never any doubt or miscommunication if you take the extra step to re-phrase what someone requested by simply typing it in an email.
Reduce your overhead expenses as much as possible. You really only need a laptop and insurance to run your business. Your brain is your main asset, so don’t get bogged down on thinking you need a fancy office, car, and unnecessary subscriptions to services that really don’t help that much. No, you don’t need a drone either.
Do construction work. If you can’t build what you design, then you are a poser. You don’t need to be good at construction work, but you should know HOW to do it.
Don’t lose sight of what you are actually selling. Clients don’t actually want drawings. They want a building. Your job is to figure out how to get them that building. This is a combination of verbal/written communication, drawings, site meetings, visiting the jobsite on a weekend when nobody is around just so you can study what is happening to anticipate next steps, arguing with building departments to defend your work, arguing with builders to defend your work, arguing with engineers to defend your work, and yes, arguing with your clients to defend your work - your job is to protect clients from themselves. You need to do whatever it takes to make the building turn out perfectly. Nobody else on the project team has the skill or vision that you do. You will lose sleep thinking about your projects. Your idea needs to become a building, and it is up to you to make that happen.
Now get out there and be an awesome architect!
If you’d like to learn more about our design process, visit www.josharch.com/process, and if you’d like to get us started on your project with a feasibility report, please visit www.josharch.com/help