There are many advantages to hiring an Architect for your renovation, addition, or new construction needs. Here are three of the top reasons to hire an Architect.

1. An Architect has years of schooling and on-the-job training in order to provide quality design and expertise to clients. A good Architect will ask questions, or suggest solutions a client may never have thought of.

2. The only person with a financial stake in the design is the client. Because the client is paying the Architect directly, the Architect works for the client, not for the contractor or anyone else. In my opinion, this allows for more creative design solutions which are tailored for the Client’s needs rather than what is easiest for a contractor to build.

3. The client is choosing the Architect/designer they want to work with. While Design-Build businesses may offer a one-stop-shop, the Client is out of luck if they don't like either the design team or the construction team. I believe a client needs to "vibe" with every person of contact on their project. Residential projects are extremely personal, and if a client doesn’t get along with a team member, it can ruin the whole experience.

The steps from concept to completion vary from project to project, but I have attempted to lay out the steps of my typical projects below:

1. Pre-Design Programming - Clarify your project objectives, prioritize spaces, and set a budget for the project. Typically my clients come to me with this already done. I offer paid, hourly consultations for those who need help with this stage.

2. Schematic Design Phase - After meeting with a Client and ensuring their dreams and budget are aligned, I come up with multiple design options based on the project’s space program, budget, and desired aesthetic. Depending on the size of the project this can take from 3-8 weeks.

3. High-Level Contractor Bidding - Once a Client has settled on a final design, the Client takes the Schematic Design Set and begins contacting contractors to get “high-level” bids. These bids are not detailed, but it allows the Client to make sure that their project is within their budget, and to begin to get a feel for what contractor they would like to work with. This timeline is highly variable.

4. Design Development & Permit Drawing Phase - Once a Client is ready to move forward with construction and detailed bidding, I get to work transforming the Schematic Design into a fully permittable Architectural Drawing Set which can be sent to engineers for structural framing drawings, contractors for detailed bidding, and eventually to their local authority for a building permit. For Clients who have projects which are small enough they don’t require a building permit, I offer Design Development drawings. These are fully dimensioned and noted drawings which a contractor can bid and build from. These drawing sets usually take me from 2-6 weeks depending on the complexity of the project.

5. Choosing a Contractor & Structural Engineering - After the Permit Set is finished, Clients either choose their contractor, or first take the drawings to an engineer for structural drawings if necessary. Some contractors offer this coordination as an additional service, so the sequence of events can vary from project to project.

6. Permitting - Once all of the required drawings have been done - sometimes this includes a site survey, the contractor will submit the drawings for the building permit and the review process will begin. If engineering is needed, that can take up to 8 weeks. The Permit Review process is highly dependent on the local reviewer and can be anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months. I highly recommend reaching out to your local planning and inspections office to see what kind of review times they’re experiencing.

7. Permit Revisions - Sometimes a permit set will need revisions. If that’s the case, I will review any architectural comments requiring revision, and provide the client with revised drawings accordingly.

8. Construction - Hooray! You’ve been approved for a building permit! At this point, I am largely out of the picture, though if the project is local, I’ll be sure to drop by from time to time to check on the project’s progress and take photos. Depending on your project, construction could take a couple of months, or it could be a year or more from the time you break ground. I won’t lie, the construction process can be exhausting, but once it’s over your dream space will be a reality.

Architectural Permit Drawings typically include a site plan (or plot plan), floor plans, exterior elevations, and standard wall sections and/or details complete with notes referencing proper building code, energy code, and any other code requirements.

Required drawings are dependent on the local authority (city/town/county) issuing the permit.

Architectural Drawings do not include structural framing and foundation plans.

Choosing the right contractor can be nerve-racking. The right contractor will depend on a lot of different elements - the size and scope of your project, your project budget, your project timeline, and what level of service you need.

A client embarking on their first renovation may need very different services from a client who is on their fifth construction project.

In the end, the right contractor is someone who you feel comfortable with in your home for an extended period of time. Someone who keeps a clean site, who communicates clearly and proactively, and who is upfront about cost changes when they occur.

I offer clients a list of contractors who I have worked with, or who my clients have worked with, who I believe will best fit their personal project’s needs.

No, I do not provide structural framing plans or details. I am not a trained engineer, and different localities have different engineering requirements. I am happy to provide connections to local engineers for clients based in North Carolina.

No, I do not install any landscapes.

Braverman Design is a design-only firm when it comes to landscapes, but I am happy to provide local clients with a list of local landscape installers who I, or my clients, have worked with in the past.