FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Short Answer: The up-front design costs through Solv Designs will be two or three times more than plans that are “just enough to get a permit”. They are also about one fifth the cost of traditional architectural firm plans. Our typical full design with 3D model, and complete Construction Documents is usually between $2500 and $6500. We do work on projects that are both smaller and larger than those figures. Those design “costs” are really an investment that will pay for themselves by the end of construction. More Detailed Answer: Design and documentation costs with us are based on the particulars of your project. Our fees usually end up being around 1% of your total construction costs and usually save you more than you pay. We give you a firm price range for each phase before you commit. If you were to just buy pre-made plans you’re often looking at $800 to $2000. Off-the-shelf or online plans can obviously be less expensive than custom plans because many sets of them can be sold. Having someone draft up a quick set of plans just sufficient to get a building permit is also less expensive on the front end. Those are usually $1500 to $3000. For most situations though, either of those options get you plans that are not customized to your lot or situation and that leave hundreds of design and construction questions unanswered. Those questions don’t go away! They just come up later in the heat of construction where it is more stressful and expensive to answer them and where conflicts and mistakes are more likely. The up-front “savings” with those options will almost always end up costing you more by the time you finish building. On the opposite end of the spectrum, traditional architectural firms usually charge a percentage of total construction costs between 8% and 12%. That means the more expensive and complicated your home is to build, the more the architect makes! A traditional architectural firm is a great option if you want a “Designer Home” that makes a real artistic statement and you are willing to pay for that. For most homeowners, the best option is a design that addresses the key questions during the least expensive planning phases but skips some of the extra design frills that add extra costs. If you decide you would like more of the services of a full architectural firm (such as fancy renderings, working with an interior decorator, landscape design, specifying all your exact models and finish materials, or some construction administration), we offer all those and more as optional services that you can add as you choose. Ultimately, we will find out what provides the very greatest value for YOU and make sure that your home design achieves your goals economically. Investing in design where it will give you the most bang for the buck is what we are all about! If you would like a more customized price quote, please get in touch. We are happy to give you more detailed cost ranges without any obligation on your part.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
We break the design process up into phases to help organize and prioritize what we are focused on. Our first major step is a Site Visit where we meet in person and look over your building site to identify opportunities and any potential challenges. Next is a Conceptual Study. The goal here is to answer the questions: What is needed? Is it feasible? How will the floor plan work? Once the feasibility of the concept has been verified, then we can get into the fun part of designing! In Schematic Design, the goal is to explore and narrow the design options before getting all the details figured out. Once Schematic Design is complete, we make sure we are all still on the same page and that you are totally happy with the design up to that point. Design Development. This is where we figure out all the details necessary to make the Schematic into a full plan and refine as necessary. Once Design Development is done and approved by you, then we will begin Construction Documents. You can see examples of these different phases on our website.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Ryan Carter is our principal designer. He planned to be an architect since about the time he could ride a bike. When the scholarship offers to architectural programs started rolling in (that was several years after he learned to ride a bike), it looked like he was all set. Unfortunately most of those programs were more focused on “artsy fartsy”, insane studio hours, and monuments to the architect’s genius than they were on figuring out the best way to design and build good homes. Our idea of a good design is not making it ridiculous to build so it can be on the cover of a fancy magazine. We want homes that are great fits for their owners, rewarding and cost-effective to build, easy to maintain, and a joy to live in! There are absolutely architects aligned with that vision. But, many are focused on other design goals. Depending on your goals, they could be a better fit for your situation. If that is the case, we are happy to help you find a great architect for your needs. Ultimately, Ryan decided that hands-on experience and a Construction Management degree were better preparation for good home design. Thus far, that has proven to be true.