If you’re considering building a beautiful custom home in Georgetown, Texas, you might think you need to hire an architect, and this assumption would be correct. Nine times out of ten, you’ll need to hire an architect, but what is the cost of architectural services? This is a big question on any potential homeowner's mind, especially considering architect fees can be complex and challenging to pin down.
Fortunately, you won’t be in the dark for much longer. In this blog, the team at J. Bryant Boyd has shared insights into custom home design costs by answering the question: How much does an architect cost? However, since J. Bryant Boyd is a design-build firm, their architect fees for custom homes will vary from the estimates shared. You’ll have to speak with them to learn their Georgetown, TX, home design costs.
So, how much does an architect cost? To get the answer to this question, you need to know more about the typical fee structure for a custom home architect in Georgetown, Texas.
Firstly, it's best to remember that the general fee structure for a custom home architect in this state can vary depending on the architect's experience and the scope of your home build. With this in mind, most architects in Georgetown, TX, operate on a ‘flat fee’ service. So when asking how much architects charge, you should be asking the percentage they take for the total construction cost.
Usually, architectural design costs in Georgetown, Texas, are charged at a flat fee of between 8% and 12%. This fee often includes initial consultation, design development for the custom home, and permitting. However, to be on the safe side, remember to also ask an architect what is included in their fee structure when you ask them about their architectural design pricing.
Monetary-wise, this percentage translates to anywhere between $2,500 and $300,000 for hiring an architect for a custom home build in Georgetown, Texas. Then there are also full-service plans with architects that combine hourly and an architect fees percentage. Evidently, architect costs for custom homes in Texas are pricey, with the lower end mainly attributed to basic design plans.
You should also know that sometimes, architect costs for custom homes in Georgetown, TX, can reach tens to hundreds of thousands if they work on a project from start to finish. That’s why it's in your best interests to consider a design-build firm like J. Bryant Boyd, which promises fair architectural pricing within its packaged deals.
Now that you have a better idea of how much an architect charges for building a custom home in Georgetown, Texas, you’re likely interested in learning about the factors that influence this pricing. Below, we’ve discussed these factors to give you a better understanding of architectural services in Georgetown, Texas.
Whether or not you require house plans can impact how much you pay. On average, you can expect an architect to charge you an hourly fee of between $100 and $200 or $3,500 and $10,000 to make changes to stock plans for construction, additions, or remodels.
However, some architects charge up to $200,000 or $400 per hour if they have to create complex architectural drawings and blueprints or custom home buildings. Since this service costs more, you can expect more like the project's full scope, from plumbers and electricians to HVAC professionals.
In addition to house plan fees, an architect might also handle the permitting and zoning requirements specific to Georgetown, like HARC, which can also affect overall costs.
In most instances, hiring an architect in Georgetown, Texa, is not a one-size-fits-all scenario, especially if you’ve decided not to go with a design-build firm. This is because how much you pay for an architect depends on which services you choose to use and the scope of your project.
The bigger your custom home build, the more you can expect to pay since your architect will need to spend more time designing your home to meet your needs and expectations. In addition, if you require architectural services like hiring, project management, electricity blueprints, cabinetry design, assistance with the bidding process, and blueprint revisions, you should expect a higher percentage fee structure.
Moreover, unique or custom design elements, like high-end finishes or special features, can raise the architectural fees.
How much experience the architect you hire also factors into how much you can expect to pay for their services. This is because architects with more experience often charge more. After all, they have climbed the rigorous professional ladder to become experts in their field.
So, based on the levels of education your architect possesses, their licensure, and how many years they spent shadowing senior architects, you should adjust how much you expect to pay accordingly. To give you an idea, you can expect first- and second-level architect interns to charge an average of $50 to $90 an hour, with senior architects charging between $100 and $250 on average.
A custom home architect adds value to the home building process by designing a unique and personalized house you’re happy to call home. An architect will meet with you to identify your specific needs and stylistic preferences and draw up a design based on what you like and want in a home. This allows you to create a safe space that is functional and aesthetically pleasing.
In addition, a custom home building architect adds value by ensuring that the design of your home meets and complies with local building regulations and codes. They also work closely with other professionals, such as engineers and contractors, to guarantee a seamless construction process.
Other ways an architect adds value include:
Personalizing the design: Tailoring the home to fit the client's lifestyle, needs, and preferences.
Maximizing functionality: Creating efficient layouts that make the best use of space.
Enhancing aesthetics: Ensuring the home is beautiful and cohesive with the surrounding environment.
Improving energy efficiency: Incorporating design strategies to reduce energy use and enhance sustainability.
Ensuring quality: Overseeing the design process to guarantee high standards in materials and construction.
Now you know the cost of a custom home architect in Georgetown, TX, but you still need to entirely have the answer to the question of: how much does home design cost. If you speak with design-build firm J. Bryant Boyd, they can help you learn the true and total costs associated with building a custom home according to your specifications.
Our design-build firm has its own architects, making our pricing unique and fairer than most. You can speak with us here or visit our offices to learn more about how we can help with your project development from beginning to end.