Building a home is never an easy task. There are a hundred small considerations to take into account and each one can feel like a “major ordeal” because you don’t want to move into your home and then wish that you’d changed a couple of things almost immediately.
However, if you’re building a home in a scenic and beautiful place, like Aspen Colorado, then there are even more factors to take into consideration as your new home comes to life. Should be put a skylight in? Will there be two much light coming in through those windows or not enough? Will our home feel too much like a cabin in the woods or too modern for the area of the country we’re building in?
Luckily, many people consult with an architectural service firm before making any major decisions. Whether you’re this is the first home you’re building or your fifth, below are a couple of the things you’ll want to keep in mind as you look for an architectural service firm that can make your dream home a reality.
Look Closely At The Architectural Service Firm’s Portfolio
One of the main ways to decide which architectural service is right for you and the kind of home you’re attempting to build is through looking at their past work. This can serve two main points. The first is that you’ll be able to glean if the architectural service has a style that is similar to yours. Even if you have a detailed plan of what you’d like your home to look like, the architectural service firm may take your home’s style in a slightly different direction if their vision differs vastly from yours.
Secondly, looking through the firm’s portfolio could provide you with a feeling of inspiration. Assuming that their style is similar to your, or even if it isn’t, you could see items in the home that the firm has built in the past that you want to incorporate in your home. Making a note of these items and talking them through with the firm will help both of you be on the same page about your wants.
Check To See If The Firm Has Done Work In The Area Previously
While this might seem like a no-brainer, some architectural services work on a national level and might not have worked in the area where you’re looking to build in the past. While a national firm like that could still do an excellent job, if you’re trying to build a home in Aspen, CO and a national firm has never built there, they might not know the area as well and won’t be able to provide you with advice that pertains to the area’s environment.
Working with a local firm in the area you’re trying to build can help you because they’ll have more long-lasting connections in that specific location and they’ll be able to help you get set up with high-end local connections even after your home is completed.
Many architectural service firms that work in areas like Aspen are also known for combining an urban feel in a mountain escape. In addition to seeing the work that the architectural firm has done in their print portfolio, if they’ve done a lot of work regionally, you’ll be able to drive and see how that work has been brought to life. If the owners are okay with it, the firm may even be able to create a time when you could walk through some of the top homes that you like from the portfolio. This will help you form a relationship with the firm while also seeing their work in a real-life format.
Find Reviews On The Architectural Service
Last, but not least, be sure to ask homeowners what they thought of the architectural service firm’s job. You could possibly find these online, but you could also ask the firm to give you a few of the names of previous clients. Talking to other past clients will reassure you that you’re making the correct choice in the firm that you’re going to choose to work with for creating your dream home.