| Hiring a Designer |
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Are you considering hiring an expert to help you design your bathroom remodel? Architects and designers offer a wide variety of services. They can do everything from critiquing your own bathroom remodel design to acting as the construction manager. Many specialize in aspects of construction and remodeling such as bathrooms or kitchens. Where can you find a qualified remodeling designer or architect? Start looking in the local telephone books. Also ask bathroom material suppliers, lenders, and contractors you’ve met. You don’t want to find out that you hired the fourth-best architect! How can you hire the best architect to design your new bathroom? Here are some questions to ask designers and architects you consider hiring. * Does your firm have a valid state architect’s license? * What national and local design or architectural groups are you affiliated with? * How long have you been in business? * What bathroom remodeling jobs have you completed recently? * Do you work exclusively with contractors or do you have experience designing for homeowners directly? * Tell me about some of the challenges you’ve overcome in remodeling bathrooms for clients. * Can you furnish me with plan examples and references? * How well have your remodeling estimates matched actual building costs? * What services do you provide during the design, bidding, and construction phases? * What are your fees for each of these services? * How do you calculate your fees? * Who in your firm actually does the work and who oversees? * Can you recommend specific contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and lenders for my remodeling job? * What additional services and fees will my project require? * How will design changes be made and charged? You get the idea. Keep reading to learn more about what specific experts do and determine whether you need them or not.
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