The Residential Design Market Today
In the lead-up to the September 17 and 18 Homes by Architects Tour, ENTER speaks with AIA Minnesota president Alicia Belton, FAIA, NOMA, on what to expect on a new home design project, how to prepare, and how an architect can help
Interview by Ann Mayhew | September 8, 2022
Illustration by @drawnwell.
FEATURE
The pandemic has reshaped how many people think about work, family, and home, inspiring fresh ideas on how one’s house can contribute to these reassessed values and lifestyles. Residential architects can help homeowners take this opportunity to reimagine home while keeping today’s complexities and considerations in mind.
Speaking from the perspective of both an architect who does residential work in the Twin Cities and a homeowner in the midst of her own home renovation, AIA Minnesota president and founder of Urban Design Perspectives Alicia Belton, FAIA, NOMA, shares what people who wish to undertake a new home design project need to know in today’s market.
A lot has happened over the past two years. What impact has this had on the residential architecture market?
AIA Minnesota president and Urban Design Perspectives founder Alicia Belton, FAIA, NOMA.
We’re experiencing delays, cost increases, and a shortage of workers in the design and construction industry. Architecture firms and builders are also extremely busy right now because everything was paused during the pandemic, and now everybody wants their projects done yesterday. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pursue your home design project now. It simply means that you can make the process go more smoothly by being informed, and an architect can help with this.
You are in the middle of your own home renovation project. What has that process been like?
We’ve encountered a significant cost increase on windows and a delay just in getting them on-site. We wanted to do a three-season porch remodel last summer, but we couldn’t get product. It took nine months for the windows to be available. And now that they’re actually making the windows, they’re repricing, and the cost has increased significantly from the estimate the builder gave me last year.
How can people prepare before beginning their own home design project?
I think the key is to be flexible. You should anticipate schedule delays. Be sure to ask specific questions about when a firm can begin work on your project and what they are seeing in terms of contractor availability. If there’s a particular architecture firm or builder you want to work with, you will need to have a direct conversation about when they will be able to fit your project into their schedule. Back in January, I was talking to one small firm about a project we wanted to build, and they were already booked for the year.
“Architects can provide the relevant costs for your project development budget by sharing a range of comparative costs of similar projects, providing options to phase projects, and identifying where you can spend or save based on your priorities.”
Regarding materials, you may not be able to get your first-choice product and will have to look at alternative options. Be prepared to shop around for good quality products—or to wait if you want a particular brand or model. Also, customized items will likely take longer than items in standard sizes. If there are items with long lead times, I would recommend ordering those now if you have the budget and storage space to do so.
Is there any sign that things might be getting better?
I personally have not seen pricing or scheduling getting any better. As we are reviewing construction estimates, contractor bids are still competitive and escalated due to labor shortages, limited availability of materials, and shipping delays. We haven't seen any relief yet. I’m telling my clients to be patient and flexible.
How can an architect help their clients in this process?
Architects can help you navigate this volatile market in a few ways. They can provide the relevant costs for your project development budget by sharing a range of comparative costs of similar projects, providing options to phase projects, and identifying where you can spend or save based on your priorities. As they learn about your family’s values, ideas, and preferences, they can suggest multiple design schemes that offer varying price points and greater efficiency, and they can advocate on your behalf for potential variance requests from governing authorities.
They are also prepared to develop a realistic project schedule, provide a list of general contractors and suppliers who have capacity in their schedule to take your project on, and identify products with long lead times that you may want to order early so you have them when you are ready to build. And architects are expert problem-solvers—they will help you find workarounds or solutions when the unexpected occurs.
The AIA Minnesota Homes by Architects Tour takes place in-person on September 17 and 18 and online September 17–October 2. For more on the tour, including ticket sales, visit www.homesbyarchitects.org.
Related Articles
