Everybody has different advice

Q. We’re trying to understand how to go about getting construction changes inside our home. One contractor said we don’t need permits for interior changes, only additions. Others say we do. Most have their own architect, and they’ll take care of everything for one price. One suggested an architect and said to work with him first, then get prices, then a permit, before starting. Any recommendations?

A. I wish there was just one way to go about this process, and yes, it is a process. Getting a permit isn’t like getting a driver’s license. Having a contractor get their own architect is fine, as long as it’s understood that the architect works for you, with a separate contract, that the architect is licensed, and that he or she will be meeting with you throughout the process to be sure you get what you want. There are many ways to do most projects, but there are usually only a few that work for your best interests. Hiring a contractor first and never meeting the architect is like going to court and sharing an attorney with the person you are suing. Who will that attorney choose to represent, you or them?

Architects who seal plans — and there are many who will — without ever meeting the owner are not necessarily acting on behalf of the consumer they were licensed to protect. Construction plans are a part of the contract, plain and simple. Contracts and plans that leave things out, accidentally or intentionally, cause greater expense and aggravation during construction. Ironically, most people who choose the contractor with their own architect that the owner never meets are mainly intending to save money.