Ask the Architect

A permit in just a couple of days?

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Q. We’ve been interviewing architects and contractors for a large addition: Our house needs three more bedrooms. The existing ones are very small, so we want to push out at least 14 feet and up as well. After talking with three architects and four contractors, we’re confused. One architect told us about all the zoning restrictions our village has, but the others were less forthcoming, and one even said there would be no problem but he would handle things if they came up. We weren’t too assured by that. None of the contractors told us anything about our zoning, and one told us he knows the officials so well that the permit would only take a “couple days.” We checked for ourselves, and learned that we’ll need to go before the village zoning board, that the permits need architectural design review and that we’ll probably not have a permit for four to six months. Now we’re confused about price. Does price ever stay the same as they tell you, especially since we know there will probably be more surprises? Do we hold them to the fee they quote?

A. Not that I encourage people to spend a lot, but you do get what you pay for. The best thing you told me was that you asked the village officials directly. Even though you have to be able to trust your architect to advise you, also realize the interview is a sales meeting. You need the architect who informs the owners of the zoning and code issues up front, because, as I often quote Sy Syms, “an educated consumer is my best customer.”

Unfortunately, this can backfire with people who’ve been given the warm and fuzzy false impression that they can get a permit for a complicated project in just a few days. You want the truth about potential problems when someone is selling you on what they will do. You hire a designer and a builder to create an attractive, functionally successful, structurally sound, code-compliant home. If there will be problems, you need to know sooner than later.

The most informative, and in your case expensive, architect helped make you aware of the reality, not just telling you what you wanted to hear. Reward their honesty, if you feel that you connected and that they will do a thorough service for you. If it turns out that the others will increase fees to cover added activities, then are you still really paying less? There are many bureaucratic changes that catch us all by surprise, and you have to be aware that when officials forget to inform us about issues, cost for services may need to be increased. Have a clearly written contract and agree on how the fee is set.

© 2015 Monte Leeper. Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.