Step Five: Hiring the Contractor

There are a number of ways to select a contractor. We can make recommendations, or if you already have someone you want to work with, you might send the construction documents to him or her to negotiate fees and costs. You may also wish to choose among several contractors you've asked to submit bids for the job. We can help you prepare the bidding documents, which consist of drawings and specifications as well as invitations to bid and instructions to bidders. The bidding documents are then sent to several contractors, who, within a given period of time, reply with bids which include the cost for building your project. A comparative analysis will be provided, and assistance in final selection, and preparation of the contract for construction will be provided.

This phase constitutes 5% of the basic architectural service.

While we can recommend contractors and assist in the selection process, the final choice is up to you. Some people prefer to act as their own general contractor or to do part or all of the construction themselves. These methods can save you money initially but can also add problems and costs later on. Discuss the pros and cons of these methods with us to help you decide what will work best.

Step Six...

Deciding what to Build | Rough Sketches | Refining the Design
Preparing Construction Documents | Hiring the Contractor | Construction
General Consideration