program for your project will help keep you on track, on schedule, and within budget. Outline all the items most important to you and determine any restrictions or limiting factors that may affect the scope of work. Giving a rental unit a cosmetic facelift with the lowest possible budget will require a substantially different approach than restoring a historical site. Establishing these key goals and restrictions at the start of the design phase allows you to naturally integrate them into initial designs rather than discovering them later in the construction process, when they are apt to cause costly revisions. Writing out project goals and parameters also allows you and your design team to be on the same page from the start. It can be difficult for design professionals to figure out exactly what an owner wants if they are not provided with a clear scope of work. Uncertainty and misunderstanding can lead to delays and ineffective designs. Starting a project with a well-defined descrip - tion of your goals effectively reduces the chance for confusion and mis- communication when you proceed to full design and construction. SELECT THE PROPER DESIGN TEAM Every construction project is unique, so selecting the right design team for your project is imperative. Because the skillsets, experiences, professional connections, and fee structures of design professionals vary widely, you must choose a team that closely aligns with your project goals. The design team you choose should provide the appropriate level of expertise as well as align with your desired schedule and budget.
In an industry that is risky even under the most favorable economic conditions, managing the design process is even more important when starting a new project amid economic uncertainty.”
Once you outline your goals, you can begin assessing and vetting design talent to determine who is the best fit. Projects large enough to require a full building permit will also require you to submit a set of plans that are stamped by licensed architects
and engineers. These projects often require additional design team members or specialty consultants. A large architecture firm that specializes in designing commercial structures would certainly be quali- fied to design a small duplex but may not have adequate time to devote to
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