Samui Phangan Real Estate Magazine April-May

architect to set up an in-person inspection of one of
their past projects.
Don’t shy away from talking about money. Money
(almost) inevitably affects the outcome of every
project. Consequently, you should be candid about
your budget and curious about each candidate’s
payment options. Payments generally take the form
of a (1) lump-sum project fee; (2) hourly-rate; (3)
percentage of the project’s construction cost; or (4)
combination of all of the above.
An important thing to remember: find out exactly what
your money would go towards (rarely should you
proceed without a written contract). Payment/service
contracts can be tailored to fit unique circumstances,
but almost always (1) include a mandated time-line
20 samui phangan real estate
to ensure the project moves forward; (2) accurately
describe the scope of the architect’s duties and
client’s obligations; (3) state the amount of fees; and
(4) identify the method of payment. If a candidate is
unwilling to include any of these things in a written
contract, you should look elsewhere.
Take your time choosing. Selecting an architect is
a big decision that shouldn’t be rushed. You should
expect to take at least a couple weeks or a month to
identify a few candidates - many people take much,
much longer.
Relax. Finding a good architect may seem like a
chore at first. But hey, you get to look at projects and
get inspiration for your own project, enjoy!