Are you dreaming of your perfect home? Whether it’s a custom new build or a remodel-addition, no matter how big or small your home project is, whether you realize it or not, there are 3 MAIN STAGES that you'll find yourself in.

Think of this journey as a road-trip, your home being the final destination.

Here's the 3 STAGE ROADMAP for going from "dreaming" to "moving in".

Plan
Design
Build

Each stage builds on the previous one, just like a house starts with the foundation. Often, people are so eager to start construction that they forget the importance of planning and designing. Or they rush through design like a chore that needs to be quickly finished before the actual fun begins. You know the saying, “don’t put the cart before the horse!”. They realize too late the error in their approach.

PLAN

During the planning stage, you are in the driver’s seat. You get to pick your destination and who’s coming along. Define your vision, goals, and priorities. Establish a budget and timeline. Think about the experience you want throughout this process. Knowing your project and yourself first will help you identify who to hire. Grab my free guide if you need help with this part.

The goal of the planning stage is to choose the right architect that is a perfect fit for you and your project. This is a crucial decision that sets the stage for everything that follows. So choose wisely :).

2. DESIGN

During the design stage, your Architect takes the wheel and you’re in the passenger’s seat. They drive the project and steer the direction. The architect will take the lead and guide you through their process, designing a custom home that (hopefully) caters to your needs, reflects your style, and meets all the requirements. Your architect will refer surveyors, engineers, interior designers, and any other consultants whose expertise is required on your project. They will also connect you with a builder who will be the right fit for you and your project. Imagine not having to worry about any of this!!(Unless you want to!!) A good architect will shoulder all that burden with their project management skills and take care of you throughout the process, a good design is just the start. That’s the beauty of finding the architect who is right for you!

3. BUILD

During the build stage, your Builder drives the project, you’re in the passenger seat, and the architect takes the backseat. The builder manages the construction schedule and budget, while following the instructions laid out in the architectural and structural drawings. The builder will lean on their sub-contractors, trades, vendors, resources, connections, and relationships they’ve built over the years, so your project progresses on schedule. Work is done in a safe and timely manner, according to best building practices, and all you have to do is write the checks.

TEAM WORK

The architect, designer, engineer, builder, and you as the client, we’re a team effort - we all collaborate to ensure you reach the destination you dreamed about.

the 3 stages are a simple framework for success.

As an Austin Architect who has spent the last 20+ years designing and building custom homes, I guide my clients through each stage of the process.

My advice is to spend more time in the planning stage in order to lay a good foundation for successful next stages.

Then, spend quality time in thoughtful design as well as producing a thorough set of construction documents i.e. drawings and specifications. Do not rush through this middle stage - it's easier to change things on paper than with a construction crew on site. This makes the final stage of bidding and construction an enjoyable and stress-free experience.

At Architecture By George, I've created a step-by-step process in each stage with specific milestones within each stage to ensure that you make sound decisions and your project progresses as smoothly as possible.

The result is a home that you are in love with. Your home is tailored to your needs, supports for your family in various seasons of life, acknowledges the hot and humid Austin climate, and fits on your unique site. You are proud to own this home for many years into the future. No regrets!

Want to start planning your custom home in Austin, Texas? I can help.

Schedule a free call with me. We can discuss your vision, goals, and priorities and find the path to the home of your dreams.

Cheers,

Sharon George.

There are two truths in any project. A project that is well-managed, however lovely the experience, is unspectacular. A mismanaged project, on the other hand, is like a car wreck. Everybody talks about it. I was reminded of this recently when I used a new maid service. House cleaning is a simple exercise in project management. Like any project though, it's about planning, managing the tasks, the time, the expectations, the big picture and the little details, and instilling confidence in your client that they are in good hands.

Here's the scoop...

A few months ago I decided to try out a new maid. I gave Paula the details of my house, she walked through the rooms with me, quoted a price, said how long it would take her, I agreed, and we set a date.

I've used a professional maid service before - 2 people arrive, equipped with their own cleaning tools and supplies, tag team the tasks, and be out in 2 hours. So naturally, I don't keep a full stock of cleaning liquids or gadgets.

So when Paula arrived at 10am, hands-free, and asked me where my vacuum cleaner and mop was, I was unprepared. I dusted off whatever I could find, told her where everything was, and left her to it saying "I have a meeting to prepare for, let me know if you need anything else."

Two hours later, I came out of my office to get lunch, to see that the kitchen was a bit upside down. Paula was in the middle of it. I made small talk as I fixed myself a sandwich and offered to make her one.

"How's it going?" I asked. "Good" she said, huffing and panting. She looked like she could use a cold drink. At this point, I'm looking around to see what her plan was. I asked if she'd been upstairs, and she said "No, I started in the kitchen". OKAY!! "You've been cleaning the kitchen for 2 hours?" NO....of course I didn't say that!! But I was getting worried. How in the world was she going to clean the rest of the house in another 2 hours? I bit my tongue and just said "Well, I'm going to be on a phone call for an hour, so could you do my office last?".

My call went longer than an hour and I was hoping that I wasn't holding Paula up! But I needn't have worried because she had just made it up the stairs to the first bedroom. The downstairs was still in disarray.

Around 4pm, I decided to take a break from work, and check on Paula. I made some Indian tea and as we sat there drinking our chai, talking about her family, I asked her very frankly why it was taking her so long. And she said the house was bigger than she expected and she bit off more than she could chew. Clearly, she was in over her head.

I didn't retort with "but you walked the house" because I felt SO bad for her. Paula worked 8 hours that day! FYI, she never made it to my office. 8 hours of hard manual labor! Not to be a stickler, but the results were less than sparkling. Still, I paid her 50% more that she quoted. Needless to say, I have not asked her clean my house again!

Project (Mis)management

I've never really thought about the efficiency and planning that goes into a 4 hour cleaning job. Sweet as Paula was and hard as she tried, it was clear that she did not have the experience or a method to handle this cleaning project. When she quoted me a price and how long it would take her, it was a stab in the dark. It was in line with market rate, but she underestimated the project and overestimated her abilities. She did not have milestones or a plan of attack. She took twice as long as a pro would have and it eventually cost me more.

Talk about bad project management!!

I cringe as I tell you this story, because a) I'm reliving that uncomfortable afternoon and b) it's the kind of tale my mom repeats.

But I promise you I have a point.

My point is...

Anyone can clean a house. It's a low skill job. The real skill lies in managing the job of cleaning a whole house. Someone who does it everyday has systems in place, the tools to do the best job possible in the shortest amount of time, know the difference between what works and what doesn't, and the experience to be able to plan the attack and hit the mark.

It's the difference between an amateur and a professional.

Because really, good project management is critical for better business management.

We're all adults. We know this! But every so often, we need a reminder.

How does this apply to residential architecture and construction?

I've talked to some who are of the opinion that anyone can design a house, how hard can it be?! Or that anyone can build a house. Truth be told, it's not rocket science. However, DIY (Do It Yourself) is a 3 letter curse word.

When you talk to a professional (architect or builder), remember that you're not just paying for their skills, but a well managed delivery of their skills.

Design Services vs Project Management Services

Design is my technical skill. And designing a house is most certainly not a low skill job.

Project management is my functional skill. It's also my superpower.

Although the two are intricately connected together in my professional services, I like to talk about them distinctively, because both are important components for a successful project. And each takes time.

Without getting into an argument about the (subtle!) differences between hiring a maid and hiring an architect or builder, let me ride my point home.

Without good project management, a sparkling clean house is a non starter.

Cheers,

Sharon.

The 3 stages for every home project