5 Reasons Why You Should Value Hiring an Architect in Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, an architect is required to build or make structural changes to a home or apartment. For many, this seems like an unnecessary additional cost to what is already an immense investment. We often see people wanting to avoid paying for this requirement in various ways.

There are those that are worried not only about the costs but are afraid we won’t listen to them, so they draw up plans themselves before coming to us for building permission documents. Others give up on the idea of having a personally designed home and buy a pre-designed home that may not suit them, and we have even seen those who go to the builders first to get an offer before they have a design which is very much putting the cart before the horse.

As architects, we are not here just to create abstract works of art for the architectural magazines or status symbols for the super-rich. We are concerned with contributing to the community. We think about the landscape we inhabit together and want to see even those with smaller budgets create nice homes to live in and enhance the atmosphere of the neighborhood. In fact, it is usually those with a tighter budget that could benefit the most by working with an architect.

1.The return on your investment

If you needed legal, financial or medical advice, you wouldn’t hesitate to seek out top experts in those fields. The design of the place you will live for the next 10, 20, or maybe 50 years should not be any different. It is one of the largest and most valuable investments you will make.

Architects must go through rigorous studies, internships, and work for many years to gain experience in how to design with excellence, understand the requirements and processes with professionalism, and know how to anticipate problems and solve them with expertise.

2. We can save you money

The value that an architect brings to your home starts with the design. We visualize how different parts of your home work together so that we minimize wasted or unused space. This knowledge is especially important for those working on a tight budget, because we know how to make the most of smaller areas. This is especially true if you have a challenging piece of property to build on.

In addition to the irregular shapes and slopes of a site, the zoning requirements can be exceptionally difficult depending on the commune. By going through a site analysis, we can determine the best use of your property and overcome these challenges.

This analysis allows us to improve the energy efficiency of the home, incorporate the views which helps resale value, and it can yield some interesting facts about your property you may not have considered. For example, you may be able to build a multifamily home where you could either sell or rent out the second home and finance your own home.

Another way an architect can save you money is with the detailed 3D modeling that allows us to clearly see any potential conflicts and solve them quickly and easily on the computer. This means the construction work will not stop while waiting for clarifications which can cause scheduling conflicts and add cost. If misunderstandings happen during construction, and you want the builder to make changes, the money you saved from not having architectural fees could be gone in an instant.

3. We are your advisers and advocates

When we sign a contract with you, we are legally bound to serve your best interests, and that is what we are committed to doing.

One of our primary rolls is to help you through the process of designing and building a home. We will guide you through each design phase explaining things step by step. We will research all building regulations making sure your home meets them. We can also help you find any necessary specialists such as land surveyors, engineers, energy efficiency consultants, etc.

In the construction phase we will act as your legal advocates with the contractors. We will oversee the bidding process making recommendations on which contractors to use, and we will coordinate and supervise the work. When contractors submit their invoices, they will submit them to us. Once we determine the invoiced work has been finished and done correctly, we will approve the invoice and send it on to you for payment.

4. We provide a budget analysis in every phase

Your budget is a very serious topic for us at Saharchitects. Making sure your home doesn’t cost more money than you want to spend is a part of our process in every design phase. Analyzing the budget in each phase and having open and honest discussions with you about how to meet the budget means that when the contractors come back with their estimates, there won’t be any shocking surprises after you spent so much time and effort in designing your home.

5. We provide a comprehensive approach

We have a comprehensive understanding of the entire process. We know how to work with you to design an elegant, natural home that will positively enhance the way you live, and we can make sure your vision is carried through every detail. Email us about your project. We will be happy to respond and set up a time to talk to you about it over Zoom. Once the virus crisis is over, we can meet with you in person.

Click on the button below to download our Guide to Working With an Architect to learn more about the process here in Luxembourg.