Lake Home Rebuild

2 years ago

In the next couple years we’d like to start the process of tearing down a summer lake cottage and building a year-round home for retirement.

We will need to find an architect, a builder, and an interior designer. . I have questions about each of these and would love some advice.

Architect: NO IDEA where to start. We don’t know anyone who has built a home and other than google we are at a loss on where to begin. Advice?

Builder: we have a friend who is a builder, but he specializes in very high end homes. As our budget allows for a modest home, not a show-stopper, we are assuming we cannot afford him. Should we ask him to bid anyway? We aren’t sure what would strain a friendship more - not asking him to bid at all or having to turn him down due t o his bid being too high. Thoughts?

Also, we’d love some tips on how to identify potential builders. As with the architect, other than Google we don’t know where to start.

Interior Designer: What I’d really like is someone who can help me choose finishes and come up with an overall design style and colors. I’d also like someone who could help me determine what I can bring from my current home that will work in the new space. Any tips on how to find the right person?

Here is pic of our sweet little house that we’ll be replacing (and no, it not suitable for adding on).

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
2 years ago
Look for projects under construction or recently completed that you like the style of the building and inquire who the architect is/was. Talk to the builder and home owner to get their experience. Talk to several architects to see their past design experience, how they would be to work with, and their fee structure.
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
2 years ago
Look for projects under construction or recently completed that you like the style of the building and inquire who the builder is/was. Talk to the architect and home owner to get their experience. Talk to several builders to see their past construction experience, how they would be to work with, and their fee structure.
Related Professionals
Clarksburg Architects & Building Designers · Burlington Architects & Building Designers · Gloucester Architects & Building Designers · Riverside Architects & Building Designers · Liberal Architects & Building Designers · Vidalia Design-Build Firms · Monroe Design-Build Firms · Gaithersburg Design-Build Firms · College Station Design-Build Firms · Rutland Design-Build Firms · Merced Design-Build Firms · Gainesville Home Builders · Dallas Home Builders · Youngstown Home Builders · Juneau Home Builders
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
2 years ago
If you find a builder first, ask them about architects.

If you find a architect first, ask them about builders.
chispa
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
There must be local homes that are newly build and even some tear-downs just like yours? Don't be afraid to ring the doorbell and ask questions about their build and for recommendations. Most people love to talk about their building project!

You definitely want a local architect and builder, who are familiar with any specific zoning laws for building on this lake. Even better if they have a good relationship with the local building department and any inspectors!
PRO
DeWayne
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Ask your builder friend to provide you with a paid professional consult about your project, over a nice dinner. Feed him, pay him for his time, and have a list of questions you have, sent to him a week in advance, so he can gather responses. Make your notes at the meeting, and then develop a path forward with the info you have gathered.

Even luxury home builders know modest home builders and their reputations. They are likely to be members of a regional homebuilders association. They also likely know plenty of architects and designers, and their reputations. Just because someone builds 10M homes doesn't mean they cannot build a 900K home.

Your homework is going to be to develop a realistic budget for the market, the location, and the huge red tape challenges for working around a lake and doing a teardown.. Then extrapolate between 10-30% per year increase for that "now" budget. Remember that a 250K house in year 2000 is now a 460K house. But that increase doesn't account for the extra environmental and geological studies for wetlands, high water tables, etc, that you deal with around a lake. This is neither a simple, nor modestly priced project.
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
2 years ago
Do not tear anything down until all permits are received.

(wisdom)