Sears Architects

As a designer, I can't say enough about the experience of working with Sears Architects. Their entire team is consistently professional, creative, and continue to surprise their clients with spot-on dream homes because they listen and interpret so well. Recently, in a one week period, I witnessed two different mutual clients seeing their first-draft plans and elevations. BOTH accepted the initial design without major changes! I can tell you that this doesn't happen very often, and the back and forth process can sometimes take months and even years. One client was brought to tears and the others could hardly contain their elation.

Sears Architects have a great handle on classic and classical architecture, including contemporary styles. Their homes exude a sense of dignity through the adroit handling of form, shape, and proportion. It’s wonderful to see homes that are balanced and poised; whether they be symmetrical or asymmetrical or combination thereof. Steven C. Adamko Interior Designer Author & Speaker

Sears Architects are amazing! They were professional, dependable, creative and enthusiastic. They never missed a deadline. Their on site visits were important follow through for the integrity of the project. Their whole office works hard to bring your dream project to fruition!

I purchased a home in East Grand Rapids, which needed a complete redo! I interviewed three different Architectural Firms and decided upon Sears Architects. They were vey welcoming, had great ideas, listening to what I wanted and performed in a very timely manner. It was a pleasure working with Rob Sears and learning more about his business. A very profession experience and I couldn't have been more excited to move in! And of course begin the "art of living." I would highly recommend Sears Architects.

Rob Sears and his design team did an outstanding job on our 1922 traditional brick home. The Sears team did a great job of listening to our ideas and creating an addition that felt like it was always there.

Sears Architects provided architectural services through my builder for my home which was completed in May 2015. I used a lightly modified version of a floor plan they already had developed, as well as some custom engineering to accommodate a green roof on my garage. Sears Architects suggested numerous subtle design details that make a dramatic statement as a whole. I am extremely pleased with their work and the way the home looks.

Rob and his staff designed and helped bring to life a dream home. My wife and I found everyone to be professional and creative. They listened to our vision and brought it to life on paper. We had a great experience and could not be happier with the result.

Sears Architect designed a 3100 sq house for us in East Grand Rapids, MI. We have never built a home previously. We found the design process to be very efficient which resulted in a home that matches our needs and wants. The Sears project manager was very responsive and Rob Sears seemed to be full informed and involved at all times. Having said this there were many heartaches that occurred that could in part be mitigated with up front client education. In talking with another friend who build a house with Sears last year, our experience was similar to theirs. 1. Architectural costs - designing a custom build house is more expensive and has more components than one would expect. Multiple site surveys, structural engineers, each set of more detailed plans add to the final cost. We spent $xxxxx for plans - which were the refinement of a plan presented to us in a design build proposal by the builder. In addition we used an interior designer recommended by the architect another $xxxx. We would have been happier if we had a fixed predefined budget as the builder led us to believe the costs would be about $25,000. Having said this, Rob Sears was very responsive to financial questions and happily and promptly provided the billing records that justified their billings. In addition I felt Rob made a strong effort to follow the project to completion and did quite a bit after delivery of the plans, uncompensated, to finish the job. In the end we are very happy with Sears Architects - but wiser for the experience. 2. Cost of building. We learned that there was essentially no communication between our builder and the architect regarding the building allowances and the costs of the developed plan. Our home ended up xx% over budget, despite most components falling within allowances - the builder just underbid to get the work. What I learned from the process is that is not the architects job, rather the home owners sole responsibility, to verify all components are accuately costed prior to contracting a builder. 3. Interior designer. We did not expect how important the interior designer would be in implementing the design of the home - guiding interior and exterior materials, designing lighting schemes, plumbing, etc as well as planning for furniture layout. Sears recommended Christine DiMaria. We separately retained her. My wife and I thought she did a great job - design, providing perspective from other project, helping sort priorities, communicating with the architect and in general holding our hands through the up and downs of the 10 month process. We were glad we used a designer who had worked with the architect before. 4. Landscape design. This was a separate contract and budget through a landscape architect. Sears coordinated well re the placement of the house on the lot, grade decisions needed so proper retention walls could be planned and built by the Landscape team. So overall, I feel that Sears Architecture is a terrific firm that does good work. We are very happy with the completed product of our home. We would recommend them to other home buyers.