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Many architects are booked at least six months to start a project, although larger firms have stated that they have slightly shorter waiting times.
AUSTIN, Texas – Homeowners looking to renovate or design a new home may have to wait. Between Austin’s real estate boom and the COVID-19 pandemic, the waiting list for architects is growing.
Many architectural firms are fully booked for at least six months before they can begin the design process for a house or even select rooms within a house.
“There is this amazingly rapid growth and the benefit of it is that we can see and learn as we move forward much faster,” said Camille Jobe of Jobe Corral Architects.
Jobe and her partner Ada Corral stated that they are trying to help as many customers as possible. And while it’s a slow process, they don’t want to sacrifice the quality and beauty of the design by trying to go faster.
“We have the opportunity to be very responsible in building our city,” added Corral.
As in many industries, bottlenecks in the supply chain have slowed the production process and increased costs.
An architect’s schedule also depends on how quickly the city approves permits and how available other specialists involved in the process are, including contractors, arborists, surveyors, etc.
“The whole system is overloaded and our waiting time just fits in with all the pieces and pieces lined up to start a project,” said Sarah Johnson, architect at Matt Fajkus Architecture.
As a larger company with 10 to 12 designers and more resources, Johnson says they have a slightly shorter waiting time of two to three months.
Even then, Johnson explained, the company still has to narrow down which customers it works with because of its flexibility and design standards.
“I would say we get an average of four to five inquiries a week and then limit ourselves to about one interview,” said Johnson.
With the growing competition for living space, the need for architects is also growing. Ingrid Spencer, executive director of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Austin Chapter, told KVUE that in some cases smaller firms partner with larger ones to get more clients.
“Also, there are a lot of architects who come from other government offices just because we have the market for them,” said Spencer.
The process for a home renovation or home construction could take about two years, depending on the scope of the project, Spencer said.
Here are some tips architects recommend for future clients:
- Start the process early and hold discussions with different architects and the bank to learn different perspectives
- Find an architect who understands your vision for the home
- Be patient, the process is not quick
- Have a flexible schedule. It will help reduce delays and make it easier for different teams involved to complete their part of the project
“It may be one of the most important and expensive things you will ever do for your family, but it’s an incredible experience,” said Spencer.
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