Briefs & Documents
How do You choose a Building Designer?
(Reprinted from article written by Ron McNeil for a Victoria Real Estate Publication.)
When choosing a designer for your new home or renovation some important aspects to consider are their credentials, the services they offer in relation to fees; and of course most importantly have a face to face meeting so you can see if they are indeed someone you can work with.
Like most professions now, certification is important. With a "Registered Building Designer" (RBD) certified under the Building Designers Institute of BC you get someone who has been certified to have the required education, experience, and has Errors and Omissions insurance.
Fees vary greatly for design, keep in mind that a prudent designer will be working to save their fee many times over in construction costs. Their fees also allow them to update their knowledge, carry E&O insurance and other professional responsibilities.
Include a designer early in your plans, they might give you insight into your lot prior to a purchase. Designers have a good grasp of costs for various types of construction and will be able to help you budget early on. Also impact of zoning standards and other guidelines may be apparent to the designer and can be dealt with to ensure a smooth purchase.
When considering the services you need, see what the designer commonly offers or can offer to better suit you specifically. While "Computer Aided Design"(CAD) alone does not make design better, it does offer more ways to enable someone to visualize what is being described to them. CAD is also easily translated into many forms for the Internet, enabling long distance clients to better keep in touch.
Whatever your project is, hire a competent and accountable professional - a registered building designer.
BC Building & Fire Codes
Online review of BC Building and Fire Codes (now complete). For updates, please visit Ministry of Forestry & Range and Minister Responsible for Housing, 'Building Policy Branch' web site. [click here] NOTE: Target page DOES NOT EXIST
Design & Review of Buildings
Brief on 'professional reliance' in the design and review of buildings, submitted to the Municipal Insurance Association of BC (MIABC); prepared by the Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) and Building Designers Institute of BC (BDIBC). [click here]
