Order a project and design: house, flat, layout change
Which project do you actually need
The word “project” covers different things. An architectural project for a house includes plans, elevations, sections, structural solutions and the services sections: electrics, heating, ventilation, water supply. An interior design project shows the layout, materials, lighting and furniture. A layout-change project is needed when you alter walls or services, and it is usually the one submitted for approval.
There are also landscape projects for a plot, site plan layouts and projects for individual systems. Decide what exactly you need and ask the providers what the package of documents contains.
What to put in your request
- What you need — a house design, a flat interior, a layout change, landscaping.
- Area and site — a flat in a new building, an old house, a plot.
- Contents of the project — sketch, working drawings, 3D visuals, drawings, specifications.
- Style — what you like, with examples.
- City of the site — for local building rules and site visits.
- Timing and budget, for example a rate per sq ft.
Example: “Christchurch, a flat in a new building, 800 sq ft. I need an interior design project in a modern classic style: layout, full working drawings and 3D visuals. Site visits are possible. To be finished by the end of the month, budget up to $3.52 per sq ft.”
How to compare offers and what to prepare
First find out which sections are included. A lower price often means that drawings or services sections are missing from the project. Also look at:
- whether the designer has completed projects and whether you can see a portfolio;
- how many layout options and revisions are included;
- whether support is provided: supervision of the work, consultations with the builders;
- who handles the approval of documents, if they are needed;
- delivery times by stage.
Prepare the source data too. For a house the designer will need the documents for the plot, its dimensions and survey, information on the soil and the connection to utilities. For a flat, the floor plan from the builder or measured drawings. The fuller the data, the more accurate the estimate and the faster the work. If something is missing, say so in the request, and providers will tell you whether they will do the measuring and the survey themselves.
How to search on BlaBlaPrice
You describe the task once on the home page, and designers and architects reply with offers in chat. They can see where their offer stands and can change the scope or the price to win your request. Reviews are shown next to the offers, and your contacts stay hidden until you choose a provider. For the process, see the page How it works.
Common mistakes
Most often people order only pretty pictures and the crew has no drawings. Another mistake is to start renovation or building without an approved project: changes on the go are expensive. One more is not considering the budget for carrying it out: the project must fit your means, not only your wishes.
When the project is ready, move on to execution: turnkey renovation, turnkey construction or finishing work.
