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It can be tempting to look at blueprints and decide you don't need architectural services. Working with an architect, though, has some key benefits. You may want to hire one for these four reasons.

Liability Coverage

Architects are licensed professionals. More importantly, their firms are typically insured or bonded, too. That matters because architectural failures can amplify your liability exposure, even if you're just looking at work on a small residence.

If someone is hurt due to a design oversight, there will be liability concerns. When an architect is involved with a project, their insurance covers anything they might have done wrong. Conversely, if you or a contractor developed the blueprints, the odds are pretty high an insurer isn't going to cover damages even if you have a policy.

The only person who can obtain a policy to cover architectural design flaws is a properly licensed professional. Also, it looks better if the architect has independence from the other parties involved with the project.

Structural Engineering Knowledge

An architectural services firm may use computer models and consult with structural engineers to address potential concerns. For example, you might have a design that puts a lot of weight on a single support beam in a building. At a certain point, you may have to decide whether that beam can be wood or if it has to be steel. That's a perfect question for an architect.

Providing Specifications to Contractors

Every contract you sign for a building or renovation effort needs to include specifications. To be enforceable, the contract also needs to have specifications that provide boundaries.

For example, an architect can provide your contractors with a list of materials and designs that will work for the project. If the contractor goes outside those specifications, you can compel them to fix the problem by going after their bond on the job. In other words, the architect's specifications make the contracts you'll sign more legally binding.

Due Diligence

Eventually, you'll need to insure the building. Likewise, you might want to sell it one day. In both instances, paying for architectural services fulfills some of the expected due diligence. You can enter the architect's reports into the record to show an insurer that the structure is insurable. They can send an inspector who can follow the plans, look at the results, and check for consistency. The insurance company can then assess the building's risk profile, decide whether to provide a policy, and set premiums and deductibles.