There is a very interesting discussion happening on Freakonomics' website about whether or not architects are economically valuable to the housing industry.Well, I'm sure you know what our answer would be - of course we are worth it! We talk to potential clients every day about the value of our services. We strive to provide efficient floor plans, aesthetically pleasing designs and, most importantly, a home that works for exactly how our clients live. We can save clients the cost of our architectural services just by eliminating inefficient space in a floor plan that doesn't work how the homeowner needs it to. A few years ago, we had an ad slogan that read "you can't afford not to hire us." When you put the pen to paper, if we can save you 500 square feet of wasted space, that could save you anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 in construction costs.
So to answer Marc Krawitz' question - are architects still worth it? Yes.
[To view the full discussion on Freakonomics and join the conversation, click here. There are some great answers provided by members of the industry]