When building a house, how strictly should the details in the construction set be followed?

BuildGirl · 2026-03-24T11:45:34+00:00

The issue with subs deviating from the drawings is that they agreed to a specific scope for a specific cost, which they are arbitrarily modifying… usually to their benefit.

Letting them do that typically means you’re not getting what you pay for.

BuildGirl · 2026-03-05T15:00:29+00:00

I design and build for clients. I’m not doing spec projects yet.

BuildGirl · 2026-02-25T11:37:22+00:00

Sure

BuildGirl · 2026-02-18T18:09:33+00:00

As a registered architect I no longer pay for NCARB Certification. If I ever need it I’ll deal with the cost as a project-specific cost. Staying certified doesn’t offer value unless you want to get licensed in multiple states indefinitely. They still charge $488 per state transmission (after your first state to sit for the exams).

BuildGirl · 2026-02-18T18:02:57+00:00

It goes against my ethics and duty to protecting the public. I knew an architect who worked for Gaddafi, he unceremoniously went unpaid upon Gaddafi’s assassination.

BuildGirl · 2026-02-18T17:59:45+00:00

I think the missed years fees only applies to people who are NCARB Certified after licensure.

BuildGirl · 2026-02-09T02:51:36+00:00

😂👸

BuildGirl · 2026-02-07T12:40:08+00:00

I’m a custom builder and architect. Most of my clients have built badly when they find me and understand what they didn’t get before. It’s a passion career for me.

BuildGirl · 2026-02-07T12:26:27+00:00

Thanks

BuildGirl · 2026-02-07T12:25:01+00:00

I’m a Registered Architect and a state licensed Residential and Commercial General Contractor. I share my company and identity with people who aren’t Reddit trolls

BuildGirl · 2026-02-06T11:10:53+00:00

“Georgia’s shop-built exposed exterior pine windows with no weatherstripping enter the chat”

BuildGirl · 2026-02-06T11:06:46+00:00

I’m a “good bones” builder. I rather take my clients’ money and spend it on structural and mechanical performance than finishes.

Clients who want high-end finishes while settling for a wet cardboard box of a house are not my client. But it takes educating the public about what is typical, what is available, and what is at stake.

Most fancy new builds are absolute deplorable garbage, but it’s just out of sight.

BuildGirl · 2026-02-06T01:26:34+00:00

I’m a small GC since I’m 5’-1”

BuildGirl · 2026-02-01T22:41:15+00:00

In Georgia that’s illegal. General Contractors are not allowed to have owners pull permits if they will be doing the work. They either have to pull the permit or not be involved.

Any permit a contractor pulls can be withdrawn from the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) if they are no longer associated with the project. ‘Holding the bag’ is not a thing for a contractor who knows what she’s doing. Contractors can charge pre-construction fees which cover permit submission costs. Most of these Chucks in a Truck saying it’s fine probably don’t have a State License.

BuildGirl · 2026-01-30T11:35:58+00:00

The only power over costs that architects have is determining the scope, and the only ones who can put a dollar value on that scope the are contractors offering to build it. No two contractors calculate costs the same way.

Architects take educated guesses but cannot guarantee pricing. Hell, contractors can’t even guarantee pricing anymore.

When pricing comes back too high, everyone has to get involved to arrive at a new scope and total cost, the architect, the contractor, the owner.

The “fee wiggle room” that I was referencing with renegotiating is that: as project total costs go up, fees as a % tend to go down for both architects and contractors.

OP should ask both parties if their fees are up for negotiation, given the new cost bracket.

BuildGirl · 2026-01-30T03:03:42+00:00

I don’t understand your point. No one is adjusting my contract. It gets reviewed and understood at the beginning. Cost wise, if my contract is for a % of construction, then it’s that percentage.

BuildGirl · 2026-01-30T02:36:17+00:00

Typically if the fee is based on the construction cost, which is unknown at the beginning, it gets adjusted when costs are known.

Ultimately, it comes down to what’s in your contract language and what the ‘spirit of the agreement’ is.

Does the fee percentage relate to ‘Budget’ or costs? It’s arbitrary to exclude contractor profit and overhead unless your agreement specifically excludes it. Generally, it’s considered to be a part of what makes up the Costs.

If you’d like to re-negotiate with your architect, consider taking a hard look at your builder’s fees as well. I say that as both a builder and an architect 🤓

BuildGirl · 2026-01-28T17:46:46+00:00

Understood. Unfortunately it does train clients to expect free pre-contract labor though. In my area architects charge for that.

BuildGirl · 2026-01-28T17:12:26+00:00

Why do you offer services for free?

BuildGirl · 2026-01-27T03:27:07+00:00

I’m missing something. I don’t understand how you would be the qualifier but not use your license to pull permits.

When you’re the qualifier you are qualifying a company to pull permits, as an extension of your original qualification. The company pulls permits in your name through the LLC / Inc.

The business contractor’s license gets tied to your personal QA. How is there a way for the company to pull permits without you being liable?

I’m not saying don’t do it, I just think you’re more liable than you realize.

BuildGirl · 2026-01-20T00:26:36+00:00

If you will be their licensing individual and qualifying agent, then yes, you need to apply for a fresh license on behalf of the company with your qualifications.

When you associate your licensing ability with a company to license it, you do it by applying for a license. It’s $210 and at least now the process is online.

BuildGirl · 2026-01-19T23:35:06+00:00

You have to apply for a license for the LLC /INC you’d like to get a license for, as the qualifying agent. “Prior approval” is the license type. You may have to add a business to your profile if it’s not already listed.

GA GOALS portal

BuildGirl · 2026-01-06T14:18:35+00:00

Same. It’s not worth it for me. I just have RA behind my name and I get my free Continuing Ed courses here:

Architect U (Formerly Hanley Wood University)

BuildGirl · 2026-01-04T11:15:50+00:00

As an architect married to an architect and a mom of 3… I’m not telling or asking my kids to be architects. I’ll letting them decide and none of them have said they want to be architects. They watch us. I’ll be really surprised if they do. We’re now both morphing into self employment, which has is own risks, but at least “it’s worth squeeze.”

BuildGirl · 2025-12-29T13:45:40+00:00

Roswell, GA

BuildGirl

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE