Long Beach, California is a great place to live and work! Between the variety of residential and business communities and the plethora of recreational offerings in the area, there’s really something for everyone here. Probably the only downside to living or owning a business in Long Beach is the high costs associated with it.
If you’ve ever tried to remodel a home or commercial space in Long Beach, you know what we’re talking about. The costs definitely add up quickly. It’s not just the construction costs, it’s all of the fees that go along with them. It can be tempting to try to cut corners, and one way you might think about doing that is by forgoing the hiring of a Long Beach architecture firm. Having an architecture firm draw up plans for your remodel can typically add at least 10% to the total cost of the project—and sometimes even more.
However, anyone who has tried to get plans approved by the City of Long Beach without using an architecture firm will likely tell you that going through the process alone is not an optimal strategy. Trying to draw up plans on your own and submitting them to the city will almost certainly be an exercise in frustration. The City will ask you for all kinds of changes that you won’t know how to make, as well as supporting documentation that you likely won’t have. Unless you have all of the time and patience in the world, as well as the willingness to navigate a complex process that is not designed for the average citizen, hiring an architecture firm will be money well spent.
To put it as simply as possible, architecture firms in Long Beach, CA speak the same language as officials in the City’s Community Development Department. Architects know what the City is looking for in terms of how building plans are drawn up, as well as what supporting documents are needed. When changes to the initial submission are required, an architect will know how to make those changes, or will only need to do a little bit of research to find out what needs to change in their drawings.
But it’s not just about getting your plans approved, it’s also about the end result of your project. Architects aren’t just focused on producing plans that meet the building code, they also aim to design spaces that work for their clients. An architect can help with things like getting the most out of your square footage, improving the flow from room to room, optimizing natural lighting, and creating spaces that contribute to a better overall experience in the home or office.
Whether you are remodeling a home or a commercial space, working with one of the architecture firms in Long Beach, CA can help you achieve the best outcome possible!
