Kramer Architects | Our Process

Our PROCESS

Kramer Architects facilitates every aspect of the process from an initial brainstorming conversation, to design, construction, and project completion. We are a constant presence, unlike many architects who simply design a home and pass blueprints off to builders. Equally as important as our design and creative skills, we act as an advocate for the homeowner. We take tremendous pride in addressing our client’s concerns, problems, and visions, creating a process that is rooted in trust and confidence. Kramer Architects provides customized housing solutions that are as unique as each one of our clients.

Preliminary Meeting

Each project begins with a conversation. Mark Kramer meets with every potential client at his or her home. We are committed to getting to know our clients and understanding the full scope of each project. Based on three decades of experience, Kramer Architects helps families predict housing needs as each family inevitably grows. We ensure that the current design accommodates realistic changes down the road, while still remaining within today’s budget.

Survey + Preliminary Plans

Kramer Architects completes a thorough survey of the existing residence conditions. This includes taking a full range of photographs and measurements to develop existing floor plans and exterior elevation drawings. With the information gathered from the survey, Kramer Architects prepares a design for the project satisfying our client’s criteria and budget.

Client Review Meeting & Plan Development

A review meeting is scheduled and the preliminary plans are presented to the client. Alterations are incorporated into these preliminary drawings to satisfy all changes requested by the client.

Preliminary Budget

Kramer Architects works with a variety of respected area builders to develop an accurate preliminary budget, which is then presented to the client for approval.

Construction Document Phase

Following approval of a preliminary budget, Kramer Architects begins drafting construction plans. These are used for the bidding process and for permit applications within the jurisdiction. During this stage, numerous meetings are typically held to discuss details such as lighting, fixture selections, and interior design criteria.

Bidding

When bidding a project, Kramer Architects deals with qualified contractors who have worked with the firm for many years. Though Kramer Architects has a longstanding relationship with all of these contractors, we still ensure that the contractors competitively bid against each other for the project. This ensures that our clients have an array of competitively priced options to choose from.

Permit Processing

Kramer Architects files all permit applications and subsequent revisions, while some other firms leave this task to the client themselves. Mark Kramer’s nearly 30 years of expertise with local zoning regulations ensures that the firm is able to incorporate the best design concepts based on current zoning standards. Kramer’s unique knowledge of local zoning, an often overlooked aspect of an architect’s design expertise, ensures that permit revisions are minimized and the project reaches its fruition in a timely manner.

Contract Negotiation

Contract Supervision

Throughout the construction process, Kramer Architects reviews all billing and payments for the client and acts as a communication conduit between the client and the contractor. We review the quality of the construction on behalf of the homeowner to verify that the contractor follows the full specifications of our plans. We normally inspect the project at regular intervals in sync with the contractor payments. Mark Kramer assists in establishing a final ‘punch list’ at project completion and ensures that the contractor completes all work prior to receiving final payment.