Ask for references and speak to past clients to find out if the architect can design within budget.  Find out if the architect has experience doing residential remodeling.  Get a complete price for the entire design development and construction document package including consultants i.e. engineering, permit processing etc.  Don't pay a retainer until you check hiring an archictect against a design - build firm who will handle the entire process for one fee.

I aggree with everyone above.  In our experience the most common thing that tends to happen in the design process is that the design tends to overrun the budget and often there can be delays and added expense as a result.

How will they integrate design, selections, and construction?

What is their track record for being able to design a project that meets a target construction budget, and actually complete the construction project?

How do they help to ensure that the project ends up on time, on budget, and as beautiful as imagined?

* Is he Licensed with the county you planing to build the addition ?

* How long he was in business ?

* What type of projects he has done in the past ?

Sincerely 

Nicolas 

Ask for references of their Clients who worked with the architect in the past year on a project similar to what you're planning.

Ask for a copy of their contract

Who owns the plans and specifications?

Ask to visit a project that is in process

How long have they  been in business?

Who will be our main point of contact? and then ask to meet the individual

Dennis D. Gehman, Master Certifed Remodeler (MCR)

President

Gehman Design Remodeling

PA297

RetroFoam

PA120258

Office 215-513-0300

dennis@gehmanremodeling.com

www.gehmanremodeling.com

Set up a time with him on a day that works best for you each week, or how often you'd prefer to be updated. You should have an idea of or a clear timeframe for the progress of the home, but if you don't it'll be helpful to get an email from the Builder with a general timeframe and you can work from that when you have your scheduled calls about Job Completion. If they’re professional then they'll explain reasons for any setbacks, the resolutions and the new dates of completion.

Along with this, I would have them first send you a set of photos of the job currently at each angle and in each room and then going forward have him send you photos of the updates. Whether you use Dropbox or anything else to share photos, it's easier to text if both parties don't have an account yet, as there's no limit on the amount files you can text and you don't have to sign up for anything just to get photos. I also wish you luck on the new Home.

Greg

The answer to this question is directly related to the climate that you live in.  The major window manufacturers offer glazing that is designed for the solar heat gain and temperatures in the various climate zones. You can obtain information either through a reputable window company in your area or by visting the websites of national window companies such as Anderson, Pella, Milguard, etc.

Contacting your local home improvement commission is your best recourse to start, since they typically have a fund to pay for a attorney for you if needed. They can provide mediation between both parties in hope that a court battle can be avoided. They will slso decipline the contractor if they side with you, and no contractor wants that on there record.

Surround sound is generally installed in front of and around an entertainment system including your TV or video monitor and often several locations throughout the house may need surround sound as in Home Theaters.  It should just be a few hundred dollars per system, per location to prewire surround.  If you are looking for whole house sound systems, that is a different story and generally each room is not surround but has stereo speakers and depending on the number of rooms and your distribution system, it can vary quite a bit.  Most good security systems today are wireless and I would highly recommend any glass door or window area easily accessible from the outside have glass breakage sensors.

It really would depend on the size of the system, but to rough in surround sound shouldn't be more than around $1500. In regards to security systems, most of them are wireless these days and don't have to be pre-wired into the house. I hope that helps give you an idea of what you're looking at.

Who made then the design change decission? Was it you that changed something and the seat was dropped due to the change? Or was it initiated by the builder? Did something else change that necessitated the eleimination of the seat?

If you requested a change that cause this to happen and missed it until the walk through the I don't see the builder as responsible. But if he did it on his/her own then I think they are accountable. In ether event there should have been a change order to document  the alteration.  

With more info about the cause and how it was initiated, if it was documented,if at all, would help the resolution to be much clearer. I can see responsiblity on both side. And a lot of greive and agreavation if laywer and courts get involved.

I would suggest arbitration as the next best course of action if you and the builder can't work it out between you. 

Are there specifications that say that there is to be a shower seat?

A lawyer is the first place to start. Your builder should be insured for problems like this. If it is a big box builder then I am sure something in the corporate contract has an answer for this. You definitely will want to keep any paperwork, emails, texts, etc just to back up your claim. Also the city/county should have the design on file because that is what the permit is attached too. 

If your on well water it most likely is sediment from the well and you'll need to change the filter and fluseh the line.