Getting Started


An excerpt from the COMET STUDIOS residential "Client Workbook"

Comet Studios has put together a Workbook that we provide to our clients at the beginning of every project. It includes questions that help our clients consider the intangible and tangible qualities that contribute to the creation of their home. This Workbook also provides an opportunity to develop, clarify and record client ideas and dreams so they can be incorporated into the design process.

We encourage our clients to include any additional descriptive information such as drawings, magazine clippings, photos, writings, etc. We recommend that our clients start a scrapbook of photographs illustrating favorite architectural themes, elements, spaces, furniture, artwork, domestic objects and finish details such as window styles, appliances, lighting fixtures, and surface finishes.

Keep in mind that a home is one of the largest investments most people will ever make. Designing and building a home is demanding and requires an enormous number of decisions. The Design Process, however, offers a very unique and special opportunity to create an environment that fulfills and nurtures the owners' needs, desires, lifestyle, and dreams. How well the home responds to each clients' specific needs and desires will be proportionate to the amount of time clients put into the early planning of their home.

The following is a worksheet to help our clients establish an Overall Budget. We offer this to you, our Web Site Visitor, hoping that you will find this information useful.

BUDGET WORKSHEET

Establishing a realistic project budget is a significant factor that is critical to the success of a project. Cost of construction varies greatly and is determined by factors such as government fees, the location of the project, its topography, square footage, architectural design, materials, finishes, and system requirements. We can give you estimates of per square foot building costs in locations that we are familiar with. For locations that are new to us, competent local builders can provide this information. From this information, a realistic budget for your proposed project can be determined. It is very important to establish a realistic budget before starting the design process. This budget can be easily formulated by answering the following questions and using our online calculator:

1. What is your budget range for your house? $__________
2. What is the anticipated square footage of your project? ___________ sq.ft.
3. What is your anticipated cost per square foot? (We can help you to determine these cost ranges in your area.) Use a high, medium and low cost range. $__________ per sq.ft.

A. Multiply the overall square footage by the cost per square foot:
 Total sq. ft. x $ High Cost sq.ft. =
 $__________ High Subtotal A
Total sq. ft. x $ Medium Cost sq.ft.=
 $__________ Medium Subtotal A
Total sq. ft. x $ Low Cost sq.ft. =
 $__________ Low Subtotal A

B. The following items are not usually included in the above figures and must be considered separately:
Possible sales tax on above subtotal:
 $__________
Land costs (include escrow, survey, topographical map, and perc test costs):
 $__________
Architectural Fees:
 $__________
Blueprints, Reimbursables & Consumables:
 $__________
Interior Design Fees:
 $__________
Landscape Design Fees:
 $__________
Landscape Materials and Installation:
 $__________
Building and Other Permit Fees (may be included in contractor's bid):
 $__________
Site Development (septic/sewer, water hook up or well, tree removal, road, driveway, site repairs, grading, importation of fill or top soil, irrigation, drainage) These items may be included in contractor's bid:
 $__________
Utility Costs (electricity, heat source, Media, telephone hookups):
 $__________
Window Coverings:
 $__________
Upholstery for Built-ins:
 $__________
Construction interest:
 $__________
Loan or Appraisal Fees:
 $__________
Contingency:
 $__________

Subtotal of B Items =

$__________

Now add the cost of A & B to determine the range of your budget:
Total Cost High A $ + $ Total Cost High B =
$__________ High
Total Cost Medium A $ + $ Total Cost Medium B =
$__________ Medium
Total Cost Low A $ + $ Total Cost Low B =
$__________ Low

With the completed "Client Workbook" and a definitive budget, you are now ready to begin the Design Process.


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