Are you planning to build a new home or renovate or extend your existing property? Aside from architectural services, hiring drafting services should be on top of your list as well. After all, you’ll need building plans and drawings to get the ball rolling.
Why hire a professional draftsman
A draftsman or draughtsman is a skilled individual who’s trained to create technical plans and scale drawings. Most draftsmen today use computer-aided design (CAD) programs for greater efficiency and precision. With their expertise, they can give you precise plans, which you can hand over to your builder.
What to do before hiring a draftsman
Creating detailed plans is not an easy job; not everyone is skilled and qualified to translate architects’ plans into working drawings. That’s why you should take the time to know more about your prospective draftsmen.
- Check their qualifications
Plans need to be accurate; otherwise, they might negatively affect the structure being built and the safety of its occupants. When hiring an architectural draftsman, always check if they’re qualified for the job. Ask them to show you their certificates, licences, or other documents that can prove they’ve gone through training and they are authorised to create technical plans.
- Have a look at their portfolio
Don’t forget to ask for their portfolio. They should be able to show you their previous work to ensure that they have experience on the job. You can also ask for side-by-side photos of the plans that they’ve drawn and the finished structure.
- Find out about their rate
Of course, you should also consider the cost of their services. Ask whether they charge by hour, day, or project. You can look for the average rate of drafting services online and compare it to the rate of your potential draftsman. To ensure that there will be no surprise charges, tell them to detail everything in their quote and contract. You may also check the average cost of architectural drafting services in some states in Australia (New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia).
Do you need drafting services? Feel free to check out the top draftsmen on our site.