Nick Tsontakis and Tom Monte
The right architect and the relationship he/she builds with the contractor will determine the quality of your custom home or the modernizing of your existing one, your satisfaction through the design and construction process and, ultimately, your happiness.
Scottsdale’s Nick Tsontakis, AIA, is one of the finest Valley architects we have worked with, someone who has established a well-regarded business for almost 20 years and who understands the importance of well-crafted relationships.
Principal of Scottsdale’s Tsontakis Architecture & Interiors, he is also founder, director and publisher of Arizona Residential Architects (ARA), representing himself and other high-end Valley design professionals and building/design vendors associated with them.
Experienced architects such as Tsontakis bring a unique tool belt to the custom building process, offering extensive knowledge of existing and new-build structures, the market and the building requirements for the project municipality; finely honed design skills; optimizing space; familiarity with the newest and best building materials; renewable and sustainable design; and the ability to realize clients’ visions and work within their budgets.
Consider remodeling, an option many are choosing for their homes. First, Tsontakis tells clients to evaluate the worth of surrounding homes in the neighborhood and the neighborhood itself.
Valuing your home highly doesn’t mean your home is highly valued. Good architects will help you see clearly through the haze of important decisions that will need to be made. Will your remodeling or new-build investment be justified or will it not be recoverable, even in good times?
Quality architects work with us and our team to ensure that an existing home is structurally, mechanically and electrically sound. Will you be able to use parts of the existing structure, such as floor slabs, foundations, walls and roofs in the new design? Some old homes, for example, require extensive structural modifications, such as reinforcing the foundation.
Consider the solar exposure of the home for energy efficiency and if existing systems, such as the heating-cooling system and plumbing, will work with the new project. Is old electrical wiring a fire hazard? Termites? Or, are there hazardous materials such as lead paint or asbestos which need to be addressed?
Look closely at the quality of plans. Architects should ensure that the plans aren’t just what Tsontakis calls psychological blueprints: They carry details but not enough details for the builder or its trades to understand on a job-site.
