Rick McGovern Architect

I can only say, Rick McGovern is the best if not among the best. All and all other than promptly providing structural plans, checking with the right people, really looking at a number of environmental factors, keeping his commitments, he performed 4 site and numerous phone consultations, and email responses with us with promptness, courtesy, and with a great relief to the owners. He followed through from beginning to the end in a difficult situation with a contractor we hired. Very nice manner, clear, even tempered, and had a good relationship with owners and all in whatever he handled, including a willing to monitor at our request and show up when needed to require a couple of redos from contractors who may not be versed well or listen well in working with architects. Well respected and loved in the profession, from everyone who I've spoken with who knows him, Rick is very trustworthy and an all around great guy. RECOMMENDATION: ADD IN AN ADDENDUM TO CONTRACTS WITH CONTRACTORS A CLAUSE STATING CONTRACTOR SHALL CONSULT WITH ARCHITECT BEFORE CHANGING ANY PLANS AS WELL AS GET PRE APPROVAL BY OWNER ON ANY PLANS OR ON ANY GREY AREAS ABOUT DESIGN .YOU CAN STRENGTHEN THIS FURTHER IF YOU NEED TO (OR IS GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION WITH CAUSE IF CONTRACTOR SUPERCEDES THIS REQUIREMENT). RECOMMEND: There are circumstances when an architect feels something doesn't warrant a drawing or can't do additional drawings. If the architect doesn't have time to do additional drawings or changes, get them from the contractor or another professional qualified to do them BEFORE beginning work and being bid if possible. Design changes due to unclarity can be expensive and can be problematic. .Have all design work in drawings, not just in words to avoid issues, otherwise you can have an irreconcilable difference issue with the contractors. The old adage: a picture is worth a thousand words. Be wary of the contractor if the architect tells you a professional contractor should be able to follow his instructions and the contractor doesn't or can't provide drawings or even a sketch for the architect and owner approval. The contractor probably doesn't clearly know what he is doing and is winging it. RECOMMENDATION: Have the contractor sign the pages in the corner of all contracts and architect and other drawings that show evidence contractor has received and reviewed the contract and drawings. RECOMMENDATION: MAKE SURE BEFORE PURCHASING A PROPERTY YOU and REAL ESTATE AGENT CHECK THE PERMITS for all building department sign offs on line AND FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE depth of the permit. That means EVERY LINE ITEM OR IT CAN BE VERY COSTLY TO YOU IN THE END.-- RECOMMENDATION: GO LOOK AT THE LOT FILE AT THE HOA MANAGEMENT OFFICE. DON'T TRUST THE MANAGEMENT OFFICE TO TELL YOU NO ISSUES in escrow. YOU AND YOUR REALTOR CAN SEE WHAT IS in the lot file IF YOU ARE UNDER CONTRACT in escrow. WE HAD A NUMBER OF VIOLATIONS ON THIS PROPERTY NOT KNOWN OR NOT REVEALED TO US, BUT WAS REVEALED IN THE HOA FILE THAT WOULD HAVE AFFECTED OUR OFFER PRICE AND YEARS OF CORRECTIONS WHEN WE BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY. MAUI IS KNOWN FOR THIS. BUYER BEWARE. HENCE, WE NEEDED A RELIABLE ARCHITECT AND HAVE SEARCHED EXTENSIVELY TO FIND A REPUTABLE RELIABLE CONTRACTOR WHO CAN ACTUALLY SHOW YOU THEIR LICENSE, liability and work comp certificate and bond. GET COPIES. RECOMMENDATION: ASK THE ARCHITECT FOR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RELIABLE CONTRACTORS HE FEELS GOOD ABOUT WORKING WITH. THIS IS WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD. Hope this helps anyone reading this.