Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Value of Design Consultants?

[Denise Cote (denise]

Before you hire anyone, decide what you want.  Passive solar?  Offsite 
parking?  Take the time and energy (think of it as community-building) 
and do what you can as a group, and then hire someone--preferably from 
within the group if you have a reliable member with the necessary 
skills--to implement your plan.    Professional developers, consultants, 
architects, lawyers, or whoever won't hesitate to tell you what they 
think you should do, but you'll be happier with the results of a plan 
that combines your specific needs with the professional's expertise.

Your hired help will also be happier, because your group will already be 
clear and united on so many issues.  And, you'll save yourself a bundle 
of $$ on the work that you've accomplished, plus you're likely to have 
fewer changes to work out at an expensive hourly rate.  Finally, you'll 
be more knowledgeable about the whole process because of your legwork and 
research.

Denise (one of the hired guns for the Geneva Community)

Denise Cote
denise [at] diac.com