Chris is a registered California architect and member of the AIA with a Bachelor’s Degree from California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo. Since childhood, he’s been fascinated by the built environment and the creative possibilities that art and architecture have to offer. Spending his formative years in a small town in Northeast Oregon, Chris learned to value the beauty in nature at a young age. This continued to inspire him through his education and into his career. His talents have been most appreciated in the design of many beautiful custom homes and happy clients. His approach has always been to first better understand a client’s dreams and unique project constraints in order to create more informed and inspired designs. Chris has used his exceptional design talents and years of experience in Southern California to create a truly unique and progressive architectural practice.

Listen in as Chris explains how he developed the company’s social media strategy and how it has influenced growth since its founding in 2009. He also shares what it was like to start a company in the aftermath of the recession.

Chris also talks about his process for guiding clients through the process from beginning to end and how he nips common obstacles in the bud such as pushback around costs and setting expectations at the initial consult. Finally, he talks about using VR and renderings to raise his clients’ confidence and trust in his ability to deliver on their desires.

Topics Discussed:

• [02:39] Chris’s social media strategy for Brandon Architects
• [04:48] How photorealistic rendering has impacted business for the better
• [08:26] The impact of social media on the company’s growth and ability to attract clients
• [11:37] Why Chris decided to start his company during the recession
• [12:42] The company’s tipping point
• [14:23] How Brandon Architects is able to take on a wide variety of project types
• [16:10] Chris’s favorite style or aesthetic as a designer
• [18:56] How Brandon Architects works with clients from beginning to end
• [22:25] Navigating the budget side of the process
• [28:22] Dealing with pushback or resistance from clients
• [30:33] Collaborating and building rapport and trust with designers and builders
• [35:32] Setting expectations with the client when giving virtual tours
• [41:33] How VR makes a huge difference from a client’s perspective early on
• [44:39] Developing designs and renderings in-house
• [47:24] Familiarizing yourself with the different codes and restrictions in different states
• [51:04] What keeps Chris up at night at this point in his career?
• [52:39] Brandon Architects’ upcoming projects

Connect with Brandon Architects: 

• Website
• Instagram 

Connect with Brad Leavitt & AFT Construction:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Houzz
• Pinterest
• YouTube

Key Quotes by Christopher Brandon: 

• At the end of the day, your best calling card is your work.
• We try to make our process very client-focused. I think that’s why our portfolio is very diverse: We enjoy our clients’ creativity and passion for their projects. I want them to be happy and emotionally engaged throughout the process.
• The core concept of keeping clients happy is managing expectations.
• I believe strongly that collaboration makes for better projects and I like to bring on partners and people who are just as passionate about what they do as I am about what I do.
• Finding good local partners is a cornerstone of success for our faraway projects.

Produced by Koi Koi