Things You'll Need:
- A PC with an Internet connection
- A phone
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Step 1
If you have friends or coworkers who have completed an addition, contact them to see if they would recommend their architect. Word-of-mouth referrals are a great resource for finding talent.
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Step 2
The referral service Service Magic is free to homeowners, and will send your project description to up to three architects for bidding. These architects have been prescreened, and you can see what others have rated them on the main site.
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Step 3
Check your local Yahoo listings or phone book to find more possibilities if the above two steps have not generated enough names.
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Step 4
When you speak to each architect, ask for photos of completed additions, and references from homeowners and contractors. Examine each photo carefully - does it look like the addition matches the existing home? Is it tasefully done.
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Step 5
Call both homeowner and contractor references. Ask the homeowners if the prints were delivered in a timely manner, and if the building department passed them easily. Ask the contractors if the designs were buildable or if they required major modifications. Ask also if the addition was able to be completed on or under budget.
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Step 6
Check to see if each architect under consideration has designed additions in your particular city before - remember, each city has its own building codes which can differ greatly from neighboring cities.
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Step 7
Select the architect that has the best overall references and familiarity with what you want. Make sure you have an airtight contract, and you are ready to begin!
