How to Find & Hire The Right Architect For You

Most homeowners don't need to have a professional relationship with an architect. The typical homeowner will undertake a new home or home renovation project only once, if that, in a lifetime. So finding and hiring the right architect is unfamiliar to many. By following these steps you'll get the right architect for you.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Identify a slate of potential architects, part 1. Ask friends, family, neighbors, coworkers and anyone else you know if they can recommend any architects. Usually the best source for a slate of candidates is through a referral from somebody you know.

2. 
   The Not So Big House

   Identify a slate of potential architects, part 2. Use the web to get names of architects. Many home design websites include directories of architects. Such sites include those for The Not So Big House (www.notsobighouse.com) and The American Institute of Architects (www.aia.org).

3. 
   Architect's Web Site

   Use the internet to narrow the list of candidates. Most architects have a web site that explains who they are and what they've done. Determine which architects would be a good fit for you by looking at their portfolio and learning about their process & philosophy. For example, don't consider an architect that designs only modernist houses when you're looking for something that's traditional.

4. Identify a short list of candidates. Conduct telephone interviews of the candidates. During the telephone interview ask the candidate if they'd be interested in your project, who would be working on your project and what the architect's work load is. Ask for references (and follow up by calling these references). if you can, visit the architects past projects and interview the homeowners about their experiences. Also get a sense of how the architect charges and what the architect would anticipate the fees for your project to be.

5. Conduct one on one interviews with 2 or 3 finalists. Visit the architect's office or have the architect visit your house to discuss the issues and opportunities of your project. Ask about the architects process and philosophy and ask about how they would approach your project. Discuss your budget with the architect.

6. Engage the right architect by selecting the candidate who you feel is the best fit for you. Make sure you have a positive feeling that you can work with the architect, that the architect is listening to you, and that the architect has respect for your budget.

7. 
   American Institute of Architects

   With legal counsel, execute an agreement with the architect using an industry standard document such as that provided by the American Institute of Architects.

Tips & Warnings

• Every architect is different. Designing in a different style, providing a different level of service and charging different fees. Make sure to engage an architect that is right for you from all aspects, not just one.
• An architect's most important skill is the ability to listen to you and to be able to translate what you're saying into a project that can be built to satisy your needs. Nothing, not money nor time nor style, matters as much.

[irgeorge]

on 11/9/2009 Yeah, that's right! - http://arkitext.webs.com/