Home Architects

Selecting a residential architect

Before selecting an architect for your project, it´s important to make sure that your architect is interested in the same home design problems and issues that concern you. Though they may enjoy home design, many architects are not aware of issues unique to residential home design or accustomed to working with individual homeowners. Practicing residential architecture exclusively is something of a rarity, which may cause problems during the design process. For that reason, it helps to qualify your prospective architect so you know both of you are on the same page regarding your project.

To succeed, use the following to qualify your choice of architect:

• Check references carefully.
• Review the architect´s portfolio thoroughly. It´s extremely important that the style and quality of the architect´s recent work dovetails with your expectations and aesthetic sensibilities.
• Make sure that the architect clearly understands your goals and ideas. They have the experience to translate your goals into workable concepts and offer compromise solutions when your ideas exceed your budget.
• Communication is key. Make sure that the architect you choose respects your values and priorities. Even a hint of friction at the beginning of a project can easily escalate into major problems during the course of construction. You need the same level of confidence in your architect that you have in your doctor or lawyer.