How to Hire an Architect for Your Project

Whether you’re planning a new construction project, turning the attic into a guest room, or adding an extension to your home, you’ll need to find an architect to draw up the blueprints. This is a critical first step in the process, and the choice can mean the difference between your vision coming to life or the final project falling short. In this guide, we’ll explain how to find an architect who can take your Pinterest board of ideas and make them a reality.

What Services Does an Architect Offer?

Not sure exactly what an architect is and does? Architects are licensed professionals who offer services related to the design and construction of residential and commercial buildings. They use design principles, building codes, and guidelines to ensure structural soundness in their work. There are different types of architects, but architects who design homes often offer the following services:

• Designing and planning new home builds, additions, renovations, and other structural construction projects 

• Drawing up design schematics and blueprints that detail the specifics of the build

• Obtaining necessary paperwork and ensuring local building codes are met

• Conducting the bidding and negotiation process for contractors

• Overseeing the building process to ensure contractors are following the design schematics and managing challenges that arise during the build 

• Conducting a final walkthrough after construction is complete

Can You DIY Architectural Projects?

Unless you’re a trained and licensed architect, you’ll want to leave this job to the pros. The home design and building process requires you to be an expert on structural integrity, building codes, drafting construction documents, and more. A licensed architect has the training and experience to navigate these important components safely and legally. 

How to Hire an Architect

Even if you get a glowing recommendation for an architect from a family member, friend, or neighbor, you should still do some due diligence to vet the professional for yourself. Aside from making sure they’re the right type of architect, there are a few things you should do before hiring an architect, including the following:

1. View Examples of Past Work

For any design-related project, you’ll want to see a professional’s past work. Always ask an architect for examples of completed projects. Reputable architects will often provide samples of blueprints they’ve drawn, 3D drawings, or even virtual walkthroughs of their previous projects. Also, ask for before-and-after photos to see how the project started and what was the result. 

Looking at samples will help you decide if the architect’s style matches your own.

2. Ask About Your Project Specifics

If you like what you see in the architect’s work, you can start asking some basic questions about your specific project. Don’t go too in-depth, but consider asking the following:

• Do you have the capacity to draw up blueprints for my project in the near future?

• Do you do blueprints, 3D drawings, virtual walkthroughs, or some combination of these?

• What’s the general timeline like for blueprints?

These should give you a sense of whether or not you should consider hiring or keep searching.

3. Plan Your Construction Project

Many homeowners fail to plan out the project before hiring an architect. Before you hire a pro to draw up blueprints, you should have as many details ironed out as possible.

Think about things like general layout, bedroom and bathroom counts, and amenities such as attached garages or finished basements. The more specifics you know, the better. For instance, if you know what type of fixtures you want in your bathrooms, the type of roof you prefer, or the kind of flooring you want, you’re more likely to get blueprints that meet your expectations.

4. Schedule an Interview With Your Architect

The first step when hiring an architect is to interview them and make sure they’re a good fit for your project. Remember, you’re looking for someone to bring your vision to life, so if something feels off during your initial conversations, consider continuing your search. This is your home, and the architect should do what they can to deliver according to your expectations.

Your initial interview should help you get information about the following:

• The architect’s availability to take on your project

• Whether or not the architect is a good fit for the project

• The overall process of getting blueprints drawn up and making revisions, if necessary

• What will happen if either of you runs into an issue

5. Get a Contract and Arrange Payment 

Once you decide on an architect who is right for your project, they should provide an estimate for their services. If you agree to the pricing, they’ll draw up a contract. There are a few things you should look for and understand in the contract before signing:

• The expected timeline for completed blueprints 

• The estimated timeline for construction (this might not be included if they aren’t acting as a project manager as well)

• The up-front cost for the architect to begin work

• The fee schedule for changes after the initial blueprints are submitted

• What the total includes (blueprints only or blueprints and 3D drawings, for example)

• How arbitration will work if there’s an issue during the process

If you agree to all the terms, you can sign the contract and work out the payment details so you can get your project underway. Some architects accept payment via credit card, debit card, or cash, while others may accept deposits from your lender if you’re financing the construction project.

6. Look for Red Flags and Prepare to Troubleshoot

When searching for any professional, you need to look out for red flags. The following could indicate bigger problems, which should make you think twice about signing a contract:

• They offer an unusually low estimate. Some architects might fight for your business by providing quotes that fall well below the industry average. This could mean they plan on cutting corners or will upcharge you later for what should be an included service. Read the contract carefully.

• They haven’t completed projects in your area. Architects who haven’t worked in your area may not understand how to complete your project while still conforming to local building codes and neighborhood aesthetics. Ultimately, this could end up costing you more in the long run or creating issues with resale later on.

• They don’t seem to listen to your vision. If you spend time and energy coming up with a vision for your construction project only to have your architect ignore it, you should find another one. A true professional can incorporate your ideas while still following all legal and safety requirements.

• Their initial communication is slow. If an architect takes days to respond to emails and calls when you’re still in the hiring phase, you can bet that communication issues will only get worse and cause problems for you as your project progresses.

• They don’t have testimonials or examples of past work. It’s important to hire an experienced architect, so if yours doesn’t have examples of past work or positive reviews or testimonials from previous clients, consider moving on.

Questions to Ask an Architect

Once you have a pretty good idea that you’re on the right track regarding the professional you want to hire, you can start asking your architect some more specific questions:

• How can I give you details about the home I’m envisioning?

• What is the process like if I want changes made after the initial round of blueprints?

• What happens if the plans aren’t approved, and the build can’t be permitted?

• Can you give a rough estimate of what this project will cost?

• Do you also offer interior or exterior design services?

• Can you act as a general contractor and an architect?

• What is your design philosophy?

Remember, hiring an architect to draw plans for building a home or extension is a big deal, so take your time and do your best not to feel rushed or pressured to sign a contract.

Finding the Right Architect

Different types of architects specialize in different kinds of builds, so you’ll want to pick the right pro for your project. Building a home will call for a residential design architect near you with experience in the architectural style you’ve chosen. Some renovations may require a restoration architect who specializes in the conservation and preservation of historic homes. 

Building a new home may even require several types of architects. In addition to the cost of a residential design architect, you may want to budget the cost of a landscape architect into your build if you want to transform an empty lot into a welcoming, usable outdoor space. 

After Your Architect Has Finished

Once your architect finishes the initial set of designs for your house and 3D drawings, they should contact you to get your approval. If you need changes at this point due to a mistake on the architect’s part, you likely won’t be charged. But if you’re making alterations that you didn’t initially discuss, expect to pay for those changes.

Once you approve the plans, the architect will provide you or your builder with detailed copies, which your contractor can take to your local building department for approval. If your architect is acting as your project manager, they will get estimates from builders and consult you with quotes and recommendations for the job.

Your architect might continue working on your project if you ordered interior design services, landscape design, or something similar. Depending on what services you pay for, they might maintain communication with you or your builder and continue working on the project.

Pros of Hiring an Architect

When building a home from scratch, hiring an architect has many benefits.

• Custom builds: Architects draw up plans based on your specific needs and preferences. The end result will not be a cookie-cutter build. 

• Potential savings: This may seem counter-intuitive, but hiring an architect can actually save money in the long run. They’ll help with efficient space planning and material selection, allowing you to save money on both. 

• Access to other pros: Established architects have access to a network of reliable contractors and material suppliers. 

• Help with permits: An architect can help navigate the confusing world of building codes, regulations, and permits. 

• Offer a fresh perspective: You might have an idea for your dream home that doesn’t quite work. An architect will take the seed of that idea and finesse it until it fits into actionable building plans. 

Cons of Hiring an Architect 

It’s not always simple when hiring an architect. Here are some of the drawbacks. 

• Longer project timeline: This isn’t always true, but bringing on an architect will likely extend the timeline of your building project. Architects don’t draw up plans in a day. 

• Potential for creative differences: The architect works for you, but they could have preferences that clash with your ideas. 

• Higher up-front costs: Architects command a steep rate, which will likely drive up the costs of the entire project. However, the added value of the finished build and any savings the architect finds may justify the cost. 

• Another cook in the kitchen: Hiring an architect means another party to coordinate along with the various contractors. 

Cost to Hire an Architect 

Hiring an architect costs anywhere from $550 to $50,000 or more, depending on the size and scope of the project. Most architects charge between 5% and 20% of the project fee. If an architect charges an hourly rate, usually $125 to $250 an hour. Hiring an architect simply to draw the plans costs less, between $2,000 and $20,000.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Architectural design is a highly specialized field, so you can’t DIY this work without extensive experience. However, you can do some prep work to communicate your ideas to the architect more easily. Try making preliminary drawings to explain exactly what you’re looking for. You’ll still need the assistance of an architect to turn those drawings into an actual design plan.