Architects & Building Designers.

It is often said when you're building a house, you’re building a dream. An architect or master of building design can make your dream house a reality. Architects can help you design and redesign spaces of your home or focus on helping you build your own house from the ground up. Architectural firms have extensive knowledge of architectural design and building materials, and a strong appreciation of ergonomics – warmth, light, and flow within a property. As you search through architects and building designers, keep in mind the following tips to help you choose the perfect one:

How do I find the best architect for my home design or renovation project?

When building or renovating your home, you don't simply hire an architect or building designer — you build a relationship with them. Be sure you chose a home architect who will be involved in all phases of the design process, from the initial concept to the completed construction. Architecture is an incredibly technical profession and one where getting things wrong can literally put lives at risk, so ensure you hire a professional with a valid license or an architectural firm to maintain high quality and standards. Your next consideration will be architectural style. Some residential architects specialise in designing traditional homes or farmhouses, others in designing modern replicas of traditional homes. While a few have a knack for imagining bolder, more futuristic architectural design that incorporates the latest technology.

Once you have frozen on the architect or building designer, chat through your goals, projected budget, scope of work, schedule and any other specific requirements you might have. Ask them to walk you through the process, including the number of architectural design consultations, site visits and what they will be delivering and when, e.g. feasibility study, a technical drawing, tender package and/or planning application drawings. Also, get a sense of whether they are a good listener, collaborator, and problem solver. Finally, be sure to find out what the architect needs from you,deeds, rights of way, deposit, staged payments and so on.

How much does hiring an architect cost?

Home construction and renovation often have a preset budget and hence it is important to understand how much architects charge. While there is no set payment structure, independent architects may charge differently from architectural firms. Architects sometimes choose to calculate their fees on the basis of a per square foot rate. In rare cases, especially with smaller projects, architects may choose to ask their clients for a fixed fee. Make sure the total figure and payment schedule is agreed as part of your contract, particularly if you are trying to accurately estimate the cost of building a house.

Questions to ask prospective architects:

• What types of renderings (3D, video, illustrative) will you produce?
  
• Who will be working on my project? (This is very important if you hire an architectural firm)
  
• What is your fee structure?
  
• What does the cost include?
  
• Can you handle my special requests?
  
• What is your experience with similar projects/ architectural design and style?
  
• When do you expect to start and be finished with the project?
  
• What do your services include? (It's best that the services are until construction is completed.)
  
• What happens when the cost exceeds the budget?
  
• Can you provide me with references?
  
• Would you say your work has a defining style? (This is important in case the architect's personal style will interfere with your vision.)
  
• Will you help with hiring a general contractor and other subcontractors?
  
• What do you estimate the cost will be?
  
• Are there any complications you foresee with this project?
  
• What will I need to provide?
  

Find a home architect on Houzz. Narrow your search in the Find Pros section of the website to architects. You may also look through photos projects to find building designers who have worked on a project similar to yours.

Be sure to reach out to multiple professionals, especially for larger projects and don't settle for the first bid you hear. Find the professional for your next project on Houzz.