How to Hire the Right Architect
Few things are more exciting than building a new home or watching your old one change before your eyes. And the person who will affect the outcome of your project the most is usually the architect. His or her plan will dictate the ultimate appearance and function of the home, as well as the financial costs and emotional toll involved in its construction.
The client-architect relationship is very personal, involving discussions of your habits, your hobbies, your tastes, and even your relationships. So you want the choice to be right. The suggestions that follow will help you analyze the personality, design strategy and communication skills of your candidates. Ultimately, you want to find the architect who’s right for your situation, for your budget and for you.
Referrals. As many professionals do, architects get much of their business through word of mouth. Ask family, friends and professional colleagues for referrals. Is there a particular home you admire? A knock on the door could yield an introduction to your future architect.
Find one on Houzz. Houzz is not only one of the most practical and efficient ways to find design ideas for your next project, it’s also a good way to find an architect. You can search professionals by location, read reviews from past clients and browse through photos of work. The fact that you’re reading this ideabook makes me think this might be old news, but helpful info is always worth repeating.
By the way, don’t feel limited to choosing someone in your community. In this era of email and Skype, it’s not uncommon for an architect to work remotely on a project.
Ask a pro in a related field. General contractors, interior designers and other individuals in related trades can be great resources for finding the right architect. Having a contractor and an architect who work well together is probably the single most important ingredient for a successful project.
The American Institute of Architects. Professional organizations such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) are a good source for names, too.
When searching for design help, you might encounter people who bill themselves as architects, and others who call themselves designers. Here is my attempt to clarify the differences.
Architect: You can call yourself an architect and advertise with the words “architect” or “architecture” in your business name only if you are licensed to practice architecture. Licensed architects typically have a degree from an accredited college, have completed a few thousand intern hours under a licensed professional, and have completed a series of eight rigorous exams.
Designer: Those without an architecture license can call themselves a home designer, an architectural designer or a designer. Their total experience might consist of a drafting class at a city college. Or they might hold a master’s in architecture from Harvard and have 35 years of experience as a principal at one of the largest firms in the country, but for whatever reason, didn’t get their license.
Read more about How to Hire the Right Architect
The client-architect relationship is very personal, involving discussions of your habits, your hobbies, your tastes, and even your relationships. So you want the choice to be right. The suggestions that follow will help you analyze the personality, design strategy and communication skills of your candidates. Ultimately, you want to find the architect who’s right for your situation, for your budget and for you.
Referrals. As many professionals do, architects get much of their business through word of mouth. Ask family, friends and professional colleagues for referrals. Is there a particular home you admire? A knock on the door could yield an introduction to your future architect.
Find one on Houzz. Houzz is not only one of the most practical and efficient ways to find design ideas for your next project, it’s also a good way to find an architect. You can search professionals by location, read reviews from past clients and browse through photos of work. The fact that you’re reading this ideabook makes me think this might be old news, but helpful info is always worth repeating.
By the way, don’t feel limited to choosing someone in your community. In this era of email and Skype, it’s not uncommon for an architect to work remotely on a project.
Ask a pro in a related field. General contractors, interior designers and other individuals in related trades can be great resources for finding the right architect. Having a contractor and an architect who work well together is probably the single most important ingredient for a successful project.
The American Institute of Architects. Professional organizations such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) are a good source for names, too.
When searching for design help, you might encounter people who bill themselves as architects, and others who call themselves designers. Here is my attempt to clarify the differences.
Architect: You can call yourself an architect and advertise with the words “architect” or “architecture” in your business name only if you are licensed to practice architecture. Licensed architects typically have a degree from an accredited college, have completed a few thousand intern hours under a licensed professional, and have completed a series of eight rigorous exams.
Designer: Those without an architecture license can call themselves a home designer, an architectural designer or a designer. Their total experience might consist of a drafting class at a city college. Or they might hold a master’s in architecture from Harvard and have 35 years of experience as a principal at one of the largest firms in the country, but for whatever reason, didn’t get their license.
Read more about How to Hire the Right Architect
