Home Design - Hiring an Architect

You are finally there - you've made it! It is time for you to get the house of your dreams. That big binder filled with magazine clippings - a collage of colors, textures, and designs - can finally be put into a cohesive custom home design only for you.

Now, maybe you think that you know exactly what you would like and all you have to do is hire a contractor to take your vision and build it. For a project to this magnitude and import, hiring an architect to handle the design and to figure with the contractor is a better move.

Why? Because an architect brings certain things to the table which will make sure the house of your dreams becomes just that. What are these special qualifications and the way do you know you're getting the right person for the job?

Here are a couple of things to look for and questions to ask when shopping for an architect to breathe life into your custom home design:

1. Is he licensed in your state?

Architects must obtain a work permit in any jurisdiction. If your "architect" doesn't have one, he's really just a designer. The difference isn't just the piece of paper; it's the skill and knowledge necessary to urge that license.

2. Can you see samples of his work?

Either on paper or face to face, you usually want to check your architect's finished products. This is important not only to make sure he does quality work but that you also like it. If a majority of his work is contemporary chic and you would like traditional colonial, will he be ready to handle it?

3. Does he carry enough liability insurance?

Any licensed architect will carry his own insurance, but you ought to see if it's enough to comfortably cover your custom home design. Insurance is another difference between architects and designers - the architect is required to hold it whereas the designer doesn't have any regulations regarding liability. Typically, it's the client who has got to remove a policy on the project when a designer is used.

4. Does he have time for your project?

This is your dream home and you have waited and waited to see it come to life. Now that your custom home design is close to being realized, you would like an architect who will treat it with the personal attention and time you know it deserves.

5. What services can he offer and what you will go to need?

Architects can do as little or as much as you would like. He can draw up the plans and be done with the project, but it's a better idea to own him work with the contractor throughout the method to make sure his plans are followed exactly.

The architect will sign contracts, plan the construction site, draw up the budget, execute it and much more. If you're comfortable with the architect, it'll be easier to offer him the liberty to manage the whole project. Of course, he will ask you about important issues. But you don't have the time to micro-manage, do you?

Hiring an architect to breathe life into your custom design house is a good idea. Whether you hire through a firm or an individual, always interview the one who will be doing the work, to make sure he's clear on your vision which you'll work together. Once the hiring is completed, you'll relax a little and know that your dream home is in good hands.