What is an architect?
Many people think of architects as the "designer" of a home. While this is somewhat true, architects do much more than just design the look of your home. In most states you cannot call yourself an architect unless you have been registered or licensed to practice architecture. There are several different qualifications you need in order to become an architect. Some requirements are a 5 year bachelor degree in architecture and then another three years of internship working for other architects. They also have to pass state licensing exams and pass several tests in design, structural design, engineering, history and theory. So when you're looking for an architect you can be fairly certain that they are qualified to do more than just design your home.

What does an architect do?
Architects wear many different hats. They can create the design of your home, do the drafting, pick materials, and also act as a project manager. If you decide to hire an architect to build your home they will visit the building site and observe several factors; the direction of the sun, placement of trees, and the best views. Architects however, don't come cheap. Just the initial visit of visiting the site can add about 8-12 % to the final costs of building your home.

You don't have to have an architect do everything on the project however. You can hire them simply to do the drafting of the blueprints, or just design the layout. A good architect can do pretty much whatever you want them to. That's the great thing about hiring an architect. If you don't want to hire a million people to work for you, an architect can handle just about everything you might need. They will help you avoid costly mistakes and assure that the home you build is suited for your lifestyle.

How do you know if you need one?
Most people that hire architects to help build their home are tackling very big projects. If you think the home you build is going to be complex and big then hiring someone to help you do it might make your life a lot easier. If you're trying to decide whether or not you need an architect you really need to ask yourself, "how big is the project." Are you just trying to remodel a bedroom or two, are you demolishing and rebuilding, or are you building from the ground up? Architects do a very good job of making sure that every detail is taken care of and the finished product is exactly what you're looking for. They will ask you things like:

• How important is the dining room?


• Do you need private space for your computer?


• What do you love about the home you're living in? What do you hate?


• Where do you spend the most time together?

So, do you need an architect to build a home? Well, it's a personal choice. Architects are much more expensive than contractors, but may offer a little more than a contractor will. If you're building your dream home custom made, and want things to be perfect then an architect is what you're looking for. If not, then you might want to spend less money and pay someone else or do it yourself.