Most people have some sort of idea in mind when it comes to what they would want from their dream home. Perhaps you have always known exactly what type of home you would like to live in, or have a few key must-haves but are open to ideas for the rest of the property. If you have been presented with an opportunity to build your own home and make it exactly how you would like it, the first step is finding the right architect to put your ideas down on paper and start transforming your imagination into reality. Whether you are building an entire house from scratch, want to redevelop or extend your current property, or are considering property development, here are some tips to help you find the right architect for you.

Know What You’re Looking For

Bear in mind that most architects will work on different types of projects and more often than not, they will have a specialty. Knowing what you are looking for and the type of work that you will expect your architect to be able to carry out, such as technical drawings or complete project follow-through, will help you start out on the right foot with a list of potential architects that are a good fit for your project.

Ask for Recommendations

Often, the easiest way to find the ideal architect for you is to ask your family and friends for their recommendations. If you know somebody who has built their own home or who is in the process of doing so and you really like the work, it’s always worth getting in touch with them to ask them who they used to design it. More often than not, the people in your life are not going to recommend a service to you if they weren’t completely satisfied, so it’s an ideal way to find architects who are trustworthy and dependable.

Read Reviews

Once you have a shortlist of potential architects to explore, it’s a good idea to go online and see what their past clients are saying about them. Do they have any reviews on Google? Facebook? Trustpilot? Check out what other clients have said in order to get a clearer idea of the kind of service that you can expect to receive from the architect. Don’t just look for excellent results, but also the level of service that they provide, including how much contact they will keep with you during the process and how closely they can work with you to make sure that your ideas come to life.

Ask Questions

Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as possible to the potential architecture firms that you are looking at. A good architecture firm such as Cochran’s Architecture will be able to happily provide answers to any questions that you might have, whether you are inquiring about their past experience and training, want to know how much contact you will have with them throughout the design and building process, or whether they can put you in touch with builders, engineers and other professionals that you will need to complete the construction of your new home, extension, or development project.

Personal Service

The key to finding the right architect for you is to find somebody who is able to personalize the work to what you want and need, while still being able to take the lead and let you know what’s possible and what isn’t. Be wary of firms who appear to have a cookie-cutter view of the design; a good architect knows that every new client and site design will present them with a new and unique opportunity to create something new. Your ideas, rather than conforming to something that the architect is used to, should be the top priority throughout the process. For this reason, it’s a good idea to collate a list of your ideas and discuss them with the architect before making your decision. This will help you get a better idea of how suitable they are for you.

See Past Work

Any good architect will always have a strong portfolio of past work that they will be willing to share with you upon request. Be wary of any architects who are not forthcoming about sharing past work or do not want to talk about what they have done for clients in the past. Of course, new architects may not have as strong a portfolio as those who have been in this career for years, but they should be able to openly discuss this with you and provide proof of their qualifications and training to give you peace of mind.

Contact

Before choosing the right architect for you, determine how much contact you can expect to have with them throughout the process. Ideally, your chosen architect will be able to remain your main point of contact from start to finish. Having this direct relationship with them is important so that they can understand your needs fully, and ensure that communications between you, they, and any other firms that are working on the design and build of your home remain clear and consistent. You should be able to rely on an experienced architect to streamline the entire design from start to finish, from the initial meetings to the finished product.

Get References

Finally, before selecting the right architect for you it’s a wise idea to ask them for references; this should not just be from past clients, but also from other companies and firms that they have worked closely with in the past such as builders and structural engineers. Speaking to people and businesses that the architect has worked for or with in the past will provide you with more useful information that you can use to determine whether or not the architect you have in mind is capable of providing you with the design standards that you are looking for.

Whether you’re developing property, building your own home, or considering extending your current home, a good architect is where everything begins.