Before You Hire an Architect, Ask These Seven Questions

Most homeowners hire an architect once or twice in a lifetime, and nobody hands you a checklist. These seven questions will not make the decision for you, but they will make the differences between candidates much easier to see.

1. Are you licensed, and can I verify it?

In California, architects are licensed by the California Architects Board, and you can look up a license on the Board's public website. It takes two minutes and it is the most basic check you can make. Ask for the license number up front and confirm that the name on the license matches the name on the proposal.

2. What exactly is included in your scope?

"Design" can mean a concept sketch or a full set of permit drawings, and the gap between those two is large. Ask what you will have in your hands at the end of each phase, whether coordination with engineers is included or billed separately, and whether the architect helps you through the city's review comments once drawings are submitted.

3. How do you charge?

Architects commonly work on a fixed fee, on hourly time, or on a percentage of construction cost, and some combine methods by phase. None of these is automatically better. What matters is that you understand which one you are agreeing to, what triggers additional fees, and how changes you request midway are handled.

4. Who will actually work on my project?

In a small studio the person you meet may be the person who draws your project. In a larger office the principal you met may hand day-to-day work to someone else. Neither is wrong, but you should know who your point of contact is and how often you will hear from them.

5. Have you worked on projects like mine, in my city?

Ask to see built or documented work that resembles your scope: a hillside addition, an accessory dwelling unit, a full interior remodel. Just as important, ask about experience with your local building department. Familiarity with how a particular city reviews projects often saves more time than any design talent.

6. How do we make decisions together?

A good process has clear moments where you review options and approve a direction before the work moves on. Ask how many design options are typically shown, how feedback is collected, and what happens when you change your mind late. This is where most misunderstandings between clients and architects begin.

7. What do you need from me?

The answer tells you a lot. Expect to hear about a realistic budget range, a list of priorities, access to the property, a survey if one exists, and prompt answers during review. An architect who asks hard questions early is protecting your project later.

The best sign in a first meeting is not a beautiful portfolio. It is an architect who asks about your budget, your schedule and your property before showing you a single image.

Put it in writing

Once you have chosen, ask for a written agreement that states scope, fees, schedule assumptions and what is excluded. A clear agreement is not a sign of distrust. It is how both sides stay on the same page when a project gets complicated.

If you would like to talk through a project in Los Angeles, the contact form is the easiest place to start. For the next step, see who you actually need first: an architect, a designer or a contractor.

General information only, not legal, engineering or code advice. Rules differ by city and change over time, so confirm the details for your property with your local building and planning departments and with qualified professionals.