Checklist

Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Architect

Ask about city experience, fee model, exclusions, consultant coordination, drawing ownership, schedule, budget checkpoints, and what happens when the plan review comments land.

Updated 2026-05-16 · Primary intent: questions to ask architect

Short answer

Ask about city experience, fee model, exclusions, consultant coordination, drawing ownership, schedule, budget checkpoints, and what happens when the plan review comments land.

Fee and scope questions

The fee discussion should cover what is included, what is hourly, what outside consultants cost, and how redesign caused by budget changes is handled.

Permit questions

Ask whether they have worked with your city, how comments are handled, and whether they anticipate planning review before building permit review.

Construction questions

Ask whether they help with bidding, contractor interviews, submittals, site visits, and field changes. Some do; some stop at permit drawings.

Path	Best for	Watch out	Ask first
Licensed architect	Custom homes, complex additions, hillside lots, design-led remodels, high-value projects	Can be overkill for simple permit drawings or budget-first ADU work.	Will you be architect of record, and what is excluded from your fee?
Residential designer	Remodel layouts, additions with clear constraints, homeowner-friendly design help	License boundaries matter; structural and code complexity may need architect/engineer support.	Who signs, stamps, or coordinates the permit set if the city asks?
Design-build firm	Owners who want one team handling design, pricing, and construction	Less independent pricing leverage. The same team is designing and selling the build.	When do I get a realistic construction number, and can I keep the plans?
Permit drawing team	ADUs, garage conversions, as-builts, small additions, settled designs	Not the same thing as a full architectural design process.	What city comments do you handle, and what requires outside engineering?

FAQ

Should I ask for references?

Yes, but ask references about communication and budget handling, not just whether the final photos look good.

What is the biggest red flag?

A vague scope paired with confident pricing. That combo is how projects get stupid fast.

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