The following are some items that can and will arise during the process of building and remodeling your home or business. The Architect acts as an impartial third-party who can ensure that the house is correctly designed to the client's needs, and constructed in a way that provides the most value to the owner.

Think about engaging an Architect, with the following in mind:

What is a good design for our needs?

What are good/proper relationships for rooms-- one to another?

What is a building code? Does it effect us? How does it work? What doesn't it do?

Who is responsible, overall, for my building project?

What are good sizes and proportions for rooms?

What style do I want? What am I really getting from the builder?

What problems do I have in my house now, that I don't want to repeat?

Where can I find answers and help? How do I make my desires known?

What does that line on the drawing mean? What is a dispute; a lien?

What are specifications? Does the builder write and provide them?

What if he does something in a way I don't like?

Is the house going to be complete; will something be left out? When will the house be finished?

What is a contract? How do I play a part in it? What does it say?

What is "an extra"? Is that a good material, I've never heard of it? Can I change things/?

Who picks the color of the paint, wall coverings, etc.?

Landscaping included? Sod? Seed? mud and rocks? Slopes? Guaranteed?

The fireplace puffs smoke back into the room--what do I do?

We've been in the house just under a year with 34 problems- what now?

How can we be sure we thought of everything and included it in the house?

Who says the builder is right? What if I disagree with him? Can I stop the work/? 

Am I allowed on the job site? Can I inspect the work as it goes up? Can I bring someone with me?

I can buy the light fixtures from my brother-- but who will hang them?

What do I do? We've been in the house 6 months-- the backyard has sunken 3 feet

My neighbor's attorney wrote us; they are suing over our drainage- why? What do I do? The floor in the dining room bounces when the Chihuahua walks through- what's wrong?

Is the house safe? Should I close on the mortgage and pay the builder in full?

I have several items that I don't like- must I still close? How do I find a reliable builder?

My uncle is a plumber- he'll do our work, but won't give me a price!

Why do we have to make all these trips to "pick things out"?

The brick I like costs more than the 3 samples he told us to pick from- what now?

The builder always cuts off my questions, with an answer-- does he understand what I want?

My builder won't answer my phone calls and messages-- what now?

He said he can do that, but he won't give me a price-- is it free?

He always seems to know what I want-- I'm worried

He's friendly enough, but never seems to do what I want-- he's like a closed book

We are very unhappy with our house-- instead of fixing things he just says he'll buy the house back

There's a sticker on our door -STOP WORK ORDER- what's wrong?

The living room ceiling has sagged under the bedroom with the water bed- what's wrong?