How to Hire an Architect: A Complete Guide [2026]

Cover Image: Architecture: Jacob Lilley Architecture / Photo: Greg Pemru

Hiring an architect is one of those things that feels straightforward until you actually start doing it.

There are different types of architects, different fee structures. And the process after you hire one is its own learning curve.

We’ve worked with architects across the country through TALD and heard from homeowners at every stage of this process. Hiring well comes down to understanding what type of architect you need, what they’ll cost, and what to expect once the work begins.

Do you even need an architect?

Most local town and city boards require an architect of record (the licensed architect whose name goes on the plans) when structural or mechanical work is involved. Common triggers include:

Moving or removing walls

Adding an addition or building from scratch

Relocating plumbing, gas lines, or mechanicals

Moving a kitchen to a new location (which involves venting and plumbing)

If your project is significant enough to need an architect, they’re also a great place to start assembling the rest of your team. Architects work closely with builders, interior designers, landscape designers, and structural engineers, and they can help you figure out who else you’ll need.

Architecture: Amy A. Alper, Architect / Photo: Adam Potts

The two types of architects

There are two types of architects, and the difference between them affects your budget, your involvement level, and your entire project experience.

1. Plans-only architects

You hire them to create a set of plans. They draft the design, get it stamped (meaning the state and city approve the plans as structurally sound), and hand it off. From there, you take those plans and work with your general contractor to execute the build.

You can still go back to the architect with questions, but the GC is running the show. This option works well for budget-conscious homeowners or projects where the scope is well-defined.

Plans-only architects charge a flat fee or hourly rate, which makes costs predictable and more accessible.

2. Full-service architects

Full-service architects do everything a plans-only architect does, then stay on to manage the entire team and process.

They’re on-site at least once a week during construction. They’re the main point of contact with the builder. If there’s a problem, the builder goes to them first. If there are other professionals on the team (interior designer, landscape designer), everything rolls up to them.

They also review every builder invoice before you pay it. They’re checking that you were billed for 50 windows and there are 50 windows in the house. That the tile was billed and installed correctly. They approve the payment before it hits your desk.

They’re essentially a project manager, and that oversight can save you real money on larger builds.

You pay a premium for this level of support, but for complex projects, it’s often worth it.

How to choose between them

The main question is how involved you want to be in the project.

With a full-service architect, they handle obstacles in stride. If a window factory has a supply issue and you need new windows that require different casings, they handle the redesign.

Without a full-service architect, you’ll be making more of those decisions on the fly, often with your builder.

That said, both options can work.

Most architects can work either way. And if you have a good builder, you’ll be fine without a full-service architect. Plans-only architects deserve more attention than they get. They make professional architecture accessible at a much wider range of price points.

Architecture: Christian Rice Architects, Inc. / Photo: Jessica Antola

How architects charge

Plans-only architects charge a flat fee or hourly rate to draw your plans. Full-service architects charge a percentage of the total building cost, typically 8 to 15 percent.

On a million-dollar project, that’s $80,000 to $150,000. The fee is billed over the course of the project, so on a two-year new build, you’re not paying it all upfront.

Where you fall in that range depends on:

The part of the country you’re in

The size of the project

And the architect’s experience level

Remodels and renovations can run higher (10 to 20 percent) because working within an existing structure adds complexity. A lower fee doesn’t necessarily mean less experienced. There’s a wide range, and it’s worth having a direct conversation about it early.

Why invoice review matters

When a full-service architect manages your project, they check every invoice from your builder before you pay.

Builders generally charge one of two ways:

Cost-plus means they charge you the actual cost of materials and labor, plus a percentage markup on each line item.

A fixed bid means the builder quotes a total price upfront and works to stay within it

Either way, you’re paying invoices throughout the project.

The architect reviews those invoices line by line. Were you billed for work that was actually completed? Do the quantities match what’s in the house? Is the tile installed and looking right? Once they sign off, you’re approved to pay.

On a large build, that kind of oversight pays for itself.

Architecture: b Architecture Studio / Photo: Read McKendree

How to set your budget

Architects are not typically the best person to help you estimate your costs. They don’t know what steel is trading at or how tariffs are affecting material prices right now.

They can help you budget for things like tiles and fixtures, but overall building costs? That’s the builder’s territory.

Builders give you cost per square foot. “We can build a 4,000-square-foot house for $300 a square foot.” An architect can give you a ballpark, but for a real estimate, a builder is the best person to talk to.

Should you start with an architect or a builder?

You can go either way. People come at it from different directions, and we see roughly 50/50 in either direction.

If you’re design-focused with a flexible budget,starting with an architect makes sense. You’re prioritizing the vision and working backward to cost.

If you’re budget-conscious (and we’d argue most people should be), starting with a builder is often the better path. They can tell you what’s realistic for your number, and you can bring that information to an architect.

For a new build, talking to a local builder first is a common path.

They’ll know cost per square foot in your area, and many already have architects they work with regularly.

You can build a whole house without an architect managing it. Plenty of homeowners have their architect do the plans and then run the project with their contractor.

Alternative paths

Depending on your project, a traditional architect may not be the only route:

Design-build firms have in-house designers and contractors, which often means a faster process and a more budget-focused approach.

Spec builders (for new builds) construct homes before they have a buyer. They know local costs inside and out and already have architect relationships.

For additions, the contractor often takes the lead. You walk them through what you’re envisioning, they map out how it could work, and then bring in an architect to draw up the plans. The architect is one piece of the puzzle rather than managing the whole process.

Where to find an architect

The best architect referrals often come from professionals you’re already working with.

If you’ve worked with an interior designer, ask them. They’ve probably collaborated with multiple architects in the area, and when two professionals have worked together on a full project, they know who’s good to partner with.

Beyond referrals, there are a few other ways to search:

Driving around neighborhoods and spotting homes in a style you love, then trying to find out who the architect was. A little tricky, but effective.

Instagram.Find one architect whose work catches your eye, see who they follow, and go down the rabbit hole. One profile often leads to several more.

Searching online. Google, asking friends, posting in local Facebook groups.

Curated platforms like TALD where you can browse vetted architects, compare portfolios, and see rates before reaching out.

Before you reach out, know your basics

Architects will ask about your budget, timeframe, location, and project size on the first call. Having answers ready saves everyone time.

Like interior designers, architects have minimums on both budget and project size. If your scope doesn’t match what they typically take on, it’s better to find out before a long conversation.

Architects are licensed by state, but many can work across state lines by hiring a local architect to stamp the plans. Not everyone is set up this way, so be clear about where your project is located. You don’t have to know the answers to everything before the first call, but having the basics ready helps both of you figure out quickly whether the project is a fit.

Before reaching out, pull together some sense of your style. Screenshots, a Pinterest board, photos of hotels you’ve loved. You don’t need the vocabulary to describe what you want. A professional can look at 15 images and find the common thread, even if at first glance they seem unrelated.

Architecture: Pavlides Studio / Photo: Nat Rea Photography

What to look for on the first call

Tell them where your property is, whether you’re building new, renovating, or adding on. Then share the five things that matter most to you and whoever’s living in the home:

Do you need a lot of bedrooms?

Is aging in place a priority?

Natural light?

A big garage?

These priorities shape the entire design, and a good architect will ask follow-up questions about each one.

Ask to see their full portfolio, not just what’s on Instagram.Some finished projects can’t be published online, but the architect can share them in a private meeting. Those unpublished projects are often some of their best work.

If possible, have them come to the site.There’s no substitute for being there in person. A good architect walks into a space and starts having ideas. They see the street, the approach, the natural light. You’re looking for someone who gets excited about the project and starts having ideas on the spot.

One thing that’s different about evaluating architects compared to interior designers: you’re not necessarily looking for one cohesive aesthetic across their portfolio.

The same architect could design a New England colonial and a Malibu beach house, and both could be excellent. Architecture is about responding to the site, the climate, the neighborhood. Good architects bring ingenuity and a unique point of view to each project rather than repeating a single signature style.

If you’re considering a firm rather than a solo architect, keep in mind that it works a bit like a law firm. The principal brings you in, but a senior or junior architect may handle the day-to-day. Ask who you’ll be corresponding with day to day. At a solo practice, you’ll work directly with the architect, and they’ll bring in consultants as needed.

Questions to ask before you hire

Once you’ve narrowed your list, these are the questions that help you decide.

Process and timeline

What do you do first, and how long will each phase take?

How often will we meet?

Who else will be working on my project? (At a firm, ask to meet the person you’ll correspond with day to day, not just the partner who pitched you.)

Within about a month you should have something to look at, but it’s not a two-day turnaround. For a new build, just the exterior design can take a week or two. A good architect will lay out their step one, step two, step three and give you a realistic timeline for each.

Revision limits

If you’re paying hourly, revisions may be unlimited (you keep paying for them). On a project basis or percentage, they’ll give you a set number. They might present four floor plan options and you pick one and refine it. Either way, it’s important to set expectations about revisions before you sign anything.

Where the architect stops and the interior designer begins

If you’re planning to work with both an architect and an interior designer, ask where one scope ends and the other begins.

Many architects use what we call the “upside-down house” test. If you flip the house upside down, whatever doesn’t fall out is theirs: tile, plumbing fixtures, overhead lighting, lighting plans. What falls out (the sofa, lamps, art, accessories) is the interior designer’s territory.

But not every architect works this way. Some don’t want to handle tile or plumbing fixture selections at all. Clarify this upfront, especially if you’ll have other team members involved. You don’t want people stepping on each other’s toes.

One thing most people don’t realize: plumbing fixtures need to be selected early in the process because the contractor needs the roughs before they can frame. You pick a pretty faucet, but with that faucet comes all the stuff that goes inside the wall. That needs to be ordered and on-site before framing. If your architect isn’t handling plumbing selections, you’ll want to bring in an interior designer sooner rather than later.

Architecture: Senst Architecture / Photo: Tyler Davidson

What happens after you hire an architect

Knowing what happens after you hire helps you set expectations and ask better questions upfront.

The architect’s process

The typical sequence looks like this:

On-site meeting to assess the property.

Feasibility study. What are the physical restrictions, building code requirements, and limitations? Foundation needs, wetlands or septic setbacks, historic district rules. Every situation is different. (You might want to build a detached unit by a creek, only to discover that septic setbacks make it prohibitively expensive. The pivot might be an addition over the garage instead.)

Plan drafting. The architect presents options and you narrow down what works.

Structural engineering. The plans go to a structural engineer for sign-off. Architects usually have engineers they recommend.

Stamping. The state and city formally approve the plans as structurally sound.

Bidding out to builders. You send plans to three to eight builders for detailed cost estimates. A full-service architect can manage this for you, or you can handle it yourself.

After the build starts

With a plans-only architect, their job is mostly done at this point. You might pull them back in for design decisions or built-in details later, but day to day, you’re working with your builder.

A full-service architect stays involved throughout. On-site weekly, adapting to whatever comes up.

Things will come up: materials become unavailable, prices spike, a wall comes down and you find a corroded beam that needs replacing. The architect revises the plan and the builder executes the change. There’s a fine line between what a builder can problem-solve and what an architect can problem-solve, and there’s a lot of overlap. Without a full-service architect, a good builder handles most of these situations. You’ll be fine either way.

Find the right architect on TALD

The hardest part of hiring an architect is often the search itself: scrolling Instagram, asking around, sending inquiries and hoping someone responds.

TALD brings that process into one place. Every architect on the platform is evaluated on training, experience, point of view, and client sentiment, so you’re starting from a strong shortlist rather than a cold search. You can browse portfolios filtered by location, see project minimums and rates upfront, and reach out to architects who are already aligned with your project.

If you’re not ready for a full engagement, you can also book a virtual consultation. A one-hour call with an architect is a great way to test feasibility (can I move this wall? can my foundation handle a second floor?) without committing to a full project. Expert design help costs less than you think, and there are more ways to access it than most people realize.

Final thoughts

The best architect hire is the one whose approach fits your project and how involved you want to be.

The homeowners who’ve had the smoothest experiences are the ones who understood the type of architect they needed before they started searching. That clarity shapes every conversation that follows, from the first phone call through the final walkthrough.

If you’re not sure where to start, book a complimentary renovation concierge call and we’ll help match you with the right architect based on your project. You can also DM us on Instagram or reach out to concierge@tald.co.