It is best to hire a home architect who will be involved in all phases of the design process, from the initial concept to the completed construction. They are often the first person you will hire for your project, and it's common for architects' contractors, or subcontractors, to prefer working with one another, which means better relationships and smoother work on your home. Interior architects are also involved in negotiating contracts for all involved participants, from builders, to engineers and even landscapers.

It is for these reasons that it is extremely important for you to have a good relationship with the residential architect you hire. He or she can be the tie-breaking vote between you and the general contractor and can be your biggest advocate during the construction process. Different residential architecture firms provide different services, so the scope of the work can span from pre-design environmental impact studies to selecting furniture and finishes, depending on what your specific needs are.