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Above all, ask for personal references!

Make a separate file for each architect candidate. Review the materials you receive. Look physical evidence of professional skill, creativity, innovation, and relevant experience.

Try to whittle the roster of potential home designers down to the two or three strongest. These are the architects whose designs inspire you the most. Their work seems to be a good fit for your tastes.

CONDUCT INTERVIEWS

At this time, you can begin to set up in-person meetings with the final candidates. Try to hold the first meeting in their offices. This will give you a first-hand opportunity to size up their organization. Make every effort to meet as many of their staffers as possible.

Evaluate the professional atmosphere in their offices. Are offices clean or cluttered? Do workers seem to enjoy what they do? Do they cooperate well with one another?

Browse through their workplace, and look for photos of projects they have completed. Do they display design awards on their walls?

You might plan for at least an hour-long conference with key personnel at each firm.

As you meet, ask specific questions about your project and their capabilities. Try to determine exactly which individuals might be assigned to your job. Will you have access to the senior personnel, or will a junior staffer be doing your design?

If you have specific questions, or if you require clarification of issues or terms, do not be afraid to ask. This is the time to get all the answers you can. Be wary of firms that try to talk over your head with technical terminology. If they cannot communicate clearly with you, then you will likely wish to select a group of professionals who can.

Find out what timetable they might be able to achieve. Ask about pricing and billing. Can they provide an estimate up-front? Will they charge a per-project amount or an hourly rate? When will payment be required?

Inquire about potential design changes and plans for client approvals. When might you see initial plans? What add-on fees might be assessed, if alterations are needed?

Be aware that the cheapest initial bid may not turn out to be the cheapest project, as many firms will present a low-ball estimate and then assess add-on charges throughout the assignment.

CHOOSING A FIRM

After interviewing a few key firms, you can contact a couple of the personal references they have each provided. Ask these former clients about their level of satisfaction with the architect they used and the home they designed. Was their

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