Do I Need an Architect to Build a House? What Homeowners Should Know Before Starting
- May 4
- 4 min read
By Brad Shapiro, President/CEO of Shapiro & Company Architects
For most homeowners, working with an architect is unfamiliar territory. There is a general understanding that architects design the home, but they don't realize how an architect's guidance can extend beyond the drawings.
The value is not just in the design itself, but in how the process is managed, their industry expertise, and the answers they can provide to some of the most stressful unknowns in the custom home journey.
Below are the essential services an architect provides, and when all of these services come into play during your custom home process.
Back to Basics: What Actually Matters in your Home
Before any plans are drawn, the focus is on gathering the right information. We start our process by getting to know you. We want to know who you are, what you value, what your lifestyle is like. We want to get to the core of who we're designing for before we even start imagining your home.
Then, we'll ask to tour your current home.
This might come as a shock, but we want to see your home on a regular day. No special cleaning, no preparing for guests-- we want to see how you really use your home. Beyond your ideas, we need to get to the bottom of what parts of your home just aren't working so we can address them with our design.
Piles of laundry on the couch means your laundry room doesn't have enough counter space. Kids dropping their after-school sports equipment on the floor means you might benefit from a mudroom or a cubby system. Let us see what isn't working so we can make sure your new home works for you.
Turning Ideas Into Clear Direction
Once there is a strong understanding in place, we'll begin translating that into design.
Early concepts explore different ways the home could take shape, testing ideas around layout, scale, and how spaces connect. We'll be in frequent contact, sending our design concepts back and forth to refine the direction until it begins to feel aligned with both how you want to live and how the home should function.
During this phase, we'll explain the intent behind each piece of your home, and we might discover new spaces you want that you hadn't thought of before. This is the phase where your home can be anything you imagine, so it's important to take the time to really get in-depth and share every thought you have!
Guidance on Big Decisions
As the design develops, a growing number of decisions will start to pop up. As your architect, we'll guide you through this unfamiliar territory with our industry experience.
Coordinating with builders
We'll introduce you to builders, and even take you on tours of previously designed homes that those builders have constructed. We want to make sure your builder is someone who matches your goals and personality to make the long-term construction process as enjoyable as possible.
Aligning budget expectations
With industry experience, we'll provide you with detailed information on the costs associated with your design, helping you make decisions on what you want to include in your build.
Most custom home clients have never built a home before, so the expertise an architect provides is a critical resource that helps alleviate stress and answer those big (and oftentimes expensive) questions that come with building a home.
Details, Details, Details
With a clear direction established, we can get into the details of the aesthetics of your home and help you get a clear picture of what your home will look like when it's completed.
Not sure which type of shingles you should select? Lost on where to source exterior stone? We can help you navigate these questions to balance both cost goals and aesthetics. We'll help you source materials and provide suggestions on the overall feel of the home.
Additionally, for many new custom homeowners, it's hard to conceptualize how your home will look when it's all put together. During this phase, we'll create detailed images and 3D renderings to help you visualize your project.
We want to make sure you understand every detail of your home, and make sure everything comes to life exactly how you dreamed it would.
Making Sure the Build is Right
Construction drawings translate the design into a set of instructions.
These documents communicate dimensions, materials, and how different parts of the home come together. They are used by the builder to price the project accurately and to guide construction.
The quality of these drawings has a direct impact on how smoothly the project moves forward. During this stage, we develop clear, well-coordinated documents reduce uncertainty and limit the need for adjustments later and help move timelines along with less friction.
Throughout the build, it's highly beneficial that the architect remains involved to help answer questions, review progress, and ensure the design is being carried out as intended. This may include reviewing shop drawings, visiting the site, and working through any conditions that arise.
This ongoing involvement helps maintain the integrity of the design and keeps the project aligned with the original vision.
Keeping Your Project Aligned from Start to Finish
A custom home involves lots of moving parts. Your architect helps connect them.
From early planning through construction, the role is to provide structure, guide decisions, and ensure that each step builds on the last. Choosing the right architect is the make-or-break for a home that functions well, embraces your aesthetics, and comes out exactly as you expected (or surpasses expectations)!
An architect doesn't have to just be someone who provides a set of drawings, but should be a resource that helps you bring your dream home to life from start to finish.
If you're looking for an Architect who helps guide your home design from start to finish, we'd love to be your team.
Set up a short chat with us and see if we're the right team to bring your dream home to life! Click here to fill out our contact form.
Brad Shapiro founded Shapiro & Company Architects in 1999 and has led the firm’s residential architecture practice for more than 25 years. A graduate of the University of Arkansas, he remains active in the architecture and planning community through organizations including the American Institute of Architects, Congress for the New Urbanism, and the Urban Land Institute. In 2026, he established the Bradford K. Shapiro Endowed Scholarship at the University of Arkansas to support future architecture students.
