Building your dream home is one of the most fulfilling and expensive endeavors of your life. Given the money and time investments involved, realizing your vision requires that all variables are ironed out from beginning to end. One of the most critical of these variables is choosing the right architect.

Your choice of architect will influence not just the design and construction of your dream home, but how you will live the rest of your life in that creation. Your best bet is to work with a premier design-build architecture firm – that’s us.

But if you want to find out what makes an effective architect, here are four qualities you should be looking out for:

They’re a Team Player

The architect will be the brains of the project – the quarterback that will dictate how the rest of the game will play out. They need to be able to think on their feet and solve problems as they arise in a calm and sensible manner. They need to be a good listener and always see the bigger picture. They also need to be able to keep your budget and timeline on track.

Because of this, choosing an architect with good leadership and teamwork skills is essential. This is especially true if the design and construction teams of your dream home are separate – a hitch that’s absent if you work with a design-build firm.

They’re Open-Minded

Although architects are the specialists when it comes to building design, a good architect will never blindly dismiss suggestions, comments, and criticisms. For one, your input as the client should always carry weight. This doesn’t mean that they will do what you say even if it means making sacrifices that could otherwise be avoided. This means they will listen intently and consider every one of your inputs. This also means giving you a reasonable explanation when your idea just won’t work.

They’re a Good Communicator

Meeting the lead architect on your project is a must before hiring the firm. Chances are the person you meet will not be the actual person to make the design. This is fine as long as there’s excellent communication between you and the team.

Communication is also needed when bridging gaps between the design team and the construction team, particularly if the two entities haven’t worked together in the past. We at Letter Four pride ourselves on our ability to maintain seamless internal communication at all times.

They’re an Expert

At the end of the day, to be a good architect, they need to be able to create good designs. When they’re working on your dream home, it’s crucial that they have a good sense of both aesthetic value and functionality. Look at their previous work and determine whether their expertise is what you’re looking for. Many architects have certain quirks in their design, making them unique. Make sure you also learn about these and see whether they’re a good match for your tastes and needs.

Here are some additional considerations from Architectural Digest when talking about designing your dream home.

Take Away

Your dream home deserves the best architect. Consider the four tips in this article when doing your search. If you live in the Culver City area, you should work with a firm that checks all these boxes – you happen to already be on the right website.

For more questions about architecture, just fill out our contact form here.