First off you need to know that almost all architects fantasize about a headline grabbing project that will make them stand out from their peers; it is also highly likely that on every architectural design project they undertake that they will try to indulge their fantasies in some shape or form at your expense.

Being bankrupted by your architect is not a pleasant proposition so let us explore some of the important points to establish before engaging an architect.

Instructing an Architect

Okay, so you have a project now all you need to do is to choose an architect. Sounds easy enough as there are thousands to choose from but yet it is at this point confusion starts to raise it ugly head.

An architect is not a mind reader; he is not clairvoyant, nor is he capable of creating a life changing design for your project that you will love without some serious briefings from his client. An architect's job is to capture your vision, now remember that I said "Your Vision" as this is a really important starting point.

As an architects client you need to have a clear vision of your project or at least a decent framework before you engage their services. If you haven't reached that point when you wish to instruct then it is imperative that you get back to your own drawing board and start to firm up your ideas.

For starters you could break things down and start to look at the component parts of an average home.

Start with individual rooms and start making notes of what is important to you. Let's say you want to create a large kitchen and family room so think about how you want to use the space. Are you having under floor heating, large flat screen tv, what kind of lighting and within a while you should have a list of likes and dislikes. Now if you apply the same format to each living space you should be starting to get a clear vision of what your needs are.

Now how about styling? Are you into a contemporary look with lots of open space, light neutral colours, loads of glass and light? This is just a hint of the many choices you need to make before instructing an architect.

You Can't Beat Research

Cut out bits from magazines, grab pictures from websites, send off for catalogues and start to make a complete portfolio of likes and dislikes in relation to living space and design.

Don't forget the outside, if it's a new building you have loads of research to do, if it's and existing building start listing what you like and what you don't like. Are you into double glazed windows, traditional painted windows or maybe you like loads of natural wood? Once again break it down and make yet again more lists.

Now don't forget the gardens. I have worked on so many projects where all the focus and budget went on the interiors with little thought or budget for landscaping. Get the magazines out again, visit the garden centers and yet again do some research and talk to the experts.

If you have done even half of what I suggest you should now have a reasonably clear idea of what you like and dislike and are in an excellent position to discuss your project with architects.

Now if you live in the UK your next stop would be a visit to Architects Supermarket where you can post inquiries to architects and compare architect costs throughout the UK.