There are two things you can count on at a house warming party: curious guests who are just dying to see what you have done with the place and the inevitable question, “Now that you’ve moved in, what would you change?” While it might seem like a stab in the back intended to drain your excitement, it’s merely a question that most existing homeowners can relate to. Proud as they are of their new home, owners that use cookie cutter plans without considering their daily lifestyle usually have a short, and sometimes long, list of adjustments they would make had they the nerve to start over. Most of us can’t visualize room flow, lighting, or step distance on paper, not to mention the things that are forgotten about during the building phase like media components and sound barriers. (Case in point, never put a poorly insulated laundry area next to your bedroom. Teenagers are notorious for “needing” their favorite pair of jeans washed at midnight).

One day potential homeowners will be able to spend a virtual day living in their house before the cornerstone is even in place. They’ll walk through, take notes, make adjustments and revise plans to create the perfect home for their lifestyle. Until that day arrives spare yourself a long list of things you will have to “live with” by enlisting the help of a professional architect. A home construction process is complicated. An architect’s job is to simplify things by figuring out what you require and transforming that into a beautiful home. Then at your house warming party, you can respond to The Question with a resounding “absolutely nothing.”

Architecture is a licensed profession backed by years of education and experience. Architects are trained to solve problems by assisting you through the endless maze of design options, building codes, zoning laws, contractors and permit requirements. The architect is the one member of your design team qualified to help you from start to finish by showing you how to get exactly what you want at the best price possible.

A custom built home should be a reflection of the family that will live in it, so the architect begins his or her job with a twofold objective: interpret the clients’ needs and desires and creatively incorporate them into a pleasing and functional structure. Since most people have only a vague idea of what they want in a home, the architect, like a psychologist, must extract valuable information about a client’s lifestyle and tastes and transform that into a three dimensional space engineered to work. The result is a set of blueprints that will guide builders and designers through the construction phase of a home.

While many people view architects as an added expense, an architect’s services are actually a wise investment since a well-designed project can be built more efficiently and economically resulting in savings and increased property value. An architect will help you avoid the pitfalls of wasted space and expensive, unnecessary materials guiding you instead to materials that are suited to your budget. In addition, they will visit the construction site making sure that the home is built to specification.

Imagine, if you will, an architect as a sort of new home construction angel looking out for your best interest, removing the frustration and anxiety of building and providing the assurance that the completed job will be well done. How then do you find this home planning guru that will make your life easier? You simply need to do your homework and be a thorough communicator.

Choosing the right architect should be based on your confidence in the architect’s professional service, design ability and technical competence. Ask owners of homes you admire to share their architects’ names, as well as other design resources they have used. Interview a variety of architects to find out which of their design philosophies coincides with yours and to see if your personalities are compatible. Making sure that the “chemistry” is right between you and your architect will ensure that you will be able to share the same vision for your home.

While interviewing architects ask to see a sampling of completed projects. This will give you a better scope of their vision for design. Ask each firm the same questions so that you can compare them equally.

Once you have made a selection, notify the other firms of your decision and immediately begin fee negotiations with your selected firm. If an agreement cannot be reached you may wish to go with your second choice.

After selecting an architect, the rest of the process is all about good communication. It is very important that you express your thoughts clearly and ask for an explanation of anything you do not understand. Make detailed lists of things you need, like and dislike. Start a pictorial collection of features you might like to include in your home, and share these thoughts with your architect. You can even tell your architect about any large furnishings you intend to use or purchase. In essence, the more details you communicate to your architect, the better prepared he or she will be toward making your dream home happen.

Once an architect begins translating your ideas to paper, be prepared for many changes and alterations. It is this fine tuning process that ensures your home fits your lifestyle. Eventually working drawings become more precise and detailed giving you a more complete picture of how your home will actually appear when finished.

The final set of plans, or what are known as the final drawings, are those documents which will be used by the builder to detail the cost of building your home. They are also the plans that will be consulted during the construction phase.

For some homeowners, the architect’s job ends here. Others prefer to have an architect serve as job supervisor, or construction observer, during the construction phase of the project. In this scenario, the architect, builder and interior designer can all work cohesively to attain your vision.

Your architect wears many hats as your home ideas become reality. This responsibility is particularly crucial in any building project in the Hilton Head Island area, where Architectural Review Boards (ARBs) must always approve plans for homes within gated communities. Your architect should be willing to work closely with an ARB during the home’s design phase to guarantee its approval and then serve as your personal liaison should questions or conflicts arise during the process.

Since employing an architect is a personal decision that can make or break the success of your project, it is wise to do your homework. Finding a professional who listens well and understands your vision will be a welcome asset during the hassles and joys of building your perfect home.