An architect can perform a wide variety of building tasks. From drawing a basic single family room addition, to designing a complex skyscraper, architects can employ a wide variety of wisdom and knowledge to a plethora of building solutions for your building project. That’s why it’s important to choose an architect whose specialties suit your project best.

Besides doing your research about who does what best, it’s a good idea to review license information, experience and references to ensure your architect has what it takes to get the job done correctly. While a state architect board can’t necessarily give you a reference for a good architect, they can tell you if they are licensed, insured, how long they’ve been in business and if any complaints have been filed against them, helping you to weed out the best architect for your job.

References are always an important part of any architects portfolio. Without a good set of three or more contactable references that are similar to your project, your prospective architect might not be the best one suited for the task. Being able to visit any architects recently completed jobs is a big plus when it comes to deciding which architects work you like best.

Questions such as “would you hire this architect again” and “did they perform the job up to your standards” are just a few of the basic questions you should ask provided references. Asking what problems—if any—surfaced during the job and how the architect handled them can help make sure you’re getting the best architect for your building project. Time constraints are a big concern as well, so be certain your prospective architect can fit your jobs schedule before you sign any contracts.

But besides your own concerns about an architect’s history in the business, an architect will need to know about your job before they can perform an estimate. Answers to questions like size, appearance and functionality of your project needs to be addressed so your prospective architect can best design your structure correctly. Dates, time restraints, builders and construction materials should all be set in stone before hiring any architect.