Designing a home is perhaps the most complicated and challenging part of the home building process, and a residential architect can lend both time and experience to your project.

An architect is a licensed individual who has the requisite education and training to design homes. In general, not only do architects draw safe plans, known as blueprints, for your home, they are also familiar with building and zoning codes, structural regulations, and governmental review processes.

Depending upon your particular needs, architects can serve you in several different ways. They can take a stock plan you have found in a book, magazine, or on the Internet, and modify it to fit your needs. Or, they can create your dream home from scratch. You can be fully engaged in the process and work with your architect to create your home, or you can hand him the reins after expressing your thoughts and design ideas.