When hiring an architect it is advisable to research their educational history. Any professional architect will have gone through years of school and should have at least a master's degree in architecture or a related discipline. Never simply assume that industry experience is enough to make up for that lack of educational credentials.

Take a look at the portfolio of each architect you interview. They should have a portfolio automatically ready for you to view whenever you ask for it. If they can't simply show you examples of the work they've done, then they are definitely not experienced or professional enough to work for you.

Ensure an architect's portfolio shows many examples of work that he or she has done in the past which mimics your project. You don't want to hire someone with a stunning commercial portfolio if they have no experience with residential work.

When looking into the architects references, always be sure to ask about how easy the architect is to work with. Having a great artistic, design, and engineering sense is crucial for any great architect. However, it is also important that the architect is easy to work with. This can make the whole process much more enjoyable and much less stressful for you.