When you're interviewing contractors, most people ask about price, timeline, and past projects. Those things matter. But there's a question that matters more—especially if you're building a custom home or doing a remodel that's meant to be unique. That question is: Are you willing to innovate? Because if you're doing something different, something personal, something that reflects who you are—you need a contractor who's excited about solving problems they haven't solved before. Here's why that mindset is the single most important quality to look for.

I get calls all the time from homeowners who are halfway through a project—or even further—and something's gone wrong. Their architect isn't delivering what they expected. The process feels chaotic. They don't know if what's happening is normal or if they should be worried. And they're asking me: Is this right? What should I do? Can you help? Most of these problems could have been avoided by asking five simple questions before signing the contract. Here's what you need to ask before you hire an architect.

You don't need to move. You don't need to tear down your house and start over. You probably just need a really good remodel. There's something deeply satisfying about transforming a house that doesn't work into one that fits your life perfectly—without the waste, the cost, or the disruption of building new. Here's why I love remodels, why they're more sustainable than new construction, and why your existing house has more potential than you think.

If you're starting a remodel by picking out tile and paint colors, you're doing it backwards. The biggest transformation doesn't come from finishes—it comes from fixing the flow. How you move through your home, how spaces connect, whether the layout supports how you actually live. Most homes built decades ago weren't designed for how we live today. Before you think about aesthetics, you need to rethink the floor plan. Here's what actually matters most in a successful remodel.

If you think remodel construction is just about executing the plan, you're going to be blindsided. Remodels require constant adaptation. Walls get opened, surprises get discovered, and decisions have to be made on the fly. Your architect can't just disappear after handing off the drawings—they need to be responsive, available, and ready to problem-solve throughout the entire process. Here's what construction actually looks like, and why you need an architect who specializes in remodels.

When I design a remodel, I don't just hand you one plan and say "here's what we're doing." I show you multiple options—different scopes, different levels of intervention—so you can see what's possible and decide what matters most. The goal isn't to blow up your house and start over. It's to make strategic, efficient moves that transform how the space feels and functions. And often, the most creative solutions come from working with the constraints of your existing house, not against them.

Before I start designing your remodel, I need to do something that might seem like overkill: I need to really understand your house. Not just measure it. Not just walk through it once. I need to visit multiple times, absorb what the architecture is trying to say, see how you actually live in the space, and figure out what's working and what's not. This discovery process isn't just busywork—it's the foundation that makes everything else possible. Here's what it looks like and why skipping it leads to mediocre results.

If you think a remodel is just a smaller, simpler version of new construction, you're in for a rude awakening. Remodels come with challenges that new builds don't—hidden structural problems, outdated systems lurking behind walls, and costly surprises that only reveal themselves once you start tearing things apart. The truth is, you don't really know what you bought until you open it up. Here's why remodels are actually harder than building new, and how to prepare yourself for what's coming.

You know you want to remodel. Maybe you need a new kitchen. Maybe the bathrooms feel outdated. Maybe the whole floor plan just doesn't work anymore. But before you call an architect or start gathering bids from contractors, there's one critical thing you need to figure out: the difference between your wish list and your vision. Most people confuse the two—and that confusion leads to projects that miss the mark. Here's how to get clear on what you actually need before you spend a dollar.

Most people think hiring an architect means getting cool floor plans and pretty renderings—then handing everything off to a contractor and calling it a day. But here's what they don't know: the architect's most critical work happens during construction. Construction Administration isn't about micromanaging your builder. It's about making sure the vision you spent months developing actually gets built correctly. From catching structural mistakes during framing to vetting change orders and managing the thousand small decisions that arise on site, CA is the difference between a well-executed project and an expensive disaster. If you're thinking about skipping it to save money, read this first.

When I walk through a house with a potential client, I'm looking at things most people don't notice. Or more accurately, I'm looking at the same things everyone sees, but interpreting them differently. Most people notice finishes and whether the kitchen feels modern. I'm looking at the bones: the structure, flow, proportions, and how light moves through space. These determine whether a house can be transformed and what it'll cost.

When you're buying a property with the intention of doing construction work, you're going to get a lot of advice. Some will be helpful. A lot won't be. The key is knowing who to listen to and who to politely ignore. Architects assess design feasibility. Contractors estimate costs. And your real estate agent? They should stick to market knowledge, not construction advice. Here's why.

If you're buying a property with the intention of doing construction work, whether an addition, detached ADU, or even just a deck, there's one thing you absolutely need to know before you close: what does the zoning actually allow? Here's the hard truth. It takes time and money to figure that out. But it's worth it. Because if zoning doesn't allow what you're envisioning, the project is dead. Full stop.

If I had to pick the one thing every client underestimates about a construction project, it wouldn't be cost (though they underestimate that too). It would be time. Everyone severely underestimates how long it takes to design something and then build it. And if you're buying a new property, there's always this rush to get in and get it done so you can finally live in the house you just bought. But good work takes time.

One of the most common things I hear from clients is some version of "I talked to my neighbor and they said their kitchen cost X, so I figured mine would cost about the same." And every time, I know we're about to have a difficult conversation. Because your neighbor's construction costs are almost completely irrelevant to yours. Here's why everyone underestimates what construction actually costs.

There's this pattern I see constantly. Someone buys a house knowing the kitchen needs work, the bathrooms are outdated, the layout doesn't function right. They tell themselves they'll get to it eventually. Then a decade goes by. I can't tell you how many neighbors have been talking about the same remodel for 15 years while someone else in the same neighborhood has completed three projects in that time.

When someone reaches out about renovating a home, one of the first questions I ask is: how long do you plan on keeping this property? It might seem odd to lead with that, but your timeline fundamentally changes how I approach the design, what I recommend you invest in, and whether certain decisions even make sense. Whether you're flipping in three years or building your forever home, the calculus is completely different.

When I tell my family or friends I'm an architect, they don't really understand what that means. They think I design buildings…snap my fingers and pull something out of a magic bag. But architecture is so much more than that. The profession involves tasks and responsibilities most people would never imagine. From research and detective work to problem-solving, coordination, and construction oversight, let me walk you through what I actually do.

The fifth and final thing you should know before starting a home project: do not try to align construction completion with a major life event. This is the number one red flag for contractors. When clients try to time their project with a wedding, a baby, or someone moving in, experienced builders will tell you flat out: don't do it. Here's why.

The fourth thing you should know before starting a home project is simple: ask questions along the way. This is really important because I assume that if you're a client, you don't know how to build a home or design a home. And you don't have to pretend that you are. The professionals you hire are not assuming you know everything there is to know about what I'm doing.