Design first
Residential architects who design custom homes
Some homeowners start with an architect, get drawings, then bid them out to builders. These firms design custom homes in Northern Virginia, and one designs and builds under one roof. Alphabetical, sourced, no paid placement.
Architect, design-build or builder?
An independent architect designs the house and draws plans you can bid out to several builders. You compare prices on one design and the architect can check the builder’s work, but it usually takes longer and you pay design fees on top of construction.
A design-build firm designs and builds under one contract. It is faster and gives you one point of contact, but you lose the competitive bid.
A builder with in-house design, like many on our builder list, often starts from plans it has built before, which can save time and money.
How architects charge
Residential architects usually charge one of three ways: a percentage of the construction cost, an hourly rate, or a fixed fee for a defined set of drawings. Ask what is included, especially whether they help you choose a builder and visit the site during construction, and how many rounds of design changes the fee covers.
Check the license
Architects practicing in Virginia are licensed by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. You can look any architect up on the DPOR license lookup.
Architects not listed here can ask to be added through the listing form.