How to choose an architect for your project

There are several things to consider when choosing the person who will design your children's bedrooms and the ceilings that will go over their heads. Ahmed Abdelaziz, CEO of Omarica Home Builders, says, "Hiring an architect takes a lot of thought, questions and credential checking; it's not just a matter of who has the most advertisements."

Even in this real estate slump, a few renovations might be just what your home needs to raise the value for the future or bring back that cozy feeling you may be missing. Abdelaziz has put together a helpful guide for anyone looking to build their dream home or renovate their current home.

• First things first: Check for proper licensing. Anyone can say they are an architect but no one should be trusted to do this important job without a license.

• Reputation: What firm does the architect work for? What is their reputation? If the architect is an independent, well then where has he/she been designing for the last ten years? It is crucial to research the reputation of an architect. If the reputation is bad or simply non-existent, then odds are you shouldn't take a chance on them.

• Location: What areas did the architect design other homes in? It's amazing how much can be learned about an architect by looking at the geographic location of where their homes are built.

• Portfolio: What does it look like? Professional? Empty? Do the past designs look like something you want in your home?

• Referrals, referrals, referrals: In this business, your best bet is to go on a referral. First off, it allows you to see their past projects. Second hearing testimonials from previous clients can provide you with the organic credibility that is undeniably better than a billboard. If you don't know of anyone, ask the architect to provide you with past clients so you can check references. If they can't or won't provide these references, then you may want to move on to the next option.