Questions to Ask an Architect Before You Hire — Seattle Eastside Guide

By David Meade, AIA, NCARB — Piper Cole Architects, Bellevue, WA

I have sat across from hundreds of prospective clients who were ready to hire an architect. Some came in with a list of sharp questions. Others came in with vague hope and good intentions. The outcomes were consistently better for the first group — not because they found a better architect, but because they understood what they were buying before they signed.

If you are a homeowner on the Seattle Eastside — Bellevue, Kirkland, Sammamish, Issaquah, Mercer Island, or anywhere in between — this guide is for you. It is also a direct invitation: ask every one of these questions when you talk to me. Good architects welcome them.

Here are 12 questions to ask an architect before you hire one, along with why each question matters and what a good answer looks like.

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1. Are you a licensed architect in Washington State — and do you hold AIA or NCARB credentials?

Why it matters: In Washington, only a licensed architect can stamp drawings for permitted construction. Unlicensed “designers” may produce beautiful plans, but they cannot legally sign off on permit applications in this state. AIA membership and NCARB certification are voluntary but signal that the architect maintains continuing education, adheres to a code of ethics, and can pursue reciprocal licensure across state lines.

What a good answer looks like: A direct “yes” followed by a license number you can verify at the Washington Department of Licensing. If they are AIA- or NCARB-credentialed, they should be able to tell you their member ID without hesitation.

Red flag: Vague answers about “years of experience” that sidestep the licensure question.

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2. Have you designed projects similar to mine in type, size, and budget?

Why it matters: Architecture is a broad field. An architect who designs commercial office towers is not necessarily the right fit for a 600-square-foot ADU addition in Kirkland. The learning curve on project type is real, and you should not be the one funding it.

What a good answer looks like: Specific examples — “We have completed eight custom homes in the $1.2M–$2.5M construction range on the Eastside” or “We have permitted five ADUs in Bellevue under the pre-approved DADU program.” Specificity is the signal. Generality is not.

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3. Can I see built examples and speak directly with past clients?

Why it matters: A portfolio shows talent. References reveal what it is actually like to work with this person across an 18-month project. Construction is stressful, and you want to hear from someone who has been through a full project — design through move-in — not just design through permit.

What a good answer looks like: Three or more references from projects similar to yours in type and scale. Any hesitation to provide references, or references who only knew the architect during the early design phase, should give you pause. Also ask the references: “Did the project come in near the original budget estimate, and would you hire them again?”

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4. Who will actually work on my project — you, or junior staff?

Why it matters: Many firms win work with a principal, then hand day-to-day work to junior designers. That is not inherently wrong — experienced firms have good project managers — but you deserve to know the answer before you sign.

What a good answer looks like: A clear explanation of the project team structure: who leads design, who manages production drawings, who is your primary point of contact, and how often the licensed principal reviews the work. Ask for this in the contract as a deliverable if it matters to you.

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5. How do you structure your fees — and what is included versus extra?

Why it matters: Architects use three common fee structures: hourly, fixed fee, and percentage of construction cost. None is universally better. What matters is what each structure includes. An hourly engagement with no cap can spiral. A low fixed fee that excludes engineering, permit coordination, and construction administration may end up costing more than a higher all-in quote. For a full breakdown, see our post on how much does an architect cost in Seattle.

What a good answer looks like: A clear scope matrix that spells out what each phase covers, what is billed as additional services, and who pays for consultants (structural, civil, geotechnical). Ask specifically: “Is construction administration included, and if so, how many site visits?”

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6. Do you handle permits, or does the client manage them?

Why it matters: Permit management on the Eastside is not simple. Bellevue, Kirkland, Sammamish, and Issaquah each have different intake processes, review timelines, and reviewer preferences. Bellevue’s electronic permit portal is mature; Sammamish has seen extended timelines due to staffing; Kirkland recently launched a pre-approved DADU program that can compress timelines significantly for eligible projects. An architect who knows the local permit landscape will save you months of calendar time.

What a good answer looks like: The architect should be able to describe the permit process in your specific city — not a generic answer about “the county.” They should know whether your project qualifies for any expedited or pre-approved pathways, and they should own the submission as part of their scope.

Red flag: “We prepare the drawings; you submit them.” That arrangement shifts coordination risk onto you and is a sign the architect does not plan to engage deeply post-design.

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7. Do you offer construction administration — and what exactly does it include?

Why it matters: This is the single most misunderstood phase of architecture, and it is where the architect protects you during the build. Construction administration (CA) is when the architect visits the site, reviews contractor submittals, responds to RFIs (requests for information from the contractor), and verifies that the work matches the design intent. Without CA, a contractor who deviates from the plans — even slightly — may go unchallenged until the deviation becomes expensive to correct.

Many clients do not know this phase exists. Some architects do not offer it, or charge separately and price it so high that clients opt out. This is a mistake. To understand the full arc of the project, read what happens after you hire an architect.

What a good answer looks like: A defined number of site visits per month during construction (typically 2–4 for residential), plus a clear process for submittal review and RFI response. Ask: “If the contractor installs something that does not match the drawings, what happens next?”

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8. How do you handle scope changes and budget overruns?

Why it matters: Scope creep is one of the top sources of client-architect conflict. It usually starts innocuously — “Can we just add a window here?” — and grows. Likewise, when a contractor’s bid comes in 20% over the architect’s estimate, you need a plan.

What a good answer looks like: A clear written process for tracking change orders and a protocol for value engineering if bids exceed the budget. The architect should not blame the contractor by default; they should own their cost estimates and have a process for reconciling them. Ask: “What percentage of your projects have come in within 15% of your initial construction cost estimate?”

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9. What is your current availability, and what is your typical timeline from contract to permit-ready drawings?

Why it matters: Good architects are busy. A realistic timeline matters as much as the quality of the work. On the Eastside, the typical arc from design contract to permit submission is 4–8 months depending on project complexity. Add another 3–8 months for permit review depending on the city. Starting in Q3 2026 without a contract in place means you are unlikely to break ground before mid-2027.

What a good answer looks like: A straight answer — not a hedge. They should tell you when the earliest design start is, what the milestones are, and when they realistically expect to have permit-ready drawings in your city. Ask: “Are you currently at capacity, and how many active projects does your firm carry at once?”

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10. Have you worked in my city before — do you know the permit timeline and key reviewers?

Why it matters: This is the Eastside-specific question that separates local experts from generalists. Permit timelines vary dramatically across cities. As of 2026, Bellevue has a relatively efficient electronic portal; Kirkland offers a pre-approved DADU program that can compress ADU timelines; Sammamish and Issaquah have historically had longer review queues. An architect who has active projects in your city will have relationships with plan reviewers and know how to anticipate common correction cycles.

What a good answer looks like: City-specific knowledge without prompting. If they ask you which city you are in before answering, that is fine. If they cannot tell you anything specific about permit timelines or code nuances for your city, that is a gap.

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11. Do you have experience with my specific project type — ADU, addition, custom home, or middle housing?

Why it matters: Project type shapes the entire scope of work. A custom home on a raw lot involves site analysis, geotechnical reports, and utility coordination that a simple interior addition does not. ADUs under 1,000 square feet may qualify for Kirkland’s or Bellevue’s 2026 pre-approved DADU pilot — a knowledgeable architect will know if your lot qualifies and how to use that pathway. If you are a developer or investor, ask specifically about HB 1110 middle housing experience — the 2023 law that requires cities to allow duplexes through six-plexes near urban centers. Implementation on the Eastside is still evolving, and architects who have been through the process are ahead of those reading the code for the first time. See our related post on design-build vs architect Seattle for a comparison of delivery methods by project type.

What a good answer looks like: Demonstrated experience, not just enthusiasm. Permitted project examples. Awareness of specific regulatory frameworks that apply to your project type in 2026.

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12. What is the process if we decide to part ways mid-project?

Why it matters: Most architect-client relationships work out well. But projects take 12–24 months from first meeting to construction completion, and people change their minds, budgets shift, and sometimes personalities do not mesh. You should understand the exit terms before you sign, not after a conflict arises. See our post on red flags in an architect proposal for the contractual warning signs to look for.

What a good answer looks like: A clear description of what you own at each project phase if you terminate — typically, you own the drawings completed to date, subject to payment of fees through that phase. The architect should be willing to explain this calmly and in writing. Resistance to this question is itself a red flag. Also ask about what happens to digital files and model data — increasingly important for owners who may want to hand off to a different architect.

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One More Thing: How to Prepare Before the Interview

Going in with questions is good. Going in with your project brief is better. Review how to prepare for your first architect consultation before your first meeting — it covers what information to bring, how to describe your project scope, and how to think about your budget range in a way that actually helps the architect give you an accurate assessment.

The right architect for your project is not necessarily the one with the most awards or the flashiest website. It is the one who answers these questions with specificity, calm, and honesty — and who has demonstrable experience with your project type in your city.

If you are evaluating architects on the Eastside, I welcome the conversation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What should I ask an architect before hiring them in Seattle?

Ask about Washington State licensure, project experience similar to yours in type and scope, fee structure and what is included, permit experience in your specific city (Bellevue, Kirkland, Sammamish, Issaquah all differ), construction administration, and the exit process if the relationship does not work out. The most revealing question is often the simplest: “Can I speak with three past clients from a project similar to mine?”

How do I know if an architect is right for my project?

Look for three signals: relevant portfolio (built projects, not just renderings), city-specific permit knowledge (they should be able to speak to your city’s timeline and process without prompting), and clear fee transparency. The best architects can tell you exactly what is included in their scope, what is not, and why — without being evasive.

What is a red flag when interviewing an architect?

Red flags include: vague answers about licensure, reluctance to provide references, fee proposals that exclude construction administration without explanation, inability to speak to permit timelines in your specific city, and resistance to explaining the exit clause in their contract. A good architect welcomes hard questions because they have good answers.

Should I get multiple architect quotes in Seattle?

Yes — interview two or three. Not to drive the lowest price, but to calibrate what is normal. You will learn what the typical fee range looks like, what scope is standard versus extra, and how different architects think about your project. Price should not be the deciding factor; scope clarity, relevant experience, and communication style matter more on a 12–24 month working relationship.