New Jersey locals who know and love the area believe us when we say that we know what it takes to design and build a house in NJ. From deciding on a location to determining the square footage, there are a lot of big decisions to make regarding your custom home.

With New Jersey homeowners also having to contend with the rising cost of land, it’s even more important to know how to get creative with the total size of your home and design to optimize your living space. 

Getting the most out of your space, while still achieving your design goals can take some work — but we know from experience that it’s always worth it in the end!

The good news, there’s help on hand to get your home to the standard you want. It’s just a case of knowing a little more about the professionals you’ll need to help achieve your goals. 

That’s why in this article, you will learn:

• What an architect does (including everything from planning stages to how they’ll approach your structure)
• Why it’s important to know about the role of an architect
• Why successful architecture is always a team effort
• Some common misconceptions about an architect’s services
• Why you should always trust the process

So, What Does An Architect Do?

When looking to build a custom home, most people know that an architect is usually brought on board to create design concepts. They might know we finalize a plan and create the construction documents for a property. We create a design that’s actually possible to build and will be safe to live in. 

Clients might also be aware that some architects offer other services, such as interior design and landscape design. As a client, you might even hope that your architect will have connections to options for an electrical contractor or plumber. They’re in the industry after all, so why not?



What people sometimes don’t know is that there are full-service architectural firms specialized in delivering even more for their clients. While we can’t speak for all the architecture firms in the New Jersey area, there is a lot more to what an architect does for you.

Pre-Contract: Preliminary Consultation

When you first contact us, we take you through the preliminary consultation. During the preliminary consultation, we have 4 main steps:

1. Discovery Meeting
2. Confirmation of needs and construction costs
3. Final Proposal

During this consultation, we are trying to wrap our heads around your project.

The important thing to keep in mind during this stage is we are looking at “why” you need to build, rather than ‘what’ you need to build. . We will get into the “what”  later. For now, we just focus on needs, for example, “I need more sleeping space.”

You can expect to talk with us about your current space, what’s wrong with it and what you need. Don’t expect to talk about the final design at all during this stage.

At the end of this consultation, you will get a proposal from us with all the details. You can expect to see our scope of work, which will tell you exactly what you will be paying us to do. You will see our fees, which will tell you how much you will be paying us for our services. You will also see what you are responsible for as project owner and what we are responsible for as architect. When you and we sign the contract, we are legally agreeing to our respective responsibilities.

Once we both sign the contract, then the fun begins.

Post Contract: Architectural design, interior design, and structural engineering

With every new home construction project, there will be multiple design elements to juggle, so finding a team who can manage several areas of your construction at once is a huge bonus!

As a full-service architecture and interior design firm, we develop a solution to your design challenge as one expert team. We do this by offering architectural design, interior design, and structural engineering – all under one roof!

Not only does this include everything that’s been outlined above, it also includes:

• Technical Design drawings – including construction drawings, blueprints, prints, permit application drawings 
• Contractor Bidding assistance (especially in the New Jersey area)
• Construction observation and Request for Information (RFI) responses throughout the construction stage of your project

Depending on the nature of your project, the contract can also include:



•  Municipal board approvals – zoning, planning, historic 
• Construction Administration

Why Should You Know What Your Architect Can Do?

For you and your architect to truly be on the same page, it’s vital to understand the full range of skills your architect has from the beginning of your home project. If they specialize in certain areas of design or structural engineering — it’s always good to know! 

This helps set better parameters for just how far you can push your project, while ensuring that both you and your architect remain in full control over every aspect of your home project. 

Your architect’s role is to find the best design solutions for you, so knowing the full extent of what they can offer will help you explore concepts you previously thought were impossible. It also helps your architect not feel obliged to offer solutions that don’t align with their expertise — you want an architect who has full confidence in their work, always.

Working with An Architect Is a Team Effort

To build or remodel a house in NJ that is practical, aesthetic, and in line with the budget and lifestyle you want — will take a team effort between you and your architect. 

Good, open and ongoing communications and mutual respect between you and your architect definitely helps to streamline the process of designing and building a house in New Jersey. To help establish this relationship:



• Be aware that a professional architect won’t simply stamp “OK” on a design that you’ve come up with  — we need to know that every design we work on isn’t overlooking a vital step or crucial requirement you need to meet..
• Speak up and be honest! Ensure that there’s an open and honest dialogue between you and your architect — if there’s something you don’t like, it’s better for us to hear about it sooner rather than later.
• If you’re struggling to convey your vision or understand our vision, make sure that your architect knows this — we tend to be good at asking a lot of questions to draw out what people want and like, but we have to know if you’re struggling with the  communication process. .
• Avoid micromanaging your architect or their team — if you hire an architect that you trust, give them the space they need to bring their expertise to the table and work their magic.

What Are Some Common Misconceptions About Architectural Services?

We can’t speak for every architectural firm in New Jersey, but over the years, we have become aware of many common misconceptions about our services. 



Here are 6 of the most common misconceptions we see. Knowing these ahead of time will help you to plan your project and what to expect when you contact an architect.

Misconception #1: An Architect Will Stamp Someone Else's Plans

Many architects, including ourselves, do not feel comfortable taking on designs they haven’t developed themselves. As highly-trained professionals with years of experience, we need to know that the home we’re taking responsibility for isn’t missing anything.

This is why it’s usually best to work from scratch wherever possible. This allows us to merge our skills and expertise with your ideas and needs, in a way we know actually works.

That said, if you have a plan that a professional architect or separate contractor created, this might still be something we can start with as a point of reference or inspiration. Similarly, if you have rough sketches that help you convey your vision — we’re happy to take this into account!

The issue we have is attempting to move forward with a plan we had no part in developing. As architects, we’re here to provide you with an original design created with you and for you, to the standards we know make the project attainable. This is how we can assure full control of your project and deliver the best possible final design. 



At the very least, if we choose to accept a third party’s design concept and technical design drawings, we need time to vet what we receive. This ensures errors or omissions in those drawings are remedied and the project is made safe to build and occupy.

Misconception #2: An Architect Doesn't Do Any Interior Design

After working with us, many of our clients realize that architecture is a mixture of art, science, math, and engineering at its core. This technical side of architecture also applies to the interior design side of things (which is why we also offer it!). 

For custom homes to truly be a success, all aspects of the design (both inside and out) must balance:

• Functionality
• Feasibility
• Aesthetics
• Safety

In NJ, it is a huge commitment to design and build a house, or take on a major home remodel, so we always want our clients to know that they’re in the best hands to bring together all the elements of their home project.

"The architectural services I provide include a more holistic approach, and this fundamentally includes interior design. With our focus and passion on the tactile surfaces and textures inside our houses that we come in contact with from day to day, means we design with a thorough understanding of finishes, fixtures, millwork, appliances, and carpentry. "

— Mike Sweebe, Owner and Director of Sweebe Architecture

Misconception #3: Architects Are Official Construction Cost Estimators

As we mentioned earlier, even though most architects will always do their best to provide you with an accurate estimate of overall cost, it's important to remember that architects are not official construction cost estimators. 

Even though a full-service architecture firm will have more oversight of your budget throughout the design and building process, we don’t always have access to the details of labor and materials cost information that individual contractors have. This is mostly due to market fluctuations and changes in the cost of contractors and materials.

Still, if your architect is from the local area, they should have an advantage in helping you understand the official estimates you get from local contractors.

They’ll also be able to offer advice on rough costs for your NJ home project, along with insight into materials, fixtures, and finishing options and costs. At Sweebe Architecture, part of our base services includes  helping you through the bidding process!

Keep in mind, when you sign a contract with an architect, there should be language in the contract stating the construction budget that you have established for the project. Specification of the budget gives the architect clear guidelines and limits to what they are to design. Though architects can help you estimate the cost of what you want to build, you are the main point-person keeping tabs on how much money is available for the project.

Misconception #4: Every Architect in New Jersey Will Work On Every Project

When it comes to architectural services, there’s a huge range of project types. Especially in the northern New Jersey area, commercial and residential properties come in all sizes. Further down the Jersey Shore, there’s even more variety to be found.

Good architects tend to have their own specialties, so factor this in when researching which ones to work with in New Jersey. 

At Sweebe Architecture, we specialize in single-family residential projects, as well as larger projects that involve our broader team of colleagues to complete.

Sometimes we get requests for projects that aren’t suited to the structure of our firm. We don’t take on projects that we know we’re not the right fit for.

This is what allows us to do an even better job of the projects we do take on.

Misconception #5: Every Renovation Project Requires an Architect

In most cases, architectural services will be required for providing structural design. As well as general and custom project requirements, this includes, but is not limited to:

• Framing and foundations
• Changing the size or shape of a room 
• Adding or moving a door or window
• Certifying that spaces are suitable for clearances around plumbing fixtures and equipment
• Certifying a space is habitable (e.g., no smaller than 7x7 feet in plan and with a ceiling height of 7 feet for at least 50% of the code-required area.)

Other reasons might also include dealing with town zoning, planning, or permitting — but the ones mentioned above are the most common ones.

For projects that don’t involve any of the elements listed above, a team of builders or a general contractor might be enough to complete your New Jersey renovation project. 



Just don’t forget to do your research first. Even a small job carried out by the wrong contractor can result in you needing an architect to remedy it.. so it’s always best to check first! 

Tip: For unbiased information about whether or not you’ll need an architect, we recommend getting in touch with your local permitting department.

Misconception #6: Working With an Architect You Get Everything You Want, How You Want It

It’s not uncommon for people to come to us with unrealistic expectations about what an architect can do, how we do it, and how much it will cost. This is exactly why we always prioritize good client communication and trust from our first conversation. 

As an architectural firm, we aim to create a home you will love. And that goes far beyond just the perfect-looking house. 

To truly be in love with your house, you need it to be something that fits your lifestyle or the lifestyle you want. It also has to be something you can afford to build now and maintain in the future.



You should expect (and even want) your architect to challenge you on what you want. We focus on making sure your design works on all levels. You will want the professional team you work with to always be able to share their concerns about budget, use of space, materials selections, and more.

When Working With An Architect Trust the Process

A huge part of our job as an NJ custom home architect involves knowing how to interpret your taste and overall needs. We can then translate this into a final concept we know will work. 

Home design is something we do because we’re passionate about it. We know the difference a carefully and beautifully-designed space makes for a family, and we are highly skilled and very good at doing just that. It will be to your benefit to trust that your architect can take on board what you want and will use their expertise to elevate it in all the right ways.

Your home is such an important aspect of your life. We hope this article highlights just how much weight a good architect places on this simple fact. By the end of your project, your architect will probably feel almost as connected to your home as you are.

Delivering the vision you have for your dream home takes more than good design skills. It involves everything from municipal  paperwork to the more gritty on-site tasks you might not have even known your architect could handle!

Consider your architect like a partner you can trust with every aspect of your home design, and that’s always more achievable when you understand their role.

How Architecture and Interior Design Services Can Help

So, now that you know what we can do, maybe it’s time to find out how these skills can benefit you.

If you’re about to remodel or build a custom home in New Jersey, we’re currently taking on residential architecture and interior design projects all across northern NJ (including Montclair, Verona, Glen Ridge, West Orange, North Caldwell, Wayne and many more!)

Reach out via the form on our website and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible! Your new house in New Jersey awaits!