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The difference between a draftsperson and an architect comes mainly from their education and the scope of work that they do. An architect draws plans, manages projects, stamps approvals, negotiates work, and oversees all aspects of a project. A draftsperson mainly works within the document designing phase of what an architect does. Some municipalities accept plans created by a draftsperson if those plans are also certified by a licensed structural engineer. Hiring a structural engineer costs $550, on average.

A home designer focuses on a home’s aesthetic, paying close attention to how it looks and functions. An architect can also provide this service but might not get as far into the details as you need. An architect focuses more on the technicalities of a design to meet building codes. You might want to hire both architects and interior designers for your project.

Depending on the project size and level of detail, an architect can take one to four months to draw up plans. After the initial project consultation, the first draft drawings take three days to two weeks. Commercial project drawings take much longer at two to ten months.

Architects are almost always worth the money. If you are spending a large amount of money building a new home or remodeling your existing one, you want to make sure you are making the best decision from a layout and structural perspective, as well as building with code restrictions in mind. An architect will provide multiple design options customized to your budget and house needs.