If you’ve decided that you may need an architect for your home project—whether it’s a custom build, renovation, or addition—your next step is understanding exactly what a residential architect does. The role of an architect is far more than just drawing up plans; they provide a wealth of expertise that impacts the design, function, and long-term success of your home

In this article, we’ll break down what architects do, how they contribute to a project, and what the cost structure looks like. Whether you're looking for a Modern Minneapolis Custom Home or planning an addition in the Greater Minnesota Area, understanding the value and scope of residential architectural services will help you make informed decisions for your project.

The Role of a Residential Architect

At its core, the role of a residential architect is to turn your vision for your home into reality. But that journey is far more comprehensive than many people realize. Residential architects are involved in everything from the initial concept to the finished project, ensuring that every aspect of the home fits your functional needs, aesthetic preferences, and budget.

Here’s a breakdown of the typical phases of an architect’s involvement:

1. Initial Consultation & Conceptualization: The journey starts with an in-depth conversation between you and the architect. This is when you discuss your needs, wants, and project vision. Whether you are interested in building a 6,000 Square Foot lake home on Minnetonka or planning a kitchen remodel in St. Paul, the architect will get a sense of the scope of the project and provide feedback on what’s possible.
   

2. Design Development: After the initial consultation, the architect will translate those conversations into a detailed design. This stage includes the development of floor plans, sketches, 3D models, and material selection. They’ll work with you to fine-tune the details to match your preferences. Every decision is viewed through a lens that is specific to you and your needs/desires - not simply modifying an existing design “off-the shelf” design to best suit your requests.
   

3. Construction Documentation: Once the design is finalized, the architect prepares the technical documentation necessary for construction. These documents include detailed drawings, material specifications, and any other information the contractor will need to accurately build your home. This step ensures that the builder understands the architect’s design intent down to the smallest detail.
   

4. Project Management & Construction Oversight: An architect’s role doesn’t end when the design is finished. Many architects remain involved throughout the construction phase, conducting site visits to make sure everything is being built according to plan. If any issues arise during construction, your architect can offer solutions or adjust the design as necessary.
   

5. Final Walkthrough & Adjustments: Once construction is complete, many architects will perform a final walkthrough to ensure everything has been executed as envisioned. They’ll help you identify any finishing touches or changes that need to be made before closing out the project.

At Unfold Architecture, we follow a thoughtful, collaborative process designed to turn your vision into a home that’s uniquely yours. From our first conversations to the moment you step through the front door, we ensure every step is intentional and personalized. Our process is broken down into five clear phases:

Discover | Define | Develop | Detail | Deliver

Each phase guides us closer to a home that reflects your lifestyle, integrates seamlessly with its environment, and embodies the vision we’ve worked to refine together. We’re here to guide you through every detail—from big-picture design choices to the smallest finishing touches—ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience.

Value Added by Residential Architects

Beyond the technical design aspects, residential architects bring immense value to a project through their creativity, problem-solving skills, and understanding of how to balance function with aesthetics. While some homeowners may consider working directly with a contractor, skipping an architect often leads to a home that is not truly custom designed for them.

An experienced architect looks at each of their projects uniquely. While they are able to deploy similar design solutions across multiple projects, they do so in a way that respects the character of each project as an independent work that reflects the client it is built for and the specific context it is built within. (Neighborhood, Site, Cultural, etc.).

For example, if you’re working with a smaller urban lot in Minneapolis, a residential architect can help you make the most of your available space with smart design solutions that work within the existing zoning code to maximize the potential of your space. Or, if you’re building on an undeveloped parcel of land in Northern Minnesota, they may study how best to place your home on the site to create the smallest impact to the natural landscape as possible.

At Unfold Architecture, we’re passionate about creating spaces that are deeply personal to our clients. We believe the best homes are a reflection of the life you want to live and the environment that surrounds them. Whether it’s a new custom home or a significant renovation, our goal is to make your space as unique and functional as possible. We obsess over materials and leverage light and landscape to create homes that blend seamlessly into their surroundings, whether you're in Minnesota or beyond.

Understanding Architectural Costs

Now that we’ve outlined what an architect does, let’s talk about how much those services typically cost. While every project is different, many residential architects structure their fees in one of three ways: percentage of construction costs, fixed fees, or hourly rates.

1. Percentage of Construction Costs: Under this methodology, an architect’s fee is a percentage of the total construction cost. This varies widely firm by firm and market by market. We suggest reaching out to an architect in your area to understand the local averages.
   
   

2. Fixed Fee: Some architects prefer to offer a fixed fee for a specific scope of work. This can be beneficial for homeowners who want cost certainty from the start of the project. Fixed fees often work well for smaller projects, where the scope of work can be easily defined upfront.
   
   

3. Hourly Rate: For smaller, simpler projects, or when the scope of work is unclear at the beginning, some architects charge an hourly rate. Sometimes, this structure may be done just for an initial phase, until project specifics can be more clearly defined - and then the structure may transition into a different structure for the remainder of the project.

As mentioned above, methods can - and oftentimes are - combined to provide a balance of risk and investment clarity between a client and the architect. For example, a “Percentage of Construction Cost” range can be used in parallel with an Hourly Fee Structure. As this allows the architect to be responsive to the needs of a project/client, while still providing the client with an understanding of an anticipated architectural investment range.

"The role of an architect is far more than just drawing up plans; they provide a wealth of expertise that impacts the design, function, and long-term success of your home"

Cost-Saving Tips When Working with an Architect

Hiring an architect might seem like a daunting task, especially since it's something most people only do once or twice in their lifetime. However, like most things, there are ways to approach it that can help you manage your costs effectively::

• Set a Clear Budget: Before diving into the design phase, establish a clear and realistic budget with your architect. This allows them to design within your financial parameters and prevents costly changes later in the project. This conversation is typically the hardest part of the project. Part of the Architects job is to educate the client around what a realistic budget is for what they are requesting - and then helping them determine a viable path forward. But, this is also challenging for an architect to do - as costs not only are constantly changing, but can vary wildly by region, project size, contractor, material selections, etc. Therefore, these conversations are typically talked about as vague ranges to start a project and then slowly honed in as the project advances.
  
  

• Prioritize Your Needs: Focus on the features and spaces that are most important to you, and be flexible with areas that you may not be as concerned about. Your architect can help you understand where your money will have the most impact. Square footage, Material quality, Sustainability & Energy Efficiency, Landscaping, etc. Having conversations about what really matters to you, allows your architect to begin your project with a better understanding of how your overall budget may need to be allocated going forward.
  
  

• Communicate Regularly: The more open and transparent you are with your architect, the smoother the process will be. Clear communication helps prevent misunderstandings and keeps the project on track. It’s uncommon for a project to go through pricing and come out exactly on budget, especially when building a custom home—something entirely unique that hasn’t been constructed before. Often, the initial pricing serves as a starting point, helping the project team shift from vague estimates (like using $$$/SF, which is a flawed system for anything beyond rough benchmarking) to a more detailed, itemized breakdown of where costs are concentrated and where adjustments can be made to reduce them.

An architect plays an essential role in creating a home that is functional, beautiful, and uniquely tailored to your lifestyle. Whether you’re working on a new custom home in Minneapolis or a major remodel in Madison, Wisconsin, hiring the right architect will make all the difference.

Up Next in 'An Insider’s Guide to Residential Architecture': We’ll dive into how to choose the right professional for your project—whether it’s a residential architect, building designer, or drafter. Stay tuned!