Read this before you hire anyone.
Written for homeowners planning a renovation, and for the architects who send them. Each guide names its sources and dates, says plainly when a rule depends on where you live, and tells you which questions to settle before a first meeting so the project does not run over budget later.
United States
The hiring decision, costs, the first meeting, contracts, and the rooms where an architect matters.
Do I need an architect for my renovation?
When US state law requires an architect for a home renovation, when your building department might, and when the person you need is an engineer.
US · 7 minHow much does an architect cost for a renovation?
What US homeowners pay an architect for a renovation, why drawings-only and full-service fees differ so much, and what the fee leaves out.
US · 7 minBefore your first meeting with an architect
What to decide, bring and ask before a first meeting with an architect, with a checklist built from AIA and California Architects Board guidance.
US · 7 minArchitect, designer, design-build or contractor: who first?
Who to hire first for a home renovation, what each professional may legally do in five states, and who US homeowners actually hired in 2025.
Dubai and the UAE
Which approvals a renovation needs, who files them, and what villa work costs.
For architects
Send these to clients. Or have them under your own name.
A client who has read the right guide arrives at the first meeting with a budget that includes fees, permits and a contingency, and with the site documents you need. ScaleArc publishes guides like these for your studio, localised to your market and written in your voice.