Are you up for the challenge of designing your own home? If you have the time and experience, then maybe you are. Otherwise, you may want to consider hiring an architect. Whether you want an architect to modify a stock home to better suit your needs, or whether you want him or her to design a home from scratch based on your vision, an architect can add value to your home building experience. While it may seem like an added cost in the beginning, the experience an architect brings to the table, coupled with the fact that using one often saves time, can save you money in the long run.

Architects are a dime a dozen. Just pick up the phone book and you'll see what we mean. However, the perfect architect for you is a little harder to find. So how do you find one that will perfectly suit your needs?

• When you see homes that appeal to you, find out who the architect was. Or ask friends whose homes you like for recommendations.