The most important decision you will make is picking your architect. Treat it that way. It sets up all of the one’s that follow. 

Think about the home you want. Create a profile of how you live and collect a picture file (on yourchitect, of course).

Look at a minimum of 20 architect's work online. 

Focus on 3 criteria: overall quality, compatibility of visual style with yours, and most importantly, do you want to live in any of the homes of they’ve built?

Narrow your list to 5 and meet with at least 3 before making a decision.

Don’t pick a celebrity architect because they are a celebrity. Don't not pick a celebrity architect because they are a celebrity.

Ask questions about their work and the way they will handle your project. Ask who your day-today contact will be. You'll get insight into how they think and manage, as well as what it will be like to work with them.

Ask yourself after the meeting: do you feel as good about their work as you did when you viewed it online? Can you imagine talking to them several times a week, or several times a day, for the length of the project? 

Honestly talk about what kind of client you will be: uninvolved, hyper-involved or somewhere in-between? Will you be emailing them sketches daily, or will you see them only at meetings? Both sides should know what they’re getting into.

Choose and don’t look back. It’s a little like marriage - if you question your decision every time you disagree, it won’t work out very well.