The Stock Plan Problem

A licensed architect's stamp on a permit set is a legal requirement in most jurisdictions, not a creative one. That stamp can go on a plan the architect adapted from a catalog in an afternoon. It's not dishonest, but it's not what most buyers picture.

What to Actually Ask

Ask who designed the house, not just who stamped it. Ask if the architect visited the site before drawing anything, or drew to the lot's actual light, slope, and neighbors. A house designed for its specific site behaves differently than one designed for a flat rectangle and dropped in.

Why We Lead With the Architect's Name

Every listing on this site credits the architect by name for a reason. If a firm won't put their name on a house, that tells you something too.