How do you find a good architect for house planning?

I'd definitely ask around in my circle of friends first, because you get real references that way and you can see how the architect actually works and whether it's a good fit! baunetz is pretty solid if you're specifically looking for specialists in renovations, but i'd skip instagram - you only see the pretty pictures there, not what's behind them. from my experience after 19 years in the business: personal recommendation beats everything, because it's just about whether the person is a good fit or not, and you can tell that right away with someone your friend knows!

I'd also ask around in your friend group first, that's really valuable. But I'd check a few other things too, because I'm always skeptical and double-check everything. Look at multiple architects, not just one. BauNetz is okay, but the filters there aren't always that helpful. Better to just google architects in your region directly and check out their portfolios - especially renovations of residential houses! That's important because not every architect knows how to handle older houses well. Ask them directly in the interview: how would they approach it, what would it cost, how long would it take. And super important - ask for references and call those people or visit their houses if possible. Instagram is more for the looks, but you don't get a real feel for the work from it.

What else I'd say: find someone who's reachable and doesn't just reply every two weeks, because that gets really annoying with a renovation. And read through your contracts carefully - really carefully. Some architects bill in weird ways or there are hidden costs. I know people who regretted it because they said yes too quickly. Start your search early, summer 2026 a lot of good people are already booked up. And don't forget: a good architect probably saves you more money than he costs, because he spots mistakes at the beginning that would otherwise get expensive.

Personally, I'd first ask around in my friend circle, that's just the safest option - you get honest opinions and can see directly how the guy works and whether you click. If that doesn't work out, I'd then check out BauNetz or your state's architect chamber website and pick out a few to compare - usually doesn't cost anything for an initial consultation anyway. The important thing is that you ask the architects whether they've already done renovations on houses in residential developments, because that's a pretty specific task. I'd rather ignore Instagram on this one, it's good for portfolio flexing but doesn't really tell you much about your specific project.