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Klaus Schmidt CH 🔍 Enthusiast 💬 41 answers ⚑

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.

WO wolfgang1994 DE 🌱 Newbie 💬 8 answers ⚑

Personal recommendations are worth their weight in gold, but definitely check out their portfolio first - not just photos, but how the architects have handled similar old buildings!

From my own projects at home, I've learned that it's super important to find someone who actually has experience with renovations and not just new construction.

Also schedule an initial consultation to get a feel for whether you click - that's crucial later on when you're working together for months!

claudia_fischer DE 🔍 Enthusiast 💬 26 answers ⚑

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.

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