I would interview a design/build contractor, a builder/general contractor and then the full service architect and see what business model you feel most comfortable with.

One of the biggest concerns I have when a client mentioned doing an architect and then a GC instead of "one-stop-shopping" is the disconnect. We frequently have customers than come to us with already designed plans. Great. No problem. We bid them out just like we would our plans. HOWEVER, there are going to be differences in what we, as a builder out in the field, would have done different than an architect who ONLY drafts and does not build the end product every day like we do.

Sometimes it can be as little as a pocket door instead of a swinging door, or as major as the pitch on a roof to eliminate water leakage.

That being said, I would be careful going to an architect that has a smattering of suppliers and going that route. You want someone that is professional, concise, and has a big enough repertoire that you can get the selections you want, at the price that big box builders get. Choosing the smaller companies may get you better service because of less projects, but it doesn't get the big builder discounts.

After two years of having an architect design our plans and we build them, we made the drastic route to have an on-staff architectural designer and draw our plans that way instead, thereby marrying both the experience and skill of an architect, with the major pro of having an architect here during the entire course of the build to make changes as necessary and consult the actual builder.

Hope that helps!