There is no one best route. The decision would depend mostly on the complexity of the project and the level of your expectations as well as your level of experience/knowledge of design and building.

The cheap shot about architects not caring about trying to save you money sounds ignorant or self-serving. Any skilled designer is going to charge you according to the scope of the project and not all use a % of construction cost to calculate their fee.

The only point I'd add is that a highly skilled individual can save you money, either through good design, good material choices, or good guidance through the construction process. Both a designer and an architect can possess these skills, but on average, an architect has more training.

On average an architect would at least have 2 years graduate school training (often 3), 3 years office experience, and passed a 27.5 hour NCARB exam. That doesn't mean he/she is necessarily a better designer but it does indicate some greater technical knowledge and perhaps a greater commitment to building design as a profession.

I often see architects described as the supplier of pretty pictures with little understanding of construction. My experience has been the opposite. Of all the architects I went to school with and worked with in firms since the early 60's, I would estimate that less than 10% could draw a pretty picture or successfully design a doghouse. Perhaps 50% were skilled at assembling a good set of contract documents and the remainder were highly skilled in building detailing and problem solving, at a level above that of any home builder I have ever met and equal to their counterparts in large construction firms all of whom were engineers.

Some homeowners believe the design of a house is a simple task only requiring a plan from the internet and a draftsman to make changes so a builder can do the rest. An architect is probably not needed for that approach.

Other homeowners believe that a house is one of the most difficult of all building types to design well. They would be likely to benefit greatly from the assistance of an architect.

If you are somewhere in between, the choice becomes more difficult. It is best to start by taking a good look at the people available and calling their references. I recommend using a sole-practitioner if you can find one.

Use an architect, but make sure they do what YOU want done...and also that they have construction experience. Some architects draw, but have no idea the cost of what they are drawing.....make sure yours does~~

thanks for the advice.

mightyanvil: I didn't say they don't care about saving money, I said I read it in a book. I wouldn't say I wouldn't be surprised if some are like that b/c subs and builders we've been talking to seem like they are shady and just out to rip people off during bad economic times but I know they aren't ALL like that. Not everyone has your best interest in mind these days.