VCFA is right.

I didn't draw out a floor plan idea but explained exactly what I wanted. What I got back was nothing like I wanted. For example, I said I wanted the great room and the dining area to open t the back. He made the dining room (not a dining area like I had requested) the center of the house and put the living area towards the front. So next time we met, I had it drawn out what I wanted.

We took in a notebook full of photos to illustrate the overall "vibe" of the house we were after. I knew I didn't know all the right words to communicate with the architect even so much as the style we were after. Then he had us start with answering a long questionnaire regarding wants, needs, how we actually live, etc. We may have shown him pieces of a floor plan or two, just to say "we like the relationship between these two rooms" or something like that. We had owned our land for over 20 years by that point, and camped on it and built a small cabin, so were intimately familiar with the way the light moved across it at different times of day and year. We had strong opinions about what rooms went where, in a bubble diagram sense, anyway. But the floor plans I sketched never had a mechanical room, adequate stair space, or even wall thicknesses. They were mostly for my husband and I to work out our priorities. (Anyway, it all worked out beautifully, and we are very happy with the result.) Try to enjoy the process!

Regarding "sitting down with an architect", in lieu of me copy and pasting the whole thing here, read my advise to AEC2013 here (not my first comment in this thread, read the one 11 posts down): http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3178541/question-for-architectrunnerguy-or-others?n=19

Good luck in your adventure! One of life's experiences not to be missed!

Is this an architect interview, or are you using the builder's architect in a "design-build" type of arrangement?

I think I would prefer a first meeting to be site visit/get to know you followed by a working session at least a week later. In between I would probably email the architect a Pinterest board or Houzz ideabook to provide an idea of the general vibe/style of house.

Our house as built looks remarkably similar to the hand-drawn trace paper sketches from the end of an afternoon working session -- much like what architectrunnerguy described in his link.

Never discussed budget numbers with our architects; that is something I just worked out with the builder. Maybe the builder told them? But I already had 3 builder rough guesstimates (that were all basically the same) before engaging an architect.

"First meeting to be site visit/get to know you"

Good point Oaktown. I overlooked that. For new/tear down construction I always walk the site with the owners prior to a design session.

Thanks for the "heads up" there because it's important.

First comes interviewing and selecting an architect, most usually through a no-cost visit and discussion at the architect's office. This usually involves more than one architect before owner selection. After the architect is selected then one can start the processes of needs/wants, site walk, budget, schematic design studies, etc. These all involve substantial time and cost to the architect so it is customary to have an owner-architect agreement and to compensate the architect for her/his time for these activities after selection.

It's worth pointing out that there is a significant difference between the owner selecting and commissioning the architect (the architect becomes the owner's representative), using the builder's architect and/or design-build (the architect is really responsible to the builder who hires and pays them and with whom they do business), or the lumberyard draftsperson (who has no legal responsibility or accountability whatsoever).

Pick and choose with due diligence according to your situation and needs.

I took to the initial meeting a 3 page list of what we did and didn't want in our new home including rooms needed, major features, big picture floor plan issues (for example, we need a mother-in-law suite downstairs), and what architectural styles we did and didn't prefer. We never met with the architect onsite because the architect lived in the neighborhood. He, in fact, designed the next door neighbor's home and is on the neighborhood architectural control committee. I also created extensive, annotated Houzz Ideabooks before the meeting so he would have a feel for what look we were going for.

Met with an architect today. He has almost 30 years of experience and seemed very easy to work with. Provided as discussed the 'wish list', and some Houzz pictures to give him an idea of how we wanted the finished house to look. Funny - with focusing on all the interior details, look, room sizes he asked a question that stumped us - what do you want the exterior to look like? Brick was about all I could answer :) It was an enjoyable meeting and he was good about telling us why some design elements we wanted would not work out so well.

My builder had a variety of floor plans we could pick from and modify.. We never met with the architect. Our new house will cost the same but will be much smaller...we are near Chicago so prices and land are high. I strongly recommend having a full bath on the first floor or at least a bath with a seated shower. Consider a first floor master suite or at least a room or home office that can be converted to a bedroom. I've had a knee replacement and a broken ankle as well as a sick mother and I so regretted not having those things in my existing house.

I've now spoken to a couple of architects, and think I'll go with the first one. He actually sent over a rough sketch with concepts of what we discussed. A couple of oddly shaped/large rooms, but he requested time to 'tweak' it. I was thankful to get something that contained the most of the items on our wish list.