Having the ability to dream up a great sketch proposal is an important part of being an architect, but in truth it is only a small part of the services offered by these professionals. There are a whole host of factors to consider when choosing your architect and RIBA membership is only one of them.

I certainly wouldn’t want to make out that the RIBA does not stand for quality work, but it’s important to be aware that there are many very competent architects who have chosen not to become members of what is essentially a club. So if your top choice happens to have decided not to be members of the RIBA, this should not outweigh the other benefits that might have put them at the top of the list.

On the other hand, there’s a very important point that needs to be made regarding your selection is that it can be very dangerous to choose your architect simply on the basis of a ‘sexy’ design. You need to pick the architects who you feel you can work with the best. Most likely, they’ll be the ones who instill the most confidence, who communicate with you clearly and who charge their fees in a way that allows you the level of control that you desire for your project.

Membership of the RIBA is voluntary, but all architects have to be registered with the Architects Registration Board (ARB), the government regulatory body. Check that the person that you are dealing with is qualified by looking on the ARB website – http://architects-register.org.uk.

The RIBA offer individual membership to all architects registered with the ARB. Also whole practices run by RIBA members are allowed to become RIBA-approved ‘Chartered Practices’, if they achieve the high quality standards required, over and above those imposed on individual members.