At that point they might give you some suggestions on contractors to hire and bid you goodbye. An architect should serve as your agent all the way through the process. Muse sets up weekly meetings with the contractor, helps homeowners select finish products and regularly visits the job site. But his services don't come cheap. He charges an hourly rate that's capped at a percentage of the construction cost.
Designers can be similarly expensive, depending on the scope of their work.
If you decide to go ahead, it's one-stop shopping. Such companies draw up formal plans, get them through plan check, handle the building and help you choose finish products like tile and faucets. Some architects sniff at the drawings proposed by design-build firms, contending they lack creativity and imagination. It doesn't take an architect to replace windows or rehabilitate floors. But to attempt a major remodel without a licensed architect is folly, experts contend.