Why hire an architect instead of a drafter?

Architects are licensed professionals that have gone through rigorous education, training and testing on building life safety and construction methods. Our stamp hold us liable to the work we produce for the safety of the public. When you hire a drafter, they may be able to create a floor plan or renderings of your future project but when it comes time to go through plan check you may run into major issues. 

Property owners often come to me with drafters that have either not been able to finish getting through city comments or they have done the initial work but left the owners to do plan check on their own. Most cities require stamped drawings from an architect to obtain your permit unless its a project small enough not to warrant one. It seems like it would be easy to just have an architect stamp someone else's work and move on, however once that occurs we are liable for all of that person's work - right or wrong. It requires us to start over with our own drawings, understanding of the project and even going to do our due dilegence by visiting the site, etc. Drafting drawings also don't have properly vetted construction details to build the project. 

Architects are valiable in not only navigating city permitting but construction with your contractor. We are there throughout construction for unforeseen conditions and to coordinate with engineers if needed for additional detailing. 

The California Architects Board offers a Consumer guide to hiring an architect here.
​AIA San Diego also explains this further here.