A few years ago I started working on a degree called a 'Masters of Real Estate Development for Architects' (MRED) at Woodbury University in San Diego after getting jaded in a traditional Masters of Architecture program and applying to the MRED program on a whim.

Some will want to know who the engineer/architect is or who you are going to use as a contractor.

Sadly, this seems to be becoming more and more prominent (or maybe it's just easier to catch them in this time of everyone-having-cameras), and when the system protects peace officers above their protection of average citizens, there's a big problem...

Hired an architect to draw-up prints and turn it into a duplex.

I had to have full architect drawings of the entire property, provide a copy of my survey, ect all to change a header that had rotted out on a back porch.

That is why I'm willing to pay an architect an extra few thousand dollars if they can get me a permit in a couple weeks vs a few months.  

As an architect I like the style on mansard roofs if they are done correctly.

offering to do some leg work on orders or maybe clarifying an RFI or something with the architect.

A doctor has an education and duties that requires the use of brain cells, so does an engineer, an architect, the president of the bank that funds projects, a GC is not even in the same ball park as professionals turning out 8 or 10 houses a year.

I have a feeling a lot of the architect/general contractor costs also are provided for free or below market.