Doesn't a prompt normally appear so that you can ask an NPC (that is listed as having that capability). I didn't have any trouble doing that with 1 character, but at all 3 houses I asked the respective housecarls. Loaded my other character, and have 1 house built, but would like separate housecarl and steward. I am not getting the option for Argis, though he is on the list. Am I doing something wrong, or am I missing something basic?

Have you completed building the main hall yet? Sorry if that sounds obvious, but it might be a simple one to overlook.

Yes. I plan on doing some more to the house, but main hall, entryway, cellar, and kitchen are done. I didn't get the option in Markarth before asking him to follow me, or after, while a follower. I'm stumped.

And you're asking the follower while in the vicinity of the property? I'm not much help I'm afraid.

yes, we are actually in the house, thought that might trigger it, but nope.

Argis appears to be glitching, though he didn't have any issues before DG. Guess I will try another for my Steward.

I could not get Argis either, I would just try another housecarl, all the others worked OK for both my characters. And you have to ask them while at the house you need them to be steward for.

Thanks.....I hate glitches.

Is it a glitch? Not all followers can be stewards, maybe not all housecarls can be.

Why not?

You don't think it's a just a little peculiar that every housecarl can be appointed as a steward except for Argis?

Also, why do you seem to automatically go on Bethesda's defense whenever someone throws out the possibility that something could be a glitch? Do you read sentences like "I think this might be a glitch." as "This game is an utter travesty which I am compelled to heap insults and derision upon, and everyone involved in producing it should be rounded up and marched off a cliff."

Not necessarily. It doesn't look to be based on anything other than whether or not Bethesda was able to contact the voice actors to record new lines. Does Argis share a voice with another follower that can become a steward? If so, then maybe it's a glitch. If not, well, there's your likely reason.

That also just occurred to me as I tried to test Argis for myself. I'm looking up the voice actors at the moment.

Okay, Argis is voiced by Matt King who also voices the following... erm, followers: Ahtar (Solitude executioner), Benor (the guy you fist-fight in Morthal), and Farkas (of the Companions).

None of these followers are checked off at the UESP as steward candidates except for Argis. Although in Argis's case, it could have been a matter of someone making the wrong assumption. The Elder Scrolls wiki also seems to have made the same assumption.

I think they just assumed all housecarls could be stewards. I tried both Farkas and Benor with my first character and definitely neither had any dialogue to be steward, so if it goes on the voice actor being available to do new lines it is not surprising you cannot have Argis as a steward. Farkas would have been my first choice if he was available. Our own list is probably more reliable than some wiki anyway.
http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1409356-unofficial-list-of-stewards/

Well, regardless, even though UESP says Argis can be a steward, he apparently can't. Has anyone else managed to make him a steward? Just curious.

I made Calder from Markarth steward, and decided to keep him even though he wouldn't furnish my entryway. PITA!