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[va ® If possible, you may want to talk to a few architects before choosing one for your particular project. Ask to see picâ€" tures of projects they‘ve handled and talk to their former clients. You should also have a good rapport with the person you select, so you can be sure that your needs and wishes are fully understood. You can also find architects listed in the phone book. You‘ll want to find one who specializes in home design and renoâ€" vations â€" not an industrial or commercial architect. When searching for a registered archiâ€" tect to handle your project, check with any family members, friends or neighâ€" bors who have had architectural work done. If they are pleased with the results, get the names of the architects they conâ€" sulted. Architects provide help with planning and designing and can devise a realistic, workable plan to suit both your needs and your budget. They can also provide ongoâ€" ing consultation throughout the construcâ€" tion phase â€" to ensure that your "dream" doesn‘t turn into a nightmare. If you want to turn your house into the dream home you‘ve always longed for, you may want to consult an architect. Has your home kept pace with your changing tastes and needs? Is it time for a major overhaul? Is it time for a major overhaul? AMAZING! SOUTH EAST, RENOVATED, 100%270 LOT DAN COOPER** 338â€"6550 POOL, FIREPLACE, WELL MAINTAINED SEMI IN 2 WEEKS FOR 98% OF LST PRCB DAN COOPER** 338â€"6550 $159,900 |. $415,000 (ieunmaucseuicas ountrywide Town Centre Realty Inc.®Oakville Town Centre 1®*280 North Service Road VWest®Oakville, Ontario, L6GM 252 Types of architectural services CountrYWide T*+O«+W*N~C*+*E«+N«+T+R+E m /4>338â€"6550/2/3/3/A pAN COOPER*"" 1992 Chna Top Producet _ ($315,000 | AG Y *i< ; &F POOU 4â€"BEDROOMS, FAMILY ROOM WITH RREPLACE 3,000 SQFT+, UPGRADED, BACKS ONTO TREES 5 BEDROOMS, 3,700 SELFT., MAKE AN OFFER DAN C If you find that the addition of new rooms or a second storey is too costly for your budget, an architect can often show you how to make better use of existing space within your home. CONVEY IDEAS AND NEEDS When you meet with your architect, make sure you convey your ideas and needs clearly. It‘s also helpful to show him or her newspaper or magazine clipâ€" pings of designs or ideas that you‘d like to incorporate into your remodelling proâ€" ject. DAN COOPER** 338â€"6550 If you‘re handy with a sketch pad and pencil, you can develop some rough drawings which can be helpful as well. ARTHUR BLAKELY, GREENBEU LOT FINISHED BA SEMENT DAN COOPER** 338â€"6550 1264 ROSEBERRY CRESCENT But if your project is complex and lengthy, you‘ll probably want an architect to handle the entire undertaking, providâ€" ing valuable input and supervision until completion. An architect can tell you if your plans are realistically suited to your budget. You may end up having to sacrifice some aspects of your plans, but your architect can come up with a design which will be able to accommodate future changes. vary, depending on the work to be done. If your project is relatively simple, you may only want to meet with an architect once or twice, to help further develop your ideas and plans, or discuss viable options. After discussing the project with you DAN COOPER** 338â€"6550 DAN COOPER** 338â€"6550 RENOVATED, UPGRADED, PRIVATE LOT, SOUTH WEST _ GLEN ABBEY, UPGRADED, W/O BASEMENT, HOT TUB DAN COOPER** 338â€"6550 DAN COOPER** 338â€"6550 $214,900 | SOUTH WEST, LARGE PIE LOT, ANISHED BASEMENT _ GREAT STREET, O‘X150 LOT, FREPLACEE DAN COOPER** 338â€"6550 DAN COOPER** 338â€"6550 Before any work gets under way, both you and the architect should sign a conâ€" tract. Most architectural firms have stanâ€" dard clientâ€"architect agreement forms While it is difficult to come up with an exact price for the work required, an architect should be able to give you a fairly good predetermination of how much his or her services will cost. The fee should include supervisory visits to the project, costs of any addiâ€" tional consultants, and so on. Fees are usually arranged on a perâ€" hour basis, or as a percentage of the conâ€" struction costs of the project. If the fee is based on a percentage of the cost, then supervision of the construction phase is generally included. Once the preliminary drawings are complete, you can discuss the plans furâ€" ther, outlining any concerns you may have about the proposal. While there are bound to be many small changes and adjustments made throughout the planâ€" ning and construction process (due to availability of materials, and so on), it is much easier to incorporate any major alterations at the drawingâ€"board stage. in detail, the architect will develop a series of his or her own drawings. These drawings will illustrate what your home will look like once the proposed renovaâ€" tions have been made. PAYMENT $329,900 | If you have a good working knowlâ€" edge of house construction and have a lot of time to devote to your renovation proâ€" ject, you may want to act as your own contractor and subcontract the various tasks involved to qualified professionals. This requires a great deal of organizaâ€" tional skill, but you can save money. If you have neither the time nor the (See "Take" Page RE 12) When planning any type of renovaâ€" tion, it‘s essential to have a clear idea of what you want to do and how much money you want to spend. Once you put your ideas on paper, you can start to get your project under way. Depending on the nature of the work you want done, you may also want to consult an architect to help you develop formal plans. Additional consultants may also have to be approached for technical assistance. CONTRACTOR Does your home need a facelift? If so, you‘ll probably want to hire a contractor to do the renovation work. But before you sign on the dotted line of any conâ€" tract, there are several things you should know. available. Make sure you are both clear on the terms of the contract. Input from a good architect should result in work that will enhance the value and appearance of your home for many years to come.