My greatest pleasure as an architect is seeing the dreams of my client become a reality. I see myself primarily as a facilitator, using my communication, artistic and technical skills to fulfill my clients needs and desires. Here is a typical time-line:

• Meet with the client at their land (or home if it is a remodel-addition project) to get a feel for what they have in mind. Get a feel for whether this is a good architect-client match. I do not charge a fee for this initial meeting.

• Write a proposal letter that could become the architect-client contract document. This letter will (1) mirror back to the client what I understand their needs and desires are, (2) describe the preliminary design process and estimated design time, (3) give a ball-park construction cost estimate for the project, (4) describe the construction drawing phase that includes an estimate of cost for this work which usually includes a not-to-exceed cost figure, (5) describe my involvement during the construction phase of the project, (6) note when I will be available to work on the project and give an estimate of when I will have the work completed, and (7) clarify the responsibilities the architect, the owner, and the contractor have for the project. In particular it is important to note whether a soils investigation will likely be needed, or other outside consultants may be required or desired. I usually provide a client reference list with this proposal letter.

• Then the fun part begins. A detailed list from the client of their needs and desires is very helpful. It is also helpful for me to have magazine cutouts, photos, and possibly rough plan sketches from the client. I work closely with my client, starting with rough site plan ideas and possible floor plan layouts and elevation sketches. I will give a ballpark construction cost estimate at this early stage of the design process. If my client has a building contractor in mind, his early involvement in the project helpful. Once we feel we are on the right track I will draw more detailed plan, elevation and section sketches and possibly a perspective sketch or two. Creating a computer model can be very helpful for the design process if budget allows. Photo-realistic renderings (done in Photoshop), particularly for addition projects, can also be very helpful.

• The next step is to develop the construction drawings and documents. I do all my work with a CAD program that I find efficient and accurate. I have spent about four years of my life doing construction work, mostly on my own home projects. I also do my own structural engineering on most residential projects. So I feel I have a very good feel for how to put a project together. I enjoy the construction drawing work and do all of it myself. But I will use consultants for any work I feel I am not qualified to do. In particular I use a consultant to do the Title 24 energy documents and will consult with a structural engineer for difficult foundation work or a possible steel girder design.

• See "Relationship with the Building Contractor" for the next phase of the
project.