Whatever you decide, make sure you interview more than 3 of them. You can tell who's just out to get your money and who actually cares about the details. Regarding the architect - some builders even provide one at a reduced rate since they give them business (make sure they're legit). We used
http://www.gidch.com/ and were VERY happy with them, but due to health reasons they *may* be operating on a limited schedule these days. Gideon is one of the most honest people I've met and that includes friends.
Talk to the contractors to see what options you have and then talk to the architect about feasibility. Remember, architects don't really have a good grasp of actual costs despite what they tell you.
![Wink](https://pics3.city-data.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif)
They'll tell you about the costs from the town though.