ExAC Podcast | Examitect

How do architects decide what to charge? We compare lump-sum, time-based, and percentage-based fees, including why different project phases may call for different methods. We also introduce the RAIC fee guideline and the relationship between building complexity, construction cost, and professional fees, while explaining why published examples still need judgment before they fit a particular project.

The schedules in RAIC Document 6 turn a service agreement into something you can price and bill. We look at how services are assigned, how the architect's work is distinguished from the client's responsibilities, and how reimbursable expenses and time-based rates are recorded. See why travel, printing, and other recurring costs need a place in the agreement.

Standard contract language deserves a careful read, and so do the clauses that change it. We explain how supplementary conditions can override the general conditions of RAIC Document 6 and alter the responsibilities you thought you were accepting. Learn why working through a sample agreement and reading client amendments closely are useful habits for both practice and ExAC preparation.

Paying for architectural drawings does not automatically settle who owns them. We explore instruments of service, the distinction between an architecture degree and professional registration, and the meaning of general review. Using RAIC Document 6, we also introduce the scope, responsibilities, and standard of care that frame the architect-client relationship.

RAIC Document 6 governs the architect-client relationship, while Document 9 addresses consultants retained by the architect. We unpack the agreement, definitions, general conditions, and supplementary conditions that make these contracts work. Learn how becoming the prime consultant changes your responsibilities and why the structure of an agreement matters as much as the signature.

Precise definitions can change how you read an exam question or a contract. We explore distinctions such as construction cost, construction budget, and project budget, alongside the language of functional programs, architectural services, and project documents. Build the habit of using defined terms accurately so small differences in wording do not become expensive misunderstandings.

A new project needs a clear agreement before work begins. We explain how RAIC Document 6 helps define architectural services and establish the working relationship with a client. Following the service sequence in the Canadian Handbook of Practice, we connect programming, design, documentation, and construction services to the scope you agree to provide.

What needs to be in place before the first design decision? We walk through the client brief, the functional program, and the site information that gets a project started. Learn how to distinguish information the client supplies from zoning, planning, and authority requirements the architect must investigate, and why a signed agreement belongs at the beginning.

Start your ExAC preparation with a clear view of what architects do and why the profession carries public responsibility. We introduce the exam's practice-based approach, the role of self-study, and the importance of checking official exam information. We also explore how building size and use shape the work reserved for architects, setting the foundation for Section 1.