You, as a client of Aric Gitomer Architect is the responsible party in regards to budgeting. AGA can give you a range of costs and even refer you to cost calculators in determining potential costs, however AGA does not guarantee the cost of your project. Budget is impacted by many factors, some of which include; size of project, finish quality, current material costs and location.
Scope of project is determined by the budget of the project. Average construction costs are around $175-250 per square foot for new construction, with this these averages your architect should be able to give you a rough number to work with to determine the project scope.
Renovation costs can run the same depending on the difficulty involved in the project.