Rebuild - Where to Start?

[feb]

Although several years away, time goes by fast so I figured I'd at least find the starting line on this project:

I have a 3-season cottage up on short piers, 1200 sq/ft. Its an original early 1900's cottage and has served us very well. We thoroughly enjoy the age and style of it.

But as we approach retirement we're thinking, reluctantly, that we need to rebuild it in order to make it a real 4-season retirement home. We want to keep it in the same footprint but add a 2nd story. It is a grandfathered, non-conforming structure. We would plan on adding a basement/crawl space and eliminate the piers.

Having never done this before I don't know where to start. Do I call an architect to get some ideas on what we could possibly do? Do I just call a contractor and start from there?

From the project size we are talking its not going to be a massive project. But I have some design features that I want in the house as well as I want ideas from someone experienced with dealing with my lot, waterfront restrictions, septic possibilities, etc.

I guess I'm looking for scenarios. I'd like to know what I can do and what I can't do.

I'm OK paying for this advice but I don't want to hire an architect for $20k nor do I want to waste a contractor's time since I'm years away from this.

Just want to get the ball rolling. For those that have gone through this, where did you start?