Privacy Policy | Aether Quintharos Architecture

Introduction

Look, we get it - privacy policies can be a real slog to read through. But here's the thing: we actually care about your data and want you to know exactly what happens with it. At Aether Quintharos Architecture, we're not just careful about building design - we're equally careful with the trust you place in us when you share your information.

This policy lays out everything in plain language because, honestly, there's no reason to hide behind legal jargon. We're based in Vancouver, BC, and we follow Canadian privacy laws (specifically PIPEDA - the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act). If you're in other jurisdictions, don't worry - we've got you covered too.

What Information We Actually Collect

Personal Contact Details

When you reach out to us or start a project, we'll collect basics like your name, email, phone number, and address. Pretty standard stuff - we can't really design your dream space if we don't know how to reach you, right?

Project-Specific Information

For architectural projects, we need the nitty-gritty: property details, site surveys, your design preferences, budget ranges, timeline expectations. Sometimes we'll get info about existing structures, zoning requirements, or heritage designations if that's relevant to your project.

Financial & Business Data

Yeah, we need payment information to keep the lights on. This includes billing addresses, payment methods, and transaction records. We don't store credit card numbers ourselves though - that goes through secure payment processors who know what they're doing.

Website & Technical Information

When you browse our site, we collect some technical stuff automatically - IP addresses, browser types, device info, pages you visit, how long you hang around. It's mostly to figure out what's working and what isn't on our website.

Communication Records

We keep records of our conversations - emails, phone calls, meeting notes. It helps us remember what we discussed and makes sure nothing falls through the cracks during your project.

How We Actually Use Your Info

We're not out here selling your data or anything shady like that. Here's what we actually do with it:

Deliver our services: The obvious one - we use your info to design, plan, and manage your architectural projects from concept to completion.
Stay in touch: We'll contact you about project updates, appointment reminders, or answer questions you've sent our way.
Handle the business side: Invoicing, contracts, payments - all that administrative stuff that keeps projects moving forward.
Meet legal requirements: Sometimes we're required by law to keep certain records, especially for building permits and regulatory compliance.
Improve what we do: We analyze project feedback and website usage to get better at what we do. Your input genuinely helps shape how we work.
Marketing (with your permission): We might share project photos or case studies, but only if you've given us the green light. Your home or business won't end up in our portfolio without your say-so.

Who We Share Your Data With (And Why)

We're pretty protective of your information, but sometimes we do need to share it with specific folks:

Project Partners

Structural engineers, contractors, consultants - the team we bring in to make your project happen. They only get what they need to do their part.

Government Agencies

Building departments, zoning boards - we share what's required for permits and approvals. Can't build without 'em.

Service Providers

Cloud storage, email services, accounting software - the tech tools we use to run our business efficiently. They're all vetted and under contract.

Legal Obligations

If we're legally required to disclose information (court orders, regulatory requests), we'll comply. But we'll let you know if we can.

What we DON'T do: We don't sell your personal info to third parties. We don't rent out our contact lists. We don't share your data with random marketers. That's just not how we roll.

How We Keep Your Data Safe

Security isn't just an afterthought for us. We've put some real measures in place:

Encryption: Data transmission uses SSL/TLS encryption - that's the little padlock you see in your browser.
Access controls: Only team members who actually need access to specific information get it. Everyone's got unique login credentials.
Secure storage: Physical files are locked up. Digital files are on secure, encrypted servers with regular backups.
Regular updates: We keep our systems patched and up-to-date against known vulnerabilities.
Staff training: Our team knows the importance of data protection and follows strict protocols.

That said, no system is 100% bulletproof. We do our best, but if there's ever a breach that affects your data, we'll let you know promptly and work to fix it.

Cookies & Tracking Tech

Our website uses cookies - not the chocolate chip kind, unfortunately. These little data files help us:

Remember your preferences so you don't have to reset everything each visit
Understand which pages people actually look at and which ones get ignored
Keep you logged in if you're accessing a client portal
Figure out where our website visitors come from (Google, social media, direct links, etc.)

You can disable cookies in your browser settings if you want, but some parts of the site might not work as smoothly. We also use Google Analytics to understand traffic patterns - it's anonymized data that helps us improve the site experience.

Your Rights Over Your Data

This is your information, and you've got rights. Under Canadian privacy law (and various international regulations if applicable), here's what you can do:

1

Access Your Information

You can ask to see what personal data we have about you. We'll provide it in a readable format within a reasonable timeframe.

2

Correct Inaccuracies

If we've got something wrong, let us know and we'll fix it. Accurate information is better for everyone involved.

3

Request Deletion

Want us to delete your data? We'll do it, unless we're legally required to keep it (like for tax records or completed building projects).

4

Opt Out of Marketing

Don't want to receive our newsletters or project updates? No problem - there's an unsubscribe link in every email, or just let us know.

5

Data Portability

Need to take your data elsewhere? We can provide your information in a commonly-used format that other services can read.

How Long We Keep Your Information

We don't keep data forever just for the heck of it. Here's our general approach:

Type of Information	Retention Period
Active Project Data	Duration of project plus 7 years (required for legal/warranty purposes)
Financial Records	7 years from transaction date (tax law requirements)
General Correspondence	3 years unless related to active projects
Marketing Contacts	Until you opt out or data becomes outdated
Website Analytics	26 months (Google Analytics default)

After these periods, we securely delete or anonymize the data. If there's a specific reason we need to keep something longer, it'll be clearly documented.

Changes to This Policy

Look, privacy laws evolve and our practices might need to adapt. If we make significant changes to this policy, we'll let you know via email or a prominent notice on our website. We'll also update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.

Minor tweaks (fixing typos, clarifying existing practices) won't trigger a full notification, but you can always check back here to see the current version.

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