Architect fees, is this reasonable?

CONGDONBROWN

Hi there,

I am looking for someone who can complete some building control drawings for me. I already the survey drawings in Vectorworks which is a type of CAD so am looking for someone to add to those drawings.

I have had a few quotes from people which seemed quite high of around £3000 etc.

Is there anyone that you could recommend that would be able to complete these drawings for a reasonable fee. I am ideally looking for them to be completed in the next week or so.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Natalie

CONGDONBROWN

Hi there,

Your quote sounds very good to me in comparison to the ones I have had.

Are you in London and I don't suppose you would pass on the contact details of the architect you have used?

Many thanks,

Natalie

Enoughalready

Hi there,

Can someone have a look at this quotation for a small pair of new build semi's?

I already own the land and wish to build these. I requested a lump some quotation but he has refused and provided a % quote however, from what I can work out that based on 80m2 per property it would cost over £12,500 plus fees and additional visits etc. which seems quite expensive to me. He's a one man band.

The quote reads as
"Total proposed fees are fixed percentages on an average build cost of £1250m2

Planning Permission application: 3.75%
Building Regulations application: 1.5%
Structural Calculations: 1%
This quote allows for one site visit, should further site visits be required they will be charged for at £140 per visit, this quote does not include site surveys. Any amendments post application submission (including outline or pre‐application advice submissions) will be charged for at £35 per hour. Should adverse soil conditions or tree roots be found on site the advice of a specialist must be sought for the foundation design at further cost. All application fees are to be paid by client. All drawings will be issued electronically, should prints be required they will be at an additional pre‐determined cost. Invoices per application will be issued with the first draft and are to be paid within 14 days; no drawings will be submitted to the local authority until invoices are paid in full."

Any input appreciated.
Steve

Enoughalready

I fear this request will get lost!:o

andrewf75

Just got an architect to draw plans for a roughly 25sqm single story extension:
His fees were £900
Structural engineer was £300
Building regs application £820

Its an expensive business and we haven't even got a builder yet!

ey143

Could any architect or person with a good understanding of the service and fees of an architect please advise whether they think a quote of £9,500 + VAT and disbursements is a fair price for the following. I am not averse to paying for a quality service, it's just that I dont know whether this is expensive or fair. This is my first quote although at exhibitions I was told prices of around £7,000 but not as much details as provided in this quote.

Our Fees for Professional Services rendered for the above will be £9500.00

exclusive of VAT. and disbursements as agreed , categorised into two stages

of work [FONT=&quot]( A - B ) [/FONT]and will include for the following : -

[FONT=&quot]STAGE A[/FONT]

1. Discuss the clients requirements including timescale and any financial

limits; assess these and give general advice on how to proceed;

agree the Architects services.

2. Obtain from the Client information on ownership and any lessors and

lessees of the site, and any existing building on the site, boundary

fences and other encroachments, underground services, rights of

way, rights of support and other relevant matters.

3. Visit the site and carry out an initial appraisal.

4. Carry out a measured site survey and prepare existing plans and

elevations.

5. Advise on the need for other consultants services and on the scope of

these services.

6. Carry out such studies as may be necessary to determine the feasibility

of the Clients requirements; review with the Client alternative design

and construction approaches and cost implications; advise on the

need to obtain planning permission, approvals under building acts or

regulations, and other similar statutory requirements.

7. Analyse the Clients requirements; prepare outline proposals and an

approximation of the construction cost for the Clients approval.

8. Develop a scheme design from the outline proposals taking into

account amendments requested by the Client ; prepare a cost

estimate; where applicable give an indication of possible start dates

for the building contract. The scheme design will illustrate the size and

character of the project in sufficient detail to enable the Client to

agree the spatial arrangement , materials and appearance.

9. Prepare proposed design drawings to include plans elevations and

sections.

10. Make where required application for planning permission . The

planning permission itself is beyond the Architects control and no

guarantee that it will be granted can be given.

[FONT=&quot]STAGE B[/FONT]

1. With other consultants where appointed, develop the scheme design ;

obtain the Clients approval of the type of construction, quality of

materials and standard of workmanship; co-ordinate any design work

done by consultants, specialist sub-contractors and suppliers; obtain

quotations and other information in connection with specialist work.

2. Prepare working drawings and details.

3. Prepare production information including drawings, schedules and

specification of materials and workmanship; All information complete

in sufficient detail to enable a contractor to prepare a tender.

4. Make where required application for approvals under Building Acts,

Regulations and other statutory requirements.

5. Liase with Local Authority Building Control Inspectorate.

All Statutory Fees are to be paid by the Client to the relevant Authorities,

together with all Consultants Fees as required.

For your information only, we confirm that the proposals are to include for the

following : -

[FONT=&quot]- Two storey rear extension .[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- Single storey rear extension.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- Loft conversion.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- Alterations to the front elevation to provide centrally located entrance to[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]the house with symmetrically positioned bays to either side of the front[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]elevation.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- Carriage drive and landscaping.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- Internal alterations generally .[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- All to provide the following :-[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Ground Floor[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- Centrally located entrance hall and staircase.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- A large kitchen and family room.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- A larger living room.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- Utility room.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- Guest cloakroom.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- Ground floor bedroom and bathroom.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]First Floor[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- Master Bedroom with a walk in wardrobe and an en- suite facility.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- 4 additional bedrooms.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- Master bathroom.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Second floor[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- 2 no. bedrooms.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- Bathroom.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Entrance to the flat will be retained and the flat self contained.[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]*******************[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]Are there any other things I should look out for?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
Thanks.
[/FONT]

rasnoland

Hi All,

Just happened into this thread yesterday and it made for an interesting reading regarding cultural attitudes to the places we live in, if you allow me that.

I am an architect, I should say first of all.

I have got only one question for the thread, in case anyone want to answer it. Do you really like the idea of thinking the place you live, the house that so tightly gets attached to our personal histories, be designed in a few hours? a place where you are later going to be living for years?

Darich. Is it fair to say that if as you suggest the plans are copy/paste copy/paste, is it not your life going to be a reflection of that, just one more copy, one more soulless instance?

In the societies most of us live, anyone is entitled to have a copy/paste house, as long that attitude is not detrimental of others people wish to make something different of the life they live. In architecture thats translate into our responsibility of creating a better place for the people we live with, a functional, pleasing, efficient, and adaptive place. So as long as that attitude of copy/past does not affect other people, it is totally legitimate to get the cheapest drawings you can.

Best to all

darich wrote: »

Drawings at that price are prohibitivelyt expensive and I would disagree that they take "a long time" to produce.
Many details eg, lintels, insulation, trusses etc are standard. Acad can copy and paste, even hand drawn many details are similar and don't take long to draw.
My brother has done scores of drawings like this and it never took him that long. He did everything from conservatories to loft conversions, dormers, garage conversions and full 2 storey extensions. His biggest "homer" was the drawings for a £2.2m sets of industrial units. Copy paste, copy, paste.
I've seen scores of drawings submitted to my local authority and there is no way on Earth they've taken a long time to produce. The standards of some drawings are dreadful and I feel sorry for the people who've paid someone a few hundred pounds for what is not much better than a sketch on a few sheets of paper.

You mentioned an architect providing a professional service and the costs need to covered. For a normal extension/conversion there is abolutely no need for an architect. Engineer yes because without one you have no calcs and no proof that a certain beam is sufficient. But to employ an architect for a simple extension seems a bit much to me.