Architect Fees Quote

Hene1980

Hello Everybody,

Please can someone help me with some advise. I am planning on an extension to my house and garage conversion and the architect has quoted me roughly £3,500 plus VAT. Does this seem reasonable. I though it was quite excessive.
The house is a 50s 3 bed semidetached house. Single Storey extension is required out the back (about 5 meters out) and conversion of double garage to office/playroom and utility room. Looking to have a large kitchen/diner family area. I have been quoted for four stages as follows: Stage1 - Survey of house and draught existing plans - £625 Stage2 - Sketch Proposals - £720 Stage3 - Prepare Refined drawings for planning - £320 Stage 4 - Building Regs/construction Drawings - £1400 PLus strutural engineer and planning fees etc

This seems very expensive.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Many Thanks

System

has it been quoted as time? like days/hours against an hourly rate?
hard to judge if it is that expensive as there could be a lot of design work involved or it could be simple - if you think it is expensive or don't think it is value for money, get some quotes from other people for the job.
Also is this a registered architect?

MX5huggy

If they are a member of the ARB and RIBA. The fees are about right if a bit high, did they want the work? Or did they price to avoid getting the job?

The next level down in qualification is a member of CIAT.

Then there is a whole range of unqualified people who could draw plans for you for planning and building regs.

You only need a qualified architect if you need their design skills to create a special space and you have the budget for it.

Hene1980

Thanks, yes it is a registered architect. It is a very straight forward extension i.e extend the back room out and thats it. The garage is already built and has a toilet/utility room so its just dividing it one more time. Perhaps Ill just get a draftsmen to draw up the plans and liase with the council.
Thanks for your help

Saxonheights

Hene1980 wrote: »

Thanks, yes it is a registered architect. It is a very straight forward extension i.e extend the back room out and thats it. The garage is already built and has a toilet/utility room so its just dividing it one more time. Perhaps Ill just get a draftsmen to draw up the plans and liase with the council.
Thanks for your help

Seems a bit steep.

My father does plans for extensions and charges around £500, including everything you have mentioned, he trained as a draughtsman so he isn't an architect. As long as someone carries professional indemnity insurance you have a means of recourse against them if things go wrong even if they aren't RIBA or ARB. So just make sure they do (ask to see a schedule).

Drawing your existing building for £625 is pretty heavy, all they need to do is come to your house, measure up go back to the office and put the figures into CAD and theres the drawings an hours work?

System

Saxonheights wrote: »

Drawing your existing building for £625 is pretty heavy, all they need to do is come to your house, measure up go back to the office and put the figures into CAD and theres the drawings an hours work?

i can only assume you have never done this

Saxonheights

the_r_sole wrote: »

i can only assume you have never done this

Not a house with CAD, I've measured one up in 30 minutes though. I've done the engine module of a submarine in 2 hours on cad with vibration sensor locations. So I think a house would take a bit less.

System

Saxonheights wrote: »

Not a house with CAD, I've measured one up in 30 minutes though. I've done the engine module of a submarine in 2 hours on cad with vibration sensor locations. So I think a house would take a bit less.

you should go into the surveying business, you would get loads of jobs if you can produce a full set of survey drawings in cad in an hour and a half including a site visit!

ChrisEvanson

We are planning the following:

Extension similar to above (without garage)
Remove chimney breast (nothing to do with extension)
Move bathroom (just advice on waste pipe etc)
Install new windows (conservation area, nothing to do with extension)
Change to cellar chute cover to glass

Our architect has been out four times so far. First to see what we were doing and quote for work. This was approx £2000 all in including plans, getting it through planning, building regs etc. Then again to measure up and get details and give more advice. Then to come back with plans and discuss and check a few more details ready for planning. Then to pop plans in (just a short visit).

Plans now submitted.

We had another quote similar but after quoting he phoned the next day and said sorry it would be £250 more due to the fact he thought it would take time re the extra bits (which were stated before he quoted). We were going to go with him until then but felt that was totally unprofessional. As it is we are delighted with our chosen architect and have since had next door but one neighbour comment he did her extension and was excellent.

robert2011

Hi Hene, £4,200 inclusive is way to high.But remember draftsmen/building designers are not Architects most do not have any pro qualifications, get one with a minimum HND in architectural design and check with the qualification authorities that gave him/her this diploma if its genuine. Offer them about £700 ! for an Architect get a fixed price of around £1200.To call your self an "architect" in the Uk you must have studied for a minimun of 7 years and passed the relevant examinations.
I am a builder i also have pro qualifications in Quantity Surveying.