Architect Fees

justinpadams

Hi
We are hoping to buy a house that needs gutting and extending. We would like a 3m deep single storey extension at the back and a three storey extension to the side.

We have so far had two quotes for architects for drawing up the design plans, plans for building regs and submitting to the planners.

One architect is quoting around £3000 VAT, while the other is quoting around £1000. Why is there such a big difference? The more expensive guy is adamant that his fees are pretty typical and says that the cheaper guy may not be a qualified architect, but a draughtsman.

The cheaper company are part of a building company who have 30 yrs experience or so it says on the website. They also have a rating of 4.5 stars on free index.com from 19 reviews.

I'm really confused - I don't want to waste my money on the cheaper guy only to find out that the drawings aren't up to scratch, buy why so many good reviews (unless they are faked of course).

Anyone know what a reasonable cost for an architect is (we are in Sheffield)?????

Thanks

J

BobQ

justinpadams wrote: »

Hi
We are hoping to buy a house that needs gutting and extending. We would like a 3m deep single storey extension at the back and a three storey extension to the side.

We have so far had two quotes for architects for drawing up the design plans, plans for building regs and submitting to the planners.

One architect is quoting around £3000 VAT, while the other is quoting around £1000. Why is there such a big difference? The more expensive guy is adamant that his fees are pretty typical and says that the cheaper guy may not be a qualified architect, but a draughtsman.

The cheaper company are part of a building company who have 30 yrs experience or so it says on the website. They also have a rating of 4.5 stars on free index.com from 19 reviews.

I'm really confused - I don't want to waste my money on the cheaper guy only to find out that the drawings aren't up to scratch, buy why so many good reviews (unless they are faked of course).

Anyone know what a reasonable cost for an architect is (we are in Sheffield)?????

Thanks

J

Well there may be some difference in the quality of service but that much. Maybe the difference is that one architect thinks you want basic extensions, while the other has elaborate ideas for an innovative or unusual design. Architects will charge what they think you are prepared to pay.

Get some personal recommendations and a couple more quotes. If the next quotes are closer to one or the other of the quotes you have you will know what is more realistic.

eddddy

justinpadams wrote: »

I'm really confused - I don't want to waste my money on the cheaper guy only to find out that the drawings aren't up to scratch, buy why so many good reviews (unless they are faked of course).

A big part of an architects job is design.

So it isn't really a question of drawings being up to scratch (an architect would have to be unbelievably bad to be unable to do decent plans/drawings).

Sometimes you look at a building (or extension) and think that looks 'good' or those rooms are laid out well. Other times, you think that building (or extension) looks 'rubbish' or the layout of these rooms is really bad....

... that's the difference between a good architect's work and a bad one's (or perhaps not using an architect at all).

To find out if somebody is really an architect, ask if they are a member of RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects). https://www.architecture.com/Explore/Home.aspx

And ask the architects for details of projects they have previously worked on. They should be able to show you plans, and even give you addresses - so you can go and look at them from the outside, and decide for yourself whether their designs are good.

And ask them about budgets for each of the projects as well. (Some of their projects may look really good, but cost a fortune.)

starving_artist

You can check if they are qualified with the Architects Registration Board. It's illegal for them to call themselves architects if they are not.

anselld

starving_artist wrote: »

You can check if they are qualified with the Architects Registration Board. It's illegal for them to call themselves architects if they are not.

... however, you do not need a registered architect to complete and submit planning / BC drawings for an extension. This is easily within the competence of Architectural Technicians, Draughtsmen, whatever they call themselves.

DRP

If you basically know what you want, then get a technician to do the job.

If you're talking Grand Designs, then get an architect.

lincroft1710

£1000 sounds far too low for a RIBA member

Thrugelmir

DRP wrote: »

If you basically know what you want, then get a technician to do the job.

If you're talking Grand Designs, then get an architect.

An architect can provide lots of options and ideas. Last time I used the services of one. They produced 6 different floor plans etc. In the end the actual result was a perm out of 3 of them.

Like any professional service. You get what you pay for.

starving_artist

anselld wrote: »

... however, you do not need a registered architect to complete and submit planning / BC drawings for an extension. This is easily within the competence of Architectural Technicians, Draughtsmen, whatever they call themselves.

That's perfectly true.