Artichect - initial consultation fee

lush_walrus

newbie2013 wrote: »

Thanks. Great info.
a question - if they are not on the list of RIBA - could that be due to them not paying the registration fee, or just not registered?
they appear to have a lot of referrals and happy customers - I have spoken to a few and seen their work.

Yes it could be you do not have to be on RIBAs list to be an architect, most are. Check ARBs list for their name, they will be on that if they are qualified and an architect.

lush_walrus

Furts wrote: »

To add a note to lush walrus...there is a local Architects practice a couple of miles down the road. Highly respected, grown enormous, established within the business and commercial community, basically it ticks all the boxes. Would I engage them to design an extension? Absolutely not! Would I engage them to design a new home to be built in the vernacular where I live? Absolutely not!

The staff are qualified and nice folks. However, ask them to do individual thinking on a small one off and they are out side their comfort zones. All are "Corporate Man and Corporate Woman" expecting to work as "Team Players". Schools, office blocks, and factories are just up their streets. Extensions and local one off houses are not!

A large commercial practice is not the place to engage an architect for a small extension. Architects like most professions have a speciality. In exactly the same way I would not engage JP Morgan to carry out my end of year accounts for my business. A small local practice is the right place for an extension. That is why I suggested RIBA as all practices listed on there detail their speciality.

lush_walrus

newbie2013 wrote: »

Playing devils adovcate here - what if they are not chartered but have the relevant insurance to cover their work?
I know some engineers who are not chartered but that is because they say the costs associated far outweighs what they actually do with the "title"

The chartering for an architect is provided by RIBA, the proof of qualification and ongoing CPD compliance is provided by ARB. The chartering is not the part providing protection to clients in this instance it is the registration with ARB. PI insurance is provided and attained through registration with ARB.

ARB and RIBA have been urged to merge for many years by members due to the doubling of fees and functions. However it is still unlikely they will. ARB offer protection for clients. RIBA market architects. In the simplest of terms that is the two distinct functions.

lush_walrus

teneighty wrote: »

I think lush walrus works for the RIBA Marketing Dept.

As MX5Huggy clearly detailed in his post there are plenty of other professional institutions with well qualified members with professional indemnity insurance and strict professional standards undertaking architectural design work.

From my own experience the Architects I have worked with have very poor understanding of construction. They can draw pretty pictures but rely on the contractor to work out how to build the damn thing causing delays and cost over runs for the client. Not to mention their fees can be extortionate.

As Furts said, unless I was commissioning a large commercial project I would never recommend engaging a registered architect.

Nope I do not work for RIBA, I am however an architect with lots of years in practice, both in my own partnership and previous to that as an employee. I know the field in question very well.