Architects Fees

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PearlJam

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I recently decided it is time for the additions that I have been planning. So I asked someone in the family who is an architect if he wants to do the plans, with the idea that I can help them financially as it isn't going great with them.

He did a mockup of how he sees it and we agreed to some changes. Then he sent the bill before he starts with the technical drawings. This is where my question comes in. Is it standard for an architect to charge a % of what he calculates the building cost to be? Shouldn't I pay per hour for the time he puts in like all other work?

I just feel it is a bit excessive for a garage, new entrance and lounge to pay just over R30k for plans.

Am i wrong?
 
Well, I didnt use an architect, but my garage, new room and new enterance cost me R4k. But then again, I told him exactly what I wanted and he didn't have to design anything for me.
 
thanks, yes, i also told him exactly what I wanted and where it should be, the only changes was to increase the size of the lounge a bit as he got it too small
 
Yes, but he is an architect, they will be more expensive. I didn't really know that they are that much more expensive.
 
There is a difference between a draughtsman and an architect. It is like going with a bum knee to a clinic sister vs. a specialist. Architects are expensive.
 
My wife is an architect and its usual to charge a percentage of the cost of construction. Just like an estate agent charges a percentage of sale price.

The fees are regulated by the professional board up to a maximum although it is subject to negotiation and scope of works. see http://www.sacapsa.com/sacap/view/sacap/en/page81

Sounds to me like just working and submission drawings with no design or project management involved so should be 2 - 3 percent of cost. at about R4500per sqm you can work out a fair cost.

also assuming he gets planning authority approval or is the cost of submission extra?
 
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etwylite said:
My wife is an architect and its usual to charge a percentage of the cost of construction. Just like an estate agent charges a percentage of sale price.

The fees are regulated by the professional board up to a maximum although it is subject to negotiation and scope of works. see http://www.sacapsa.com/sacap/view/sacap/en/page81

Sounds to me like just working drawings with no design or project management involved so should be 2 - 3 percent of cost.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. Mine is 5% with no design or PM

What would be considered a fair price if i was to stop it now and move to someone else for the drawings? So far it is only the mockup
 
etwylite said:
My wife is an architect and its usual to charge a percentage of the cost of construction. Just like an estate agent charges a percentage of sale price.

The fees are regulated by the professional board up to a maximum although it is subject to negotiation and scope of works. see http://www.sacapsa.com/sacap/view/sacap/en/page81

Sounds to me like just working and submission drawings with no design or project management involved so should be 2 - 3 percent of cost. at about R4500per sqm you can work out a fair cost.

also assuming he gets planning authority approval or is the cost of submission extra?
Click to expand...

About six years ago (when I built my house) the professional fees for preparing drawings suitable for approval was about 8%, with the charge increasing to about 11.5% for full supervision.

It is not normal to charge in advance, i.e. you pay when he hands over the drawings / supervises the work.

I paid for the full service and - from my experience - was cheap at 11.5%: the architect saved me several times more than her charges. I also I didn't end up in jail for killing a sub-contractor / building inspector :)

Obviously you can negotiate (e.g. for charges based on a time & materials basis) but - unless you are experienced in dealing with sub-contractors - it might be better to to have him do the entire job, i.e. submit plans, get quotations, supervise building etc
 
He wont be doing any supervision as he stays quite far from me..it is only for drawing and submission. I will get quotes and everything else that follows
 
Your building extensions sound basic. Get an ordinary plan drawer who normally charge around R99m2. That was about a year ago though.
 
Then, according to the scale of fees, he is entitled to his 8.5% (or whatever the current tariff is)

Obviously this is subject to negotiation, but YMMV.

BTW, and IMHO, unless he stays in another country consider paying him for doing all of the work. Getting quotes, purchasing materials, dealing with sub-contractors, etc. will take years off your life ...
 
PearlJam said:
Thanks for this. Mine is 5% with no design or PM

What would be considered a fair price if i was to stop it now and move to someone else for the drawings? So far it is only the mockup
Click to expand...
I paid R1 500 for my plans. Extra garage and another upstairs bedroom. Get a draughtsman, if you can find one fresh out of varsity you'll score big time.

That's what I did.
 
grav80 said:
I paid R1 500 for my plans. Extra garage and another upstairs bedroom. Get a draughtsman, if you can find one fresh out of varsity you'll score big time.

That's what I did.
Click to expand...

yeah my cousin is a draftman as well and they charge like nothing and do the job just as good ...

to OP and i know yes most architects can claim to up to 10% i think of building costs
 
Had a draughtmen draw up plans for a std 3 bedroom house a month ago.

Cost me 2K
 
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