planning fees charged by agent

Espoo

Hi Folks
I prepared and submitted a planning application for a fella.
It involved site survey, taking levels, producing site map,
drawings for proposed dwelling. There is a derelict cottage on the
site to be demolished so I had to survey and draw this. It was a
reasonably straight forward job. But I did put a fair bit of effort in to
it. A couple of visits to the site, left application for planning and application
for site suitability report in with planning authority. Met with the client
about 3 times. A bit of admin cost, newspaper notice and site notice photocopying stuff. Anyway I called to him the other day and for my fee I
was charging him €1200. His jaw dropped and He is asking me for the
stuff I did. As in maps drawings etc as I don't think He understands how much
was involved. My question is am I been a bit greedy here? I thought this fee
would have been reasonable but maybe I need to get with the times?
The application has been validated by council. €1200 does not include paper
notice and planning application fee. neither does it include percolation test. I can see how it can get expensive for the client when you add it all up.

Cheers

mickdw

If you actually designed a house for this, it appears stupidly cheap.
If it was just a matter of redrawing a known plan or something like that, you were nearer the mark but nobody could call it expensive imo.

Espoo

Thanks Mick,
Yeah tbh the house drawing was the easy bit.
So I'd say I'm on the right track

Cheers.

muffler

+1 to the above.

muffler

Espoo wrote: »

Thanks Mick,
Yeah tbh the house drawing was the easy bit.
So I'd say I'm on the right track

Cheers.

Are you listed officially as the agent on the planning application?

Espoo

I am yeah

muffler

Espoo wrote: »

I am yeah

If the guy has an issue with the fee just tell him you will withdraw the planning application

Espoo

muffler wrote: »

If the guy has an issue with the fee just tell him you will withdraw the planning application

:cool: Funny enough that crossed my mind! Have never done it before but
there is a first time for everthing!

muffler

In fairness withdrawing the application is probably near enough a last resort. But sit him down and have a detailed account of your time, expenses/outlays and overheads to show. When you indicate the number of hours spent on the project it shouldn't be too difficult to show that your hourly rate is indeed quite low.

Espoo

Yeah true. I doubt it will come to withdrawing it

Cheers

Poor Uncle Tom

For the work involved it seems a very reasonable price.

In this day and age I am surprised that you didn't discuss fees before you started work and possibly even agreed a fee before starting. Even from your client's point of view I am surprised that they didn't ring for approximate prices for the work before they asked for the work to be done.

A fella called fish

It seems cheap to me. Out of interest though, why did you not agree a fee in writing before undertaking the works?

Espoo

Thanks Tom
Did this but client seems to have forgot. In fairness it should have been talked about in more detail and written down.

cheers

kirb42

Hi, Espoo,  I have been in this situation in the past myself, My thinking is this, because the time taken to prepare a set of drawings isn't actually tangible, some people just don't get it...buy a TV for €1200, and that gives them instant gratification, Given the work load, €1200 is as low as it gets, in my book...when preparing a set of drawings for a client... I always remind them, Your putting a coin into a slot machine and there are are no guarantees, effectively it's there gamble and not yours......That said, I have done endless set of drawings for friends and family over the years that never came to fruition...pipe dreams at my expense...I probably would have gotten more thanks, had I wore a red nose, big shoes, and walk up and down there sitting-room banging a big bass drum....

Espoo

kirb42 wrote: »

Hi, Espoo,  I have been in this situation in the past myself, My thinking is this, because the time taken to prepare a set of drawings isn't actually tangible, some people just don't get it...buy a TV for €1200, and that gives them instant gratification, Given the work load, €1200 is as low as it gets, in my book...when preparing a set of drawings for a client... I always remind them, Your putting a coin into a slot machine and there are are no guarantees, effectively it's there gamble and not yours......That said, I have done endless set of drawings for friends and family over the years that never came to fruition...pipe dreams at my expense...I probably would have gotten more thanks, had I wore a red nose, big shoes, and walk up and down there sitting-room banging a big bass drum....

Well put Kirb, I know the feeling. It can be extremely thankless work. Some people don't appreciate the work that goes in to it and if it goes no where the thought of paying fairly for what sometimes seems pie in the sky hurts too much

Victor

So he's going to spend how much on building it?

mickdw

As I always say. If they cant pay for the planning, they are only dreaming about building a house.

Espoo

Victor wrote: »

So he's going to spend how much on building it?

About 150k. Not bad. I recommended a good roofer to him. But He wouldn't get out of bed for less than €350/day cash (in 2009). Down from €800/day in 2006! If people are/were willing to pay it, then fair play.

tootsy70

Espoo wrote: »

About 150k. Not bad. I recommended a good roofer to him. But He wouldn't get out of bed for less than €350/day cash (in 2009). Down from €800/day in 2006! If people are/were willing to pay it, then fair play.

Who wouldnt get out of bed for 350 aday. The roofer or the guy your dealing with

Mellor

tootsy70 wrote: »

Who wouldnt get out of bed for 350 aday. The roofer or the guy your dealing with

The client is hardly charging 350 a day

sinnerboy

I've heard of clients wanting something for nothing - but never charging you to work for them :pac::pac::pac: