Architects do you really get what you pay for?

NewHome2016

We have been quoted between €5k &€12k including VAT for plans only by different architects. Will the more expensive quote really be that more amazing? I don't want to over pay but I don't want ordinary. Do you really get what you pay for?

BryanF

may I ask what you do for a living?

368100

Op, it completely depends on the complexity of the design and the service you get I guess, dealing with planners etc to get as close to what you want with the least amount of hassle.

In my experience I took on a family friend to do mine. He was from the area and planning guidelines were very restrictive so I was paying for his experience as well as his ability to draw plans. I gave him a good brief along with proposed layout. Rejected straight off as way outside guidelines, something that I was relying on him to know.

I spent months chasing him to get a redesign done, didn't answer phone calls or the door etc. I ended up meeting the planner without him, getting a full breakdown of the guidelines, what would be accepted, what wouldn't. I drew out a sketch with layout and finally after months got him to draw plans around it. Went straight through.

He was quicker sending me an invoice for €5k +vat + outlay along with a note to say "cash is king". This is 6 years ago.

I paid him €2.5k + vat + outlay (by cheque :-)as I had done a lot of the work with the planners that he should have known. He wasn't happy and we don't speak now but I was very aggrieved over the whole thing.

I suppose the moral of my story is that if you're clear what expectations are at the start and you get the service that you were promised then that should guide you in what you're happy to pay. You can't put a set price on "a set of plans" as some are basic, some are very complex and different architects have varying experience which is partly also what you're paying for.

AidanMike

368100 wrote: »

Rejected straight off as way outside guidelines, something that I was relying on him to know.

Not related to the original question but what do you mean by "outside guidelines".

mcneil

AidanMike wrote: »

Not related to the original question but what do you mean by "outside guidelines".

County councils have set guidelines you have to follow. For example, you need a clear 50m each direction on your entrance this site. If your architect drew up plans where there was 15m one direction and 10m the other with a very sharpe bend, you don't meet the guidelines!

AidanMike

mcneil wrote: »

County councils have set guidelines you have to follow. For example, you need a clear 50m each direction on your entrance this site. If your architect drew up plans where there was 15m one direction and 10m the other with a very sharpe bend, you don't meet the guidelines!

Thanks for that mcneil

listermint

368100 wrote: »

Op, it completely depends on the complexity of the design and the service you get I guess, dealing with planners etc to get as close to what you want with the least amount of hassle.

In my experience I took on a family friend to do mine. He was from the area and planning guidelines were very restrictive so I was paying for his experience as well as his ability to draw plans. I gave him a good brief along with proposed layout. Rejected straight off as way outside guidelines, something that I was relying on him to know.

I spent months chasing him to get a redesign done, didn't answer phone calls or the door etc. I ended up meeting the planner without him, getting a full breakdown of the guidelines, what would be accepted, what wouldn't. I drew out a sketch with layout and finally after months got him to draw plans around it. Went straight through.

He was quicker sending me an invoice for €5k +vat + outlay along with a note to say "cash is king". This is 6 years ago.

I paid him €2.5k + vat + outlay (by cheque :-)as I had done a lot of the work with the planners that he should have known. He wasn't happy and we don't speak now but I was very aggrieved over the whole thing.

I suppose the moral of my story is that if you're clear what expectations are at the start and you get the service that you were promised then that should guide you in what you're happy to pay. You can't put a set price on "a set of plans" as some are basic, some are very complex and different architects have varying experience which is partly also what you're paying for.

Solid advice there tbh rather than the previous one above it which was more defensive in nature than explanatory.


Just because someone qualified as an architect does not make them good at it.

zom

listermint wrote: »

Just because someone qualified as an architect does not make them good at it.

In fairness it is not only about architects. But taking into huge demand for professional architects (mostly in Dublin) don't expect many good of them to be keen on small jobs for small money.

Metric Tensor

"Plans only" is a very vague description - make sure you narrow down what exactly you are getting.

A sketch design?
A developed sketch?
Site Layouts?
Construction details?
Building regulation compliant?