Value in an architect for small-budget extension?

dingbat

Hi. Looking for views and experiences of what value an architect brings to a small budget extension.

Total budget we can scrape together for the extension work is 95k. This must include everything. A few years back this would have been worth a bit more, but from what I can see the cost of everything relating to the building trade has gone up a good bit, which is why I used the term "small".

I have talked to a number of architects about the job. Broadly speaking, their fee for such a job would be in the region of 10k (including VAT). Some a little higher; some a little lower. But that's the ballpark. We need planning permission but live in an area which is relatively permissive.

It is an oldish house (c. 1920) that now just needs some extra space. An extra bedroom; a larger downstairs family area. The existing house could definitely do with new windows and external insulation, but at present it is entirely liveable and we are happy to leave those for another time when we can save up another round of cash.

So, tell me. If I am hiring an architect what are they bringing to the table other than drawings? Will an architect for the full job really save money in the long run? Or would I be better off just getting somebody to do the drawings for the planners and then hand these directly to a builder with whom I have some level of trust through referrals?

I would dearly love to hear some first hand experiences of the value received through the hiring of an architect for a residential job in this cost range. Value can range from ideas at design stage through to solving problems during construction or holding builders to account. Or have you been left writing cheques to an architect wondering what the hell you've been paying for?

All contributions greatly valued.

Thank you.

mike_2009

Hi,
It depends on where you see value. You've probably seen episodes on TV where clients go ahead on their own and fall foul of regulations, certification and end up spending a LOT more time & money fixing those issues wishing they could have avoided it in hindsight. It could cost you more than what you hope to save? One extension near where I live has rats coming up the shore as the builders didn't seal it up properly, it's the stuff you DON'T see where I'd be worried down the road....

If you've experience doing this before I'd say crack on, if you'd like some assurance you're not falling foul of structural / regs and are getting the best design for your money then I'd line up a good architect. Even meeting a few to get an idea if they are thinking along the lines of what you really like & can come in under your budget can be time worth spent. There are free sessions in the RDS ideal homes you could book for a chat with one or two.

I'm in the middle of a new build design and went from a separate Kitchen to an open plan one and a door suddenly appeared in the next design draft between the stairs and the open plan area - the reason: fire regs. But the real value is in taking an idea over a couple of weeks, turning it on it's head and arriving at very functional flowing space I'm much happier to go to Planning with.

Be clear about your budget up front and let your architect work to that. My sister used a builder on her extension and wondered if an Architect would have done something much different. There are certainly some cases where like me you're looking at @ €€K for Architect's fees and one woman I spoke last year didn't see the value they brought.

BTW Are you thinking of selling on in later years? If so certification might be worth looking at but that's more €€??

The Architect will inspect the site ok but I'm looking at a structural warranty and build insurance for mine and they send out one of their guys regularly to check up on the house, which gives me another independent viewpoint. Another way to get some coverage.

Hope it works out whatever route you go down. Even throwing the doodles up on Boards.ie you'll get plenty of ideas / suggestions and it sounds like you've a good idea what you want. 10K in your pocket could really lift the place up.

bemak

I think an architect will always add value in terms of a better layout that works hard for you. At the very least I would engage an architect to get you through planning. That way you'd be getting an architecturally designed bespoke solution at 50% of the cost. (architects fees are generally broken up into 25% initial design, 25% detail design incl planning, 25% tender and production of information and 25% on-site management).

Calahonda52

What exactly are you getting g to the 10k?

You need to be very clear on this first.

If the work requires to use of concealed steel or other beams, then you need to get that structurally certified at the build time, which will be an additional cost