Approximate Timelines for Stage 1 (Planning) and Stage 2 (Construction) Drawings

Educate

Trying to decide whether we stick with architect who did our planning drawings / submission or move to a new architect for construction drawings. Preference is to stay with current one for continuity, but we found them to be difficult to get things done and only really got drawings to us when we badgered them (badgering isn't something we want to keep having to do and we felt uncomfortable doing it).

It took just over 7 months to go from the date of starting with them to planning submission (bearing in mind most things got done after maybe one/two un-responded to emails and then a phone call 3-5 days later to follow-up). We calculated that when they sent us drawings for review, we took a total of 17 days of that 7 months to review/come back to them on decisions. We weren't changing anything major when coming back to them (only one-off room size changes). Would 6-7 months be typical enough for this stage? Personally we're hoping it is typical enough; but prefer to know either way.

House was a standard enough two storey (block, slate, uPVC windows, all render) four bed, detached, ~200sqm.

Mellor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058318146/approximate-timelines-for-stage-1-planning-and-stage-2-construction-drawings

It could be done much quicker. They obvious didn't do 7 months work on it. But the most time efficient way is to work on it in one hit. Having to stop while you review, even if its another few days means they have to start working on something else, they can't just drop that when you respond. You also have to consider than while they were working on yours, some other client may have responded. Which was then ahead of you in the queue.

If you consider what you paid them to date, and what a fair hourly charge would be (not the same as an hourly pay rate). You'd have an idea on the time spent on it to date. How much is that per month.

That said, a rough timeline should have been provided. If you want to proceed. I would look for a program to be submitted attached to the contract.

Educate

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121249308#Comment_121249308

100% agree re: them needing to have other work alongside ours. Wouldn't expect an exclusive contract at all and fully expected they'd have other work ongoing - we just weren't sure if 7 months was typical. Obviously multiple revisions from a client will add time - we made two revisions: one involving room sizes and one involving window sizes / positions (though had to get back to them more than once because they didn't add all of the revisions in their updated drawings, so we ended up having to take more time to go over all measurements each time to make sure the edits they made were correct).

One of our difficulties with getting back to them was that they weren't giving us timelines at all and we had to really push to get estimates, we'd then get approximate # weeks that went as much as 4 weeks over their estimate. We found it difficult to plan to have time set aside to review what they sent us and get back quickly because things never arrived when they said they would.

I don't really have a sense of a fair hourly charge for architectural work. When initially looking to go with an architect we spoke with three and there was ~€20k variation between them.

Appreciate the confirmation that at the very least a rough timeline should have been provided and that's great advice to request a timeline attached to the contract if we go ahead with them.

mickdw

What the hell are they charging if there was 20k between them

MacDanger

We started with an architect back in 2020/21 and it took ~5 months from initiation to submission for planning which was okay - he was poor enough in terms of replying though, you'd always have to contact him a 2nd time to get a reply

Then we had an RFI which should have been fairly straightforward but ended up taking another 4 months and the same constant need to follow up with him for everything.

We changed to someone else for engineering drawings & construction and we don't regret it - building is a long road and you don't need the hassle of having constantly trying to get a reply from someone like that, it just isn't worth it imo. The new guy we got doesn't always pick up or reply immediately but you'll never be waiting longer than 2 days for him to come back to you

Educate

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121260410#Comment_121260410

Approx €22k. Highest quote we got was €40k.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121260468#Comment_121260468

Great to know we're not too unusual to be considering moving. The last point you made is bang on where we're at - it's a long enough road and it really felt like hassle getting through the planning stage with them. It's obviously a stressful enough process but we really hated feeling we had to become that pestering client (not our style).