Nixer Cost

techyness · 05-04-2009 09:33PM #1

Hi all,

I am quoting a price for a nixer at the mo. Planning app for a standard single storey extention. Its been a while since I did a nixer. I was wondering what the going rate is these days? Its in Co. Dublin. Thanks!

ConfusedTech · 05-04-2009 11:19PM

You should have a read through some of the other threads, as you will see that there is a massive diversity on charging. At the end of the day it will depend on what you are giving the client.

Prices range from €800 up to 16% of the cost of the build.

Personally, I prefer to put the work in, Survey, meetings with client, options and then a good enough planning that can get a rough and good enough quote from a builder as the planning is going through. Let me say that for me €800 wouldnt do the job!

muffler · 06-04-2009 12:53AM

ConfusedTech wrote: »

Prices range from €800 up to 16% of the cost of the build.

:eek: Where would you see a figure of 16% for a nixer?

ConfusedTech · 06-04-2009 08:10AM

Whether or not a job is a Nickser, it still has to be a certain standard. 16%/18% would be one of the higher RIAI rates for a small job, and depending on experience and size of job, there is no reason why this cant be charged.

archtech · 06-04-2009 09:30AM

ConfusedTech wrote: »

Whether or not a job is a Nickser, it still has to be a certain standard. 16%/18% would be one of the higher RIAI rates for a small job, and depending on experience and size of job, there is no reason why this cant be charged.

I don't think there are too many RIAI practices currently charging those %s.
One would expect that PI cover is been provided as part of the service at those %s.

ConfusedTech · 06-04-2009 09:37AM

Sorry, lads, I have misled you unintentially. I meant 16/18% for full services, 30 to 40% of which would be up to planning submission. My bad!!! It was late when I posted.

archtech, I would agree with your comments, not a lot charging this much now anymore, although I do knwo one and they get the work!. I would think that 1.5 to 3.5K would be nearer the mark, depending on the work and size.

fatchops · 06-04-2009 05:59PM

16% - 18 % is a big percentage although I agree with 40% for Planning and perhaps a small fee for sketch design, generally though I would have thought the average fee for a small to medium office was around 8% - 10% and these are not nixer rates

Builderfromhell · 06-04-2009 08:37PM

Let me see if I understand this.
If your charging say 10% of the build costs as your fee, a house extension costing 50,000 would command a design, planning and tender docs fee of 5,000.

Seems optimistic to me.

muffler · 06-04-2009 11:43PM

Builderfromhell wrote: »

Seems optimistic to me.

Greed would be a better word

ConfusedTech · 07-04-2009 08:38AM

Builderfromhell wrote: »

Let me see if I understand this.
If your charging say 10% of the build costs as your fee, a house extension costing 50,000 would command a design, planning and tender docs fee of 5,000.

Seems optimistic to me.

No, that's not the way it works. Generally anything below 150 to 200K would be worked on by an RIBA/RIAI firm on an hourly basis. The full job would cost you between 15 to 30K, as, to be honest, it would not be worth a firm working on it for less. Then add VAT and expenses. A job needs that funding to be done well. BUT, a local architect or tech with no overheads, one that is fighting to get work in to survive and those who don't know what they are doing woudl charge a lot less. As I said, you can get plans done for as little as 800 plus costs. I have seen these prices and dont compete against them.

On the Tender side, for example, I cant see a Tender being done for less than 3.5K. Scope, Drawings, Meetings and Vetting. BUT, the client should gain that 3K back with a good tenderer/negotiater who works with the builders to get the best price.

Planning and basic design for a 50K or 100K extension should be approx 3.5K, if you provide an experienced service. If you dont have the experience, 1.5k, but you need to realise that without experience, you run risks that and experienced person does not. Experience brings understanding of councils, regulations and elements of constrcution that in reality dont work. You also learn how to read the client and their partner. (These are Dublin prices)

fatchops · 07-04-2009 08:50AM

I did say " these are not nixer rates" and you should price accordingly, naturally market ,experience, build rate and and project size will dictate what you ultimately charge. Build rate will vary around the country and therefore the price will vary.
As an aside to this particular topic does anyone know the going rate at the moment for contract work.

ConfusedTech · 07-04-2009 09:46AM

fatchops wrote: »

I did say " these are not nixer rates" and you should price accordingly, naturally market ,experience, build rate and and project size will dictate what you ultimately charge. Build rate will vary around the country and therefore the price will vary.
As an aside to this particular topic does anyone know the going rate at the moment for contract work.

Contract work for what? Home or in an office?

fatchops · 07-04-2009 10:03AM

more than likely home, but if you know the rate for both it would be great. The way things are going at the minute I think my best option is to find contract work but preferably do it from home, if it has to be done in an office, well and good.

ConfusedTech · 07-04-2009 10:06AM

fatchops wrote: »

more than likely home, but if you know the rate for both it would be great. The way things are going at the minute I think my best option is to find contract work but preferably do it from home, if it has to be done in an office, well and good.

For Techy work?

fatchops · 07-04-2009 10:09AM

yeah, tender packages

ConfusedTech · 07-04-2009 10:49AM

fatchops wrote: »

yeah, tender packages

To be honest, take what you can get. There is no going rate at the moment. It was approx 150 per day, but that is dropping again, as there are a lot of people available.

fatchops · 07-04-2009 10:59AM

Is that rate to cover for taxes, health stamp, expenses etc ?

ConfusedTech · 07-04-2009 11:02AM

fatchops wrote: »

Is that rate to cover for taxes, health stamp, expenses etc ?

It would be. You pay your own taxes and work out your own expenses when you work for yourself. PRSI is another thing when you are self employed. Generally costs for site visits etc are charged on to the client.

fatchops · 07-04-2009 11:39AM

Thats Grand thanks.

techyness · 07-04-2009 11:49AM

Hi all, Thanks for your thoughts on the matter. Its hard to know what to be quoting in the current market - it looks like others are of the same opinion... Went to meet the client - I have a feeling Ill be getting alot less then I would have in the past!

topcatcbr · 07-04-2009 05:12PM

Confused. Are you suggesting that people are willing to work at home for a practice for €150 per day. This seems like Very small money.

ConfusedTech · 07-04-2009 05:31PM

topcatcbr wrote: »

Confused. Are you suggesting that people are willing to work at home for a practice for €150 per day. This seems like Very small money.

Unfortunately, I am not suggesting it, it is a statement. People are doing that to keep work coming in. Unless you are in a different recession to me, I think that 150 per day is rather good compared to the dole rates and not to be snubbed.

pseudo-tech · 07-04-2009 05:40PM

topcatcbr wrote: »

Confused. Are you suggesting that people are willing to work at home for a practice for €150 per day. This seems like Very small money.

Topcat, your reality seems to be different that everyone elses. When you compare us with England where a qualified Architect may only earn 35K in certain contexts, there was a need for an adjustment here. A new reality!!!

fatchops · 07-04-2009 05:51PM

there seems to be a lot of sub-contractors now doing jobs not at cost just to keep things moving I think what you have to decide how much you need to have at the end of the day after all your deductions given the new budgetry constraints and doing everything legit, i think nixers ane about to become even more attractive especially with clients also looking for value for money

fatchops · 07-04-2009 05:53PM

fatchops wrote: »

there seems to be a lot of sub-contractors now doing jobs not at cost just to keep things moving

that should have read "at cost"

pseudo-tech · 07-04-2009 05:58PM

fatchops wrote: »

there seems to be a lot of sub-contractors now doing jobs not at cost just to keep things moving I think what you have to decide how much you need to have at the end of the day after all your deductions given the new budgetry constraints and doing everything legit, i think nixers ane about to become even more attractive especially with clients also looking for value for money

Until revenue catches up looking for unpaid taxes!!!!

ConfusedTech · 07-04-2009 06:01PM

pseudo-tech wrote: »

Topcat, your reality seems to be different that everyone elses. When you compare us with England where a qualified Architect may only earn 35K in certain contexts, there was a need for an adjustment here. A new reality!!!

Pseudo, who let you back in!

Welcome back...

We are only dropping to the level we should have been at. As you note Pseudo, 35K is a rather good salary.

We should also all remember that when working from home, and for ones-self, you have a certain level of expenses that you can charge back off the Gross income. You also have the advantage of not having to travel to work, that cost and that time. Working from home will be the new black for those trying to save and get the best value out of their house and mortgage.

pseudo-tech · 07-04-2009 06:10PM

ConfusedTech wrote: »

We are only dropping to the level we should have been at. As you note Pseudo, 35K is a rather good salary.

We should also all remember that when working from home, and for ones-self, you have a certain level of expenses that you can charge back off the Gross income. You also have the advantage of not having to travel to work, that cost and that time. Working from home will be the new black for those trying to save and get the best value out of their house and mortgage.

Yes agree with you! However, we need to ensure that we are not promoting anything illegal (nixers).

ConfusedTech wrote: »

Pseudo, who let you back in! Welcome back...

I was given ten Hail Mary's!!!

ConfusedTech · 07-04-2009 06:24PM

Agreed Pseudo, Nixers, or 'Nicksers' as the real term states, does in fact refer to doing work free of tax and under the radar. hence the reason, I wont refer to them directly. In fact, I am not a fan of the people who do work this way as for the past ten years they have been undercutting good people like myself who have to charge VAT and account for tax on the work that we quote for. All too often, the €800 euro quote comes in from 'The guy around the corner', which I could not compete with. If I was not paying tax, well then maybe I could, but I dont work that way.

All my posts, and costs, directly refer to a person who is paying and accounting for tax, but a good self employed person can find ways of working costs against their income, which is a good way of saving a few bob and making 150 a day go a long way.

pseudo-tech · 07-04-2009 06:35PM

ConfusedTech wrote: »

Agreed Pseudo, Nixers, or 'Nicksers' as the real term states, does in fact refer to doing work free of tax and under the radar. hence the reason, I wont refer to them directly. In fact, I am not a fan of the people who do work this way as for the past ten years they have been undercutting good people like myself who have to charge VAT and account for tax on the work that we quote for. All too often, the €800 euro quote comes in from 'The guy around the corner', which I could not compete with. If I was not paying tax, well then maybe I could, but I dont work that way.

All my posts, and costs, directly refer to a person who is paying and accounting for tax, but a good self employed person can find ways of working costs against their income, which is a good way of saving a few bob and making 150 a day go a long way.

Agree with you! Also it is important to note from experience, that the "guy around the corner" who undertakes to do a job for €800.00 is providing an appalling service, even with the smallest of projects! Taking into account the number of meetings required, surveys of properties, re-designs, valid planning applications etc. It's a joke really and in my opinion dumb down our profession!!

fatchops · 07-04-2009 06:37PM

I agree with both of you, the job should be priced accordingly to allow you a decent wage to live on that however shouldn't mean you have to price a couple of quid higher than a guy doing a nixer . My view is price reasonably, explain to the client exactly what they are getting and the benefit of that including your experience. yuo may not get every job but the ones you do get will allow you to live with a modicum of comfort and a clear conscience. Dont forget the title of this thread btw

Nixer Cost

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