Builders Quotes Way Over The Budget Specified To Architect

Tomato2 wrote: »

..My issue is with the architect, whom we employed to redesign the layout of the house, add an extension & submit planning permssion, he asked us what our budget was, then went ahead and created drawings which we now find out are going to cost over 1.5 times the budget....Do I have any come back on the service the architect provided?

Please go and talk to the Architect, to find out where the confusion lies. It would be a shame if the Architect had not got the chance to explain how he arrived at the design he got with the budget given. Four quotes are not altogether representative of an average costing.

Not saying that it is the case in the op's instance, but often people are not willing to pay for Quantity Surveying services when doing domestic work (or smaller commercial work for that matter). In fact there are many not willing to pay proper design fees.

I find that there is an attitude of get some quotes based on sketch designs, rather than pay for a QS which doesn't really work.

The designer, in this case may have designed the works to the budget based on their experience of previous projects, as you did say there was one quote of 110,000. Furthermore the design brief may have changed during the project. Really you need to talk to your architect. It could be a case that they are as surprised as you are with the costs.

Tomato2 wrote: »

BYW - The quote we got for 110k - I would not get this guy to build a dog kennel for me never mind an extension.

I have to say I find it ridiculous that you wasted someones time getting them to quote when you had no intention of ever using this person no matter what his cost was.

I price projects for builders on a daily basis and the cost of tendering is extensive given that you may price a number of tenders before you win one. It should also be pointed out that in most cases you will also have wasted an electricians time, plumbers time and also many others.

I don't know what you work at but I am sure you would not be too impressed if someone asked you to do something and you later found it in the bin.

Your working to a tight budget on your property, how does he get the cost of doing your tender back?

Don't go with those quotes, your architect wouldn't have lead you that much astray, I believe they are just very high quotes but I need some help with understanding what you are looking for.

I think you are trying to build an extension and renovating, and you are not building a house for 2484 sq ft and that your house will be 2484 sq ft after the extension??? Is this right?

If the existing floor space = 1636 sq ft and the new proposed floor space is 2484 sq ft including a garage then am I right in thinking the extension is 848 sq ft including a garage?

The garage is 250 sq ft? That's not so big, it is 1/10th the size of what your house will be. Now is it going to be a granny flat or summer house or an office or just a garage? Cause garages are cheap.

My wife and I live in Galway and are looking at quotes for building a house. The max quote we got so far is 88 euro per sq ft and we are going with a builder who will do it for 73 euro per sq foot but with some stuff to finish. These includes allot of external work which would knock 10k off the overall quote to build if it wasn't needed. Remember, you don't need to do much with the old part of your house. It is mainly cosmetic (you don't need plumbing or foundations etc etc.)

The extension to the side of your house is going to be 848 - 250 (garage) = 598 sq ft.

So take 598 sq foot and 95 euro per sq foot for builders finish and take it as 80 euro a sq foot for the garage (these are high figures for where I live as it is better to calculate high) meaning it should cost you 76810 euro for the extension and garage. This gives you 23k for the remaining renovations to the old part of your house. That is very do-able.

Other options would be a log cabin extension and garage. These would be cheaper but I don't know if you can get a log cabin extension for that size. You can simply Google log cabin and finds 100s of companies. One thing to note is that they will totally change the appearance of what your house.

It would be cheaper still to convert your attic space, if that is an option for you.

Or if you have the time and don't mind gaining a few wrinkles you could cut out the contractor and higher everyone yourself. Buy a homebond book on how to build (or get it from your local library) as these books explain allot on building a house and would tell you what you need and who you need. You could save costs if you are clever on who you hire and be careful with wastage.

Your budget to build is (100000k / 848 sq ft 114 euro a sq ft which was last year’s quote to build so the extension alone you should have been able to build it at the time you were talking to the architect. Your architect should have noted this or advised you of this. Now times have changed. As I said we are going with a local builder for 73 euro a sq ft and the max we are getting is 88 euro a sq ft so keep looking. It is a great time to build.

This is all based on the info provided and I don't know the spec list or if in fact the extension is 2400 sq ft (although this would be a very big extension.) I believe it is very do-able under your budget. Don't give up and go get new quotes. Meet with the builders and tell them your budget and what you want and what you can live without. It helps to cut costs too. Even go to builders in another county or area. Builders are in dept now and need to cover costs and they also need to keep going and to try and keep their staff on as there is very little going at the mo. so you will get a good deal.

The architect should have seen that you couldn't have managed to build the extension and have money left over to do all what you want to do with the rest of the house. But in relation to the way things went you have no grounds to go after them as you can get the building work down under your budget.

Best of luck and keep us updated if you get any more info or quotes.

Hi all,

It's now 2015 and I've a similar issue. I may just be in a state of panic as I've gone to tender with full tender drawings provided by our Arc. and received back one coming in at 195K for a renovation (pluming, electrics, new window,doors floor, ex insulation) to existing building 1449 Sq foot. Also a demo of a garage utility to be rebuilt as a new 513 sq foot extension including a first floor space for a bathroom and WIW. The budget is roughly 150K with 100 PSQF to new build/demo and 70 PSF to existing. This includes a kitchen fit out.

Located in Munster. (not cork).

AM I Dreaming??? Would a QS help me at this stage????

One page word doc only figure was the price....!!?? Suspect it was a polite rejection..