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Posted by Pierre Levesque on February 7, 2007, 8:59 am
Where is this 8000SF lot? If it's in the Northeast, $800K doesn't buy much
house, especially one with tons of custom design features.
The 15% fee is very high if it doesn't include full architectural services
being, Documentation. Programming, Schematic Design, Design Development,
Contract Documents (including Construction Docs, Specifications, Bid Set,
Bid Package, Contractor Selection, Contract Preparation, DOB file set), and
full Contract Administration to administer said construction contract.
If the fee is all encompassing, the 15% could due to the architect
estimating on endless amounts of custom detailing that really eats up design
time. Also, fame does lead some architects to charge more so long as
clients are willing to pay.
I've been published and have received awards but for full services (as
described above) my fee usually caps at 10% of the construction contract.
That percentage fee is more common and more appropriate or at least more
standard.
Pierre Levesque, AIA
plevesqueATconnarchDOTcom
> Well after reading the FAQ I'm not hopeful of much light being shed on
> this but I have nothing to lose except a shreck of diginity.
>
> I'm ready to build my first house. Spent 1.1 mil on a block of about
> 8000 sq ft and have been trolling the architecture mags etc. for
> inspiration. I hate most of what I've seen. Found one design I really
> liked - it won an award, quite a prestigous one in my country. The
> design isn't suitable for my purposes but I thought hell, this guy has
> guts and vision, he could be the one for me.
>
> So I called him up and we had a meeting on site. I gave him the dream
> brief - a list of accomodation I need, a few guidelines about light,
> materials etc. that I like - and told him he could go nuts with the
> design. I want a house that might win an award. A house some people
> will hate, but I'll drive up to every night and think, man, that is some
> piece of design.
>
> I gave him a budget of 800K and he's come back with a quote of 15% plus
> plus plus (subconsultants like gardener and town planner, courier fees,
> variations etc.) So that's $120K+ for a resi project - to design, spec,
> tender and administrate. He will do concepts for $5K.
>
> I tend to think he's gone for the jugular because I flattered him for his
> award. He has a few other designs on his resume (he's probably been
> practising about 10 years), but few are finished yet. They seem
> generally OK. he works with 2 partners, one of whom I met. They talked
> the talk.
>
> I have a commercial project going at the moment where I've been quoted a
> lump sum that amounts to about 8%, for the same scope of works. Same guy
> is doing my bush retreat for about 5% but the cost will run over so he'll
> be up for more like 4%. He's competent but his designs aren't
> outstanding. On this project he quoted about 8% as well.
>
> So the short question - for an [apparently] innovative architect with one
> award and a short history, isn't 15% a bit ambitious? Would I insult him
> by querying the rate? If I pay him $5K for concepts but go no further,
> am I entitled to put his best ideas forward to the architect I eventually
> go with?
>
> Ok so that was the long question.
>
>
>
>
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