ᐅ Is an architect really that expensive?

BeHaElJa schrieb:
I wouldn’t generalize like that... I believe that main contractors (GÜs) who have their regular subcontractors can also achieve cost advantages... (subcontractors don’t have to prepare 10 quotes, etc.)

Architects work with standard subcontractors just like main contractors (GÜ) and general contractors (GU) do. On the contrary, since the client pays the cost, quality rather than price is the main priority when selecting subcontractors.

But then you make the argument for cost-effective individual contracting meaningless.
This implies that architect-designed houses always have higher quality but also higher prices (including premium costs, since these craftsmen can choose their clients).

Good morning,

W. Pickartz schrieb:

These costs also apply to the manufacturer; they simply pass them on or may actually have lower ancillary building costs because they sell a standardized product.

This is no more universally true than

W. Pickartz schrieb:

In one word: building with an architect is not more expensive, just different.

this supposed statement.

I know of contrary examples in both approaches.

MarcWen schrieb:

You can quickly forget about the capitalized word “custom” if you want to move more than 2-3 walls.

That exists, that’s correct, but there are also many other examples.

MarcWen schrieb:

We can talk a lot here from experience, having invested much time and experienced quite a bit.

I am wondering, not for the first time, which providers are actually meant in such reports.

There are many providers—both in prefabricated and solid construction—who are quite well adapted to implementing client wishes and do not insist strictly on their standard house models. Providers who, for example, calculate the structural engineering only after submission of the planning permission / building permit without conditions.

MarcWen schrieb:

A highlight was when we requested an automatic roller shutter control for only the ground floor, as the shutters were already planned to be electric. The two necessary packages would then have cost an extra 12,000 euros, and we had them removed again.

You must have approached a relatively low-cost provider who cannot deviate economically from their standard package. In such cases, every deviation from the specification results in disproportionately higher costs than for other equipment.

MarcWen schrieb:

What you actually pay for mostly remains hidden.

That’s what specifications are for; if these are not clear, the wrong provider was contacted.

MarcWen schrieb:

For us, building should primarily be about trust, trust, and transparency.

That is what all homeowners think/hope.

MarcWen schrieb:

It is, of course, very helpful to get an architect recommended in some way.

One approach, yes. But the human factor is also important. Who your neighbor praises highly is not necessarily the best choice for your own building project.

So neither direction can be generalized. Once again, it depends.

Best regards, Bauexperte

BeHaElJa schrieb:
But that argument about cheaper individual contracts contradicts itself. It implies that architect-designed houses always have higher quality but also higher prices (including premium prices, since these craftsmen can choose their clients).

Not necessarily. It depends on what you want – at least with each contractor you have a say and can decide whether price or quality is more important. Besides, more expensive doesn’t always mean better.

merlin83 schrieb:
In my opinion, directly awarding trades is the most cost-effective way to build properly. If someone offers you a fixed price for a package of services, they will charge a premium to cover the cost risks. They will almost certainly calculate it so they come out ahead in the end. The services required for building a house are usually the same.

The general contractor usually has a few in-house workers who handle the shell construction and other labor-intensive trades for about 20 EUR gross including employer contributions per hour, while individual clients like Mrs. Lieschen Müller contract these services externally and pay 60–80 EUR per hour for craftsmen. The general contractor orders 20 houses a year from these trades, so they are considered a major client for the craftsmen. Discounts of around 50 percent compared to inquiries from individual clients like Mrs. Lieschen Müller are certainly not uncommon.

Once again, the numbers are completely made up – for 20 euros gross, I could barely get someone to work under the table... okay, that’s net pay then.

Furthermore, the argument about general contractors (GCs) with their large-scale projects and the resulting discounts is partly true, but it’s misleading to assume that the GC passes these savings directly to the client without any markup. That’s where the problem lies...

I could never have built my house with a GC – not at this size, nor for this price. However, it did require a fair amount of sweat (though less than some might imagine), nerves, and of course time – but with a traditional architect-designed house, you have much more say in the process (with all the pros and cons), you can literally handle nearly every brick yourself, and you can intervene without those annoying warranty exclusions (which are often very extensive).

Plus, you get price transparency... along with the assurance that you only pay for what is already completed.

These are my experiences with building, and I understand that this approach is not for everyone. But for the typical man, it is definitely ideal, because he usually prefers to do everything himself.

No, seriously: There is no right or wrong – everyone manages as their budget and willingness/ability allow.