ᐅ Experiences with Building a House Using an Architect on a Fixed-Price Contract?
Created on: 2 Dec 2018 20:01
J
jawknee
Hello everyone,
I originally planned to build with a general contractor (GC), mainly because of the financial security provided by a fixed price. When working with an architect, I was always worried about unpredictable costs or that the final costs might end up being significantly higher.
Now, through acquaintances, I was recommended a local architect who also offers a fixed price like a GC (for the complete turnkey house). The only difference is, as is typical with architects, that it’s not "all in one hand" but rather separate contracts are signed with the trades, which the architect still handles the tendering process for and coordinates later. His profit would essentially be his fixed fee minus the negotiated costs with the trades.
In the first meeting, everything seemed very professional and honest, and I had a good feeling about it. The price was also in a normal range between the lower-cost GCs and the (seemingly overpriced) GCs. He even includes some items that many GCs put under additional construction costs, such as the foundation slab, removal of earth excavation, etc. The remaining additional costs included in the fixed price were roughly estimated.
That’s why I would like to build with the architect and I have already started an initial exchange regarding the floor plan.
However, I wanted to ask if anyone has experience with this model and if there’s anything I should still watch out for? Would you also engage an independent construction supervisor when building with an architect? With a GC, I definitely would, but when working with an architect, where you generally collaborate more closely, I feel like it might come across as a lack of trust.
The only thing that still makes me a bit uncertain is that the scope of services (which would also form the contract basis) is somewhat vague in places: for example, for the masonry, "energy-saving bricks...[]...brick selection is based on thermal calculation..." or for the foundation slab, "will be dimensioned according to structural requirements...". So, unlike many GCs, it does not specify in detail the thickness of the masonry or the foundation slab. However, other parts are described more precisely, similar to GCs.
The architect said that this is often clarified further during the tendering process or by the bids from trades and that it might even be more detailed than with a GC. However, the tendering only happens after I sign the house building contract. At this point, I would have to give him a vote of confidence.
On one hand, he does make a trustworthy impression and has been working according to this model for quite some time, but on the other hand, I’m a bit cautious about giving a vote of confidence when so much money is involved.
What do you think?
I originally planned to build with a general contractor (GC), mainly because of the financial security provided by a fixed price. When working with an architect, I was always worried about unpredictable costs or that the final costs might end up being significantly higher.
Now, through acquaintances, I was recommended a local architect who also offers a fixed price like a GC (for the complete turnkey house). The only difference is, as is typical with architects, that it’s not "all in one hand" but rather separate contracts are signed with the trades, which the architect still handles the tendering process for and coordinates later. His profit would essentially be his fixed fee minus the negotiated costs with the trades.
In the first meeting, everything seemed very professional and honest, and I had a good feeling about it. The price was also in a normal range between the lower-cost GCs and the (seemingly overpriced) GCs. He even includes some items that many GCs put under additional construction costs, such as the foundation slab, removal of earth excavation, etc. The remaining additional costs included in the fixed price were roughly estimated.
That’s why I would like to build with the architect and I have already started an initial exchange regarding the floor plan.
However, I wanted to ask if anyone has experience with this model and if there’s anything I should still watch out for? Would you also engage an independent construction supervisor when building with an architect? With a GC, I definitely would, but when working with an architect, where you generally collaborate more closely, I feel like it might come across as a lack of trust.
The only thing that still makes me a bit uncertain is that the scope of services (which would also form the contract basis) is somewhat vague in places: for example, for the masonry, "energy-saving bricks...[]...brick selection is based on thermal calculation..." or for the foundation slab, "will be dimensioned according to structural requirements...". So, unlike many GCs, it does not specify in detail the thickness of the masonry or the foundation slab. However, other parts are described more precisely, similar to GCs.
The architect said that this is often clarified further during the tendering process or by the bids from trades and that it might even be more detailed than with a GC. However, the tendering only happens after I sign the house building contract. At this point, I would have to give him a vote of confidence.
On one hand, he does make a trustworthy impression and has been working according to this model for quite some time, but on the other hand, I’m a bit cautious about giving a vote of confidence when so much money is involved.
What do you think?
tomtom79 schrieb:
An architect is not allowed to do this in this form; either they are a builder or an architect, An architect, in their role as an architect, is not permitted to act as a general contractor, as this is not part of their professional scope. Conversely, I see no reason why a general contractor would have to give up their status as an architect if they are also an architect themselves. Where would it say that the architect of a general contractor cannot be the same person?
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Musketier schrieb:
House at a fixed price, but billing is done directly with the individual trades.It’s not mentioned anywhere yet. I asked, but haven’t received a reply from the original poster.
ypg schrieb:
It hasn’t been mentioned anywhere yet. I asked about it but haven’t received a response from the original poster. At least that’s how I understood it:
jawknee schrieb:
I was recently recommended a local architect through some acquaintances who also offers a fixed price like a general contractor (for the complete, turnkey house). The only difference, as is typical with architects, is that it’s not “all in one package,” but individual contracts are signed with the trades, which the architect still handles the tendering for and later coordinates. His profit would essentially be his fixed price minus the costs negotiated with the trades.tomtom79 schrieb:
An architect is not allowed to do that in this form. Either they are a registered architect or not. I don’t remember the exact details, but this topic was discussed a few months ago in the blue neighbor forum.Many years ago, I handled accounting for an architect’s office.
Sole proprietorship = Architect
Limited company (Ltd) with architect as shareholder and managing director = Developer
Similar topics