ᐅ Comparability of Costs: Architect vs. General Contractor
Created on: 4 Mar 2021 16:57
A
askforafriend
Hello dear forum,
We are currently in the planning phase for a single-family house. We have requested quotes from several general contractors and have also spoken with a very approachable architect. We would be happy to present our building project (BVH) in detail at a later stage!
Overall, we much prefer the transparency and approach of the architect compared to the initial consultation with the general contractor. We understand that over time, we will also speak with an architect/planner through the general contractor who will discuss details with us. We have thoroughly researched the advantages and disadvantages both in this forum and through various guides.
At this stage, our main focus is on comparing the cost estimates from the general contractors versus the architect. The general contractor states the costs as a fixed price (based on the building and scope of services description) plus our additional requests (extra electrical outlets, KfW standard, etc.). A rough total for the house including additional requests was, for example, 410,000 euros. This naturally also includes architectural/planning/engineering services according to the scope of work description.
Land leveling.
Discussions about your building project together with you during planning and construction meetings. Preparation of building permit/planning permission documents at a scale of 1:100 in the required number of copies for the authorities.
You will receive an additional set of plans for your personal records.
Development of working drawings (scale 1:50) as well as any necessary detailed drawings.
Creation of structural engineering plans (standard structural design for the respective house type) including any required building physics reports for thermal and fire protection.
Calculation of energy demand and preparation of the energy performance certificate. A copy will be provided for your records.
Preparation of public funding applications, if required.
Site management and construction supervision up to handover of the house.
Support during the warranty period.
When we first met with the architect, he took out a book labeled BKI to provide a rough estimate of the feasibility of the building project based on this data. He calculated roughly 3,000 euros per square meter and 150 square meters (1,615 square feet) of living space, resulting in a total of 450,000 euros.
The big question now is: Does this amount exclude his fees or do these average construction costs per square meter already include the services mentioned above? This might be a somewhat naive question, but it’s really unclear to us. Is there a list of costs that are included in these average rates?
We have an appointment with him next week for a more detailed cost assessment.
Thank you very much for your feedback, and I wish you a pleasant week.
We are currently in the planning phase for a single-family house. We have requested quotes from several general contractors and have also spoken with a very approachable architect. We would be happy to present our building project (BVH) in detail at a later stage!
Overall, we much prefer the transparency and approach of the architect compared to the initial consultation with the general contractor. We understand that over time, we will also speak with an architect/planner through the general contractor who will discuss details with us. We have thoroughly researched the advantages and disadvantages both in this forum and through various guides.
At this stage, our main focus is on comparing the cost estimates from the general contractors versus the architect. The general contractor states the costs as a fixed price (based on the building and scope of services description) plus our additional requests (extra electrical outlets, KfW standard, etc.). A rough total for the house including additional requests was, for example, 410,000 euros. This naturally also includes architectural/planning/engineering services according to the scope of work description.
Land leveling.
Discussions about your building project together with you during planning and construction meetings. Preparation of building permit/planning permission documents at a scale of 1:100 in the required number of copies for the authorities.
You will receive an additional set of plans for your personal records.
Development of working drawings (scale 1:50) as well as any necessary detailed drawings.
Creation of structural engineering plans (standard structural design for the respective house type) including any required building physics reports for thermal and fire protection.
Calculation of energy demand and preparation of the energy performance certificate. A copy will be provided for your records.
Preparation of public funding applications, if required.
Site management and construction supervision up to handover of the house.
Support during the warranty period.
When we first met with the architect, he took out a book labeled BKI to provide a rough estimate of the feasibility of the building project based on this data. He calculated roughly 3,000 euros per square meter and 150 square meters (1,615 square feet) of living space, resulting in a total of 450,000 euros.
The big question now is: Does this amount exclude his fees or do these average construction costs per square meter already include the services mentioned above? This might be a somewhat naive question, but it’s really unclear to us. Is there a list of costs that are included in these average rates?
We have an appointment with him next week for a more detailed cost assessment.
Thank you very much for your feedback, and I wish you a pleasant week.
W
WilderSueden6 Mar 2021 21:14Most of these requests should be clarified before signing the contract: sewer work, ceiling height, roof overhang, roller shutters, special patio doors, additional electrical outlets are predictable and must definitely be included during the quotation phase. It is also difficult to compare different offers if they include completely different standards.
11ant schrieb:
I completely agree with this saying regarding anyone under 70. This certainly applies to some, but it has been the general approach for all the homeowners I know.
askforafriend schrieb:
Wow – was this mostly not included in your original budget? Who helped you with that, or did you just make a rough estimate? Before signing the contract with the general contractor, did you already have any change orders to better assess the price, or did the additional requests only come after the contract was signed? We had the quote prepared for a turnkey house according to the scope of work description.
The only items that were included “immediately” in the budget were the electric exterior roller shutters, the rigid reinforced slab foundation, and the sewer work.
All other items came up gradually during the planning and discussions.
Since these items didn’t all appear at once but rather were added piece by piece, there was always the feeling of “oh, that’s still manageable.” In the end, almost all of these items came up after signing the contract. However, we always have the option to cancel or change any of them.
From the beginning, though, we knew it would definitely be more expensive than initially anticipated or planned, so these things were basically already factored into the contingency budget in some way.
WilderSueden schrieb:
Most of these requests should be clarified before signing the contract: sewer work, ceiling height, roof overhang, roller shutters, special patio doors, additional power outlets are predictable and definitely belong in the offer phase. It’s also difficult to compare different offers when they include completely different standards. It’s good if you know all this in advance.
For example, we only decided on the lift-and-slide doors later. We hadn’t really considered the roof overhang beforehand, and regarding the floor-to-ceiling heights, we initially thought the standard would be sufficient. Like many homeowners, our requirements and wishes changed again during the planning phase.
We also had additional outlets in mind and had, for example, budgeted an “extra” amount for the electrical work beyond the standard scope of work.
In the end, you can still decide on these additional things after signing or cancel them if they become too expensive or if financing depends on it. At least we documented this in writing.
For us, that’s absolutely fine because we are still somewhat below our budget limit for the house 🙂
Yaso2.0 schrieb:
For us, it is absolutely fine since we are still a bit below our budget for the house 🙂 It’s important to include a buffer for things like this. At the beginning, you can’t foresee everything, and that’s actually a good thing, as it allows you to make decisions little by little. 🙂
Yaso2.0 schrieb:
That may be true for some, but it has been the principle for all the homeowners I know.The common saying that you only build once is still very much alive—I see it often here, even from "young people." But in reality, it increasingly turns out to be a relic from a time when people rarely lived to be ninety, and the district official could personally congratulate them. Things change.https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
askforafriend6 Mar 2021 23:28ypg schrieb:
You should always include a buffer for something like this. You can’t foresee everything at the beginning, and it’s actually good to be able to make decisions little by little 🙂 We’re really looking forward to it too 🙂 🙂
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