ᐅ Are architect and construction supervision costs really that high?

My girlfriend and I want to buy a house in the eastern part of Lower Saxony. The house itself is estimated to cost about 57,000 euros. It is a house built in 1962 with an extension from 1985.

We plan to carry out a complete renovation and basically renew everything that is necessary. This means a new heating system, windows, and a few other things.

Our maximum budget for this is 115,000 euros. Yesterday, we received the first cost estimate from our construction supervisor. Some of the work will be done as self-performed labor.

I will get details and the exact plan only today. But what makes me hesitant is that the construction supervision fees as well as the costs for the architect and the structural engineer amount to over 28,000 euros. That is more than 20 percent of the total sum.

At first glance, this seems very high. Or is that an appropriate amount for a renovation? We definitely want to get another quote from a different architect.

Finishing trades
Heating 10,500.00 euros
Sanitary installation 8,500.00 euros
Electrical installation 6,000.00 euros
Windows and patio doors 9,800.00 euros
Masonry work 15,360.00 euros
Screed 5,000 euros
Tiling including floor tiles 35 euros/m² (5 USD/sq ft) 9,200 euros
-------------------------------------
Total finishing costs I 64,300.5 euros

Extension parts
Painting work 9,800 euros
-------------------------------------
Total extension costs II 9,800 euros

Total planned construction costs from I to II 74,200 euros

III. General costs:
Demolition and earthworks. Excavator hours 7,600.00 euros
Disposal of construction debris 1,500.00 euros
Disposal of green waste and soil 750.00 euros
Inspection and renewal of sewer connections 1,800.00 euros
Renewal of control shafts 3,200.00 euros

IV. Incidental construction costs:
Construction supervision 16,400 euros
Architect 7,700 euros
Structural engineer 3,800.00 euros
Authorities (permits/fees) 1,200.00 euros
-----------------------------
Total costs III and IV 44,000 euros
Planned construction costs from I to IV 118,000 euros

Market/local adjustment of construction costs
Lower Saxony factor 1.000
Location correction factor XXXXXX 1.000
Private project factor 1.150
Correction factor total 1.150
---------------
Adjusted construction cost value 130,000.00 euros

Caution about incomplete knowledge:

If it is an architect, they "should" charge according to the HOAI... there are calculators available online where you can check it yourself...

Hello,

Koempy schrieb:

But what puzzles me is that the construction supervision costs and the fees for the architect and the structural engineer add up to more than 28,000€ (around 30,000 USD). That is over 20 percent of the total amount.

What exactly are the agreed tasks of the construction supervisor and the architect? What qualifications does the construction supervisor have?

Regards, Bauexperte

Bauexperte schrieb:
Hello,


What exactly are the agreed responsibilities of the construction supervisor and the architect? What qualifications does the construction supervisor have?

Regards, Bauexperte

The offer comes from a construction engineer who also worked as a property appraiser for our house. He is responsible for construction supervision and obtaining quotes from the various trades. Since structural and building modifications are planned, he involved an architect who is preparing the building permit / planning permission application.

So far, nothing has been signed yet.

Get rid of that price! It has to be cheaper – even considering HOAI.
Our original site manager (work phases 6-8) charged around EUR 11,000 according to HOAI, with billable costs of EUR 200,000!

Hello,

Koempy schrieb:

My girlfriend and I want to buy a house in the eastern part of Lower Saxony. The house itself should cost about 57,000 euros. It is a house from 1962 with an extension added in 1985. We want to carry out a full renovation and renew basically everything necessary. That means a new heating system, windows, and a few other things.

Total planned construction costs from phases I to II: 74,200 €
Total costs phase III: 14,850 €

Planned construction costs from phases I to III: 89,050 € as a basis for calculating construction supervision as well as architecture + structural engineering

So the offer comes from a civil engineer who also acted as an appraiser for our house. He is responsible for construction supervision and obtains quotes from the various trades. Since structural and building changes are also planned, he has brought in an architect who handles the building permit application.

Thanks for the additional information.

It is a difficult task to give an assessment remotely; especially regarding questions about fee claims. I also wonder whether you may have misunderstood the construction supervisor? Is the amount of €16,400 fixed as an absolute value (although I can’t understand how it was reached – mid-point between €75,000 and €100,000 in the table – with or without surcharges?) and then phases 6-9 are charged based on this? In my view, phases 1-5 belong to the architect’s services; the structural engineering is based on phase 5.

I have little to no experience with renovations; so it is hard for me to give advice. The €16,400 quoted for the construction supervisor – if it really is a fixed amount – still seems unrealistic to me, and I would not enter into such an arrangement. Comparing it with the supervision of a regular new build, the fees should ultimately be between €7,500 and €8,500, a comparable sum for the architect, and about €3,000 for the structural engineer.

Comparison is always useful, in almost every area of life. Find another construction supervisor, as well as an architect and structural engineer, and see what they offer you. Then you should be able to form a clearer opinion.

Regards, Bauexperte