Hello everyone,
and in several ways at once, since I am completely new to this forum.
I am in the process of converting a former barn building (removing small windows, installing floor-to-ceiling windows; removing gates on the upper floor and installing windows instead; reroofing and insulating the roof; creating an opening for a door). I have now received a fee proposal from the architect for this:
- Preparing the building permit / planning permission application with description, building data, and property map for 1,180 EUR net, which I accept
- Plus 5% incidental costs (for copies, plotting, phone calls, etc.) at 196.65 EUR net, which seems quite high to me, but okay, maybe they print on gold paper…
What really puzzles me is the item
Transfer to CAD
3 floor plans, section, and elevations
about 24 hours of a technical employee
about 8 hours of an architect
I am very IT-savvy and quite familiar with software. When I enter the building’s floor plans into one of the common home building programs by bhv & Co, it takes me about 30 to 60 minutes, and I have to search for the needed functions. For a technical employee, I assume they know the software—probably with more detailed data input than I do in my hobby program. So, to be generous, I estimated 4 hours (200 m² (2,150 sq ft) floor area; 2 floors, although only the upper floor is relevant here, with 2 large rectangular rooms and a staircase leading up).
Why are 32 hours required for this???
I am a project manager and often hire external expertise. In principle, I am a big advocate of paying specialists who know their craft well for good performance. I come from consulting myself, and we include cushions in our offers of between 50 and 100%—but this seems to me like a buffer of over 800%. Maybe it’s because I am simply unclear about everything that must be done in those 32 hours. Can someone please explain this to me?
Thanks and best regards,
Melville
and in several ways at once, since I am completely new to this forum.
I am in the process of converting a former barn building (removing small windows, installing floor-to-ceiling windows; removing gates on the upper floor and installing windows instead; reroofing and insulating the roof; creating an opening for a door). I have now received a fee proposal from the architect for this:
- Preparing the building permit / planning permission application with description, building data, and property map for 1,180 EUR net, which I accept
- Plus 5% incidental costs (for copies, plotting, phone calls, etc.) at 196.65 EUR net, which seems quite high to me, but okay, maybe they print on gold paper…
What really puzzles me is the item
Transfer to CAD
3 floor plans, section, and elevations
about 24 hours of a technical employee
about 8 hours of an architect
I am very IT-savvy and quite familiar with software. When I enter the building’s floor plans into one of the common home building programs by bhv & Co, it takes me about 30 to 60 minutes, and I have to search for the needed functions. For a technical employee, I assume they know the software—probably with more detailed data input than I do in my hobby program. So, to be generous, I estimated 4 hours (200 m² (2,150 sq ft) floor area; 2 floors, although only the upper floor is relevant here, with 2 large rectangular rooms and a staircase leading up).
Why are 32 hours required for this???
I am a project manager and often hire external expertise. In principle, I am a big advocate of paying specialists who know their craft well for good performance. I come from consulting myself, and we include cushions in our offers of between 50 and 100%—but this seems to me like a buffer of over 800%. Maybe it’s because I am simply unclear about everything that must be done in those 32 hours. Can someone please explain this to me?
Thanks and best regards,
Melville
Melville schrieb:
I am very tech-savvy and also quite familiar with software. When I enter the building floor plans into one of the common home design programs from bhv&Co, it takes me about 30–60 minutes, and I have to search for the required features.My assessment:
An architect does not use common home design programs but expensive CAD software. Training, knowledge, and expertise, as well as software and hardware and fixed costs (rent, electricity, etc.) must be factored into project fees and hourly rates.
Okay, regarding the calculated hours: since entering and revising building plans in CAD is not a simple home builder’s task, it takes longer. In addition, a permit-ready drawing must be produced, for which the architect has to develop and organize many other aspects. Which ones are, as laypeople, probably impossible for us to fully understand in any profession.
When I consider that for our carport, the structural calculations also had to be submitted with the building permit / planning permission application ... 🙄 ... any doubt becomes pointless!
ypg schrieb:
My assessment:
...In addition, a permit-ready drawing is required, for which the architect has to develop and organize many other things. As laypeople, we probably cannot fully understand what these are, which is common in any industry...Yes, that is correct – and this is a separate item in the quote:
"Preparation of the building permit application including description and building data, as well as site plan
approx. 10 hours of a technical staff member
approx. 6 hours of an architect"
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