ᐅ Is It Advisable to Combine an Independent Architect with a General Contractor?
Created on: 19 Sep 2017 22:40
D
Danineedshelp
Hello.
I quickly registered in this forum and am hoping for your tips and experiences.
We found and have now purchased a great building plot. According to the development plan, we were only allowed to build a simple single-family house with a pitched roof and a single storey.
Because we didn’t want that, we consulted a local architect.
With success. The development plan now allows us to have a flat roof. Since the upper floor is proportionally smaller by a certain factor, the current house design, despite having two full floors without a pitched roof, is still considered single-storey.
For us, this is a wonderful solution. The consultation with the architect was definitely worth it.
Now to my question:
We have a perfect design plan from our architect....
We want to combine the previous work of our architect with the services of a general contractor using a turnkey construction method.
The reason for this is, on the one hand, good private contacts that will likely bring a cost advantage.
On the other hand, we also prefer not to tender each trade separately… concerns about warranties, communication, coordination.
Our current idea: our architect prepares a detailed construction plan that the general contractor can then use to start work. The architect would visit the construction site occasionally, charging hourly, to supervise the execution.
The general contractor would then build turnkey according to the architect’s construction plan.
- The general contractor needs their own detailed construction plan for the cost estimate… can we skip having the architect prepare the construction plan, or is it better to pay for both to ensure that the ideas that define the house are truly implemented, even if it is frustrating?
- Our planned house is not a standard “off-the-shelf” house… the general contractor might not have enough experience to create a good detailed construction plan based on the design plan?
- Currently there is a construction boom…
the general contractor’s margin = architect’s costs for tendering the trades including site supervision???
Surely an architect costs money, but I cannot read or check detailed construction drawings to verify whether the general contractor understood all the details from a design plan.
Has anyone had experience with this combination: independent architect + general contractor?
What do you consider the most sensible approach at this point?
I am looking forward to your answers and experiences.
I quickly registered in this forum and am hoping for your tips and experiences.
We found and have now purchased a great building plot. According to the development plan, we were only allowed to build a simple single-family house with a pitched roof and a single storey.
Because we didn’t want that, we consulted a local architect.
With success. The development plan now allows us to have a flat roof. Since the upper floor is proportionally smaller by a certain factor, the current house design, despite having two full floors without a pitched roof, is still considered single-storey.
For us, this is a wonderful solution. The consultation with the architect was definitely worth it.
Now to my question:
We have a perfect design plan from our architect....
We want to combine the previous work of our architect with the services of a general contractor using a turnkey construction method.
The reason for this is, on the one hand, good private contacts that will likely bring a cost advantage.
On the other hand, we also prefer not to tender each trade separately… concerns about warranties, communication, coordination.
Our current idea: our architect prepares a detailed construction plan that the general contractor can then use to start work. The architect would visit the construction site occasionally, charging hourly, to supervise the execution.
The general contractor would then build turnkey according to the architect’s construction plan.
- The general contractor needs their own detailed construction plan for the cost estimate… can we skip having the architect prepare the construction plan, or is it better to pay for both to ensure that the ideas that define the house are truly implemented, even if it is frustrating?
- Our planned house is not a standard “off-the-shelf” house… the general contractor might not have enough experience to create a good detailed construction plan based on the design plan?
- Currently there is a construction boom…
the general contractor’s margin = architect’s costs for tendering the trades including site supervision???
Surely an architect costs money, but I cannot read or check detailed construction drawings to verify whether the general contractor understood all the details from a design plan.
Has anyone had experience with this combination: independent architect + general contractor?
What do you consider the most sensible approach at this point?
I am looking forward to your answers and experiences.
sven.conzi22 Sep 2017 14:56Our architect naturally also handled the detailed construction planning and, together with us, prepared the scope of work as well as selected the products. A chosen general contractor then constructs the house, while the architect’s site manager supervises and coordinates the work. Additionally, we have an independent building surveyor.