ᐅ Offer from architect/engineer, building owner protection association
Created on: 26 Feb 2019 13:01
T
Temper1789
Hello everyone,
We are from central Hesse and decided to build a house about two years ago. I am new here and already appreciate any tips.
After a long search, we finally found a plot of land that satisfies us. Since we have many skilled tradespeople (electricians, plumbers, plasterers, heating engineers, painters, masons) in our family and friends circle, we want an architect to design the house and supervise the shell construction (earthworks, masonry, concrete work, roof). We will contract the other trades ourselves.
Architect/Engineer:
I contacted an architect who sent me an offer that also includes engineering services for thermal insulation/energy and structural calculations. All prices are gross.
1) €4,000.00 for the basis, preliminary design, and draft planning, including cost estimates for the bank
2) €6,000.00 for planning permission / building permit
3) €2,400.00 for shell construction supervision and acceptance (only supervision of masonry and concrete work. The service description does not mention awarding orders for the shell builder, earthworks contractor, or carpenter. I still need to ask about this.)
4) €3,600.00 for structural calculations and thermal insulation certification
Total €16,000.00 gross.
What do you think about this offer? I find the second service quite expensive. We have not accepted it yet and are still waiting for responses from other architects.
Associations for Homeowner Protection:
We definitely plan to have contracts and offers reviewed by a building expert and/or a lawyer. For our construction project, is it helpful to register with the Homeowners’ Protection Association or the Private Builders Association? The membership fees aren’t too high to afford, but I still don’t see the advantage of using those associations as intermediaries for experts or lawyers.
1) Most experts are either civil engineers or architects themselves. Since we already have an architect, I could have their offer checked by an expert. Then our architect supervises the construction site until the shell is completed. After that, we can still hire him to review the remaining services.
2) A friend told me that he paid an expert from the Private Builders Association – which I was also considering – €500.00 for reviewing the contract with the general contractor. In addition, about €2,000.00 for five inspection visits including travel costs (25 km (15.5 miles) away). I really don’t see a price advantage there. Their fee rates on the website and on the Private Builders Association’s page are the same.
What is your opinion on this?
Thank you
We are from central Hesse and decided to build a house about two years ago. I am new here and already appreciate any tips.
After a long search, we finally found a plot of land that satisfies us. Since we have many skilled tradespeople (electricians, plumbers, plasterers, heating engineers, painters, masons) in our family and friends circle, we want an architect to design the house and supervise the shell construction (earthworks, masonry, concrete work, roof). We will contract the other trades ourselves.
Architect/Engineer:
I contacted an architect who sent me an offer that also includes engineering services for thermal insulation/energy and structural calculations. All prices are gross.
1) €4,000.00 for the basis, preliminary design, and draft planning, including cost estimates for the bank
2) €6,000.00 for planning permission / building permit
3) €2,400.00 for shell construction supervision and acceptance (only supervision of masonry and concrete work. The service description does not mention awarding orders for the shell builder, earthworks contractor, or carpenter. I still need to ask about this.)
4) €3,600.00 for structural calculations and thermal insulation certification
Total €16,000.00 gross.
What do you think about this offer? I find the second service quite expensive. We have not accepted it yet and are still waiting for responses from other architects.
Associations for Homeowner Protection:
We definitely plan to have contracts and offers reviewed by a building expert and/or a lawyer. For our construction project, is it helpful to register with the Homeowners’ Protection Association or the Private Builders Association? The membership fees aren’t too high to afford, but I still don’t see the advantage of using those associations as intermediaries for experts or lawyers.
1) Most experts are either civil engineers or architects themselves. Since we already have an architect, I could have their offer checked by an expert. Then our architect supervises the construction site until the shell is completed. After that, we can still hire him to review the remaining services.
2) A friend told me that he paid an expert from the Private Builders Association – which I was also considering – €500.00 for reviewing the contract with the general contractor. In addition, about €2,000.00 for five inspection visits including travel costs (25 km (15.5 miles) away). I really don’t see a price advantage there. Their fee rates on the website and on the Private Builders Association’s page are the same.
What is your opinion on this?
Thank you
T
Temper178927 Feb 2019 12:20hampshire schrieb:
Anyone who chooses an architect based on price is acting as if they prefer a cheap house over a good one. Only that I didn’t know the price when I inquired.
I’m not looking for a cheap house; for our ideas and requirements, I am looking for good value for money, and that doesn’t have to mean the cheapest architect.
Do cheap houses still exist?