ᐅ The architect has become emotional and does not want to continue. How should I proceed now?
Created on: 11 Mar 2026 17:41
O
Ohropax
Hello,
I hired an architect in the Stuttgart metropolitan area to design a single-family house and submit the building permit / planning permission application (service phases 1-4). The architect immediately received an advance payment of 15,000 euros without doing anything.
Service phases 1-2 were basically skipped; at least, I did not receive a project schedule, summaries, cost estimates, or a timetable. She basically spent all her time working only on the design.
The first design was unusable! Our budget is 750,000 euros, which was communicated both verbally and in writing. According to three construction companies, realizing the design would have required 1.25 million euros.
So a new design was created, but it contained so many practical mistakes (corridor too narrow, wardrobe not deep enough, kitchen wall too narrow for a sliding door, ceiling heights too low, bathrooms too small), and many more. An unbelievable number of errors, which you wouldn’t normally expect from an architect (at least I didn’t). The design is now in its 10th iteration because we repeatedly had to point out illogical corners, incorrectly placed windows, etc. Many of the changes were contributed by construction companies and included in the design because it was otherwise not suitable.
It was agreed with the architect that the remaining amount of about 15,000 euros would be paid before submitting the building permit / planning permission application. However, this is too risky for us because the architect’s work is very poor technically, and we fear the application will not be approved as is. The architect charged fee zone IV for a simple single-family house and noted this in the invoice. Is that correct?
Our proposal is to pay the 15,000 euros only after approval. The architect has now completely lost it, refuses to submit the application, and demands 12,000 euros for the design.
I actually did the design myself, and she just used the software. I was not advised. She simply implemented things without pointing out poor practicality. As a layperson, I am not familiar with this and expect advice; that is part of the architect’s job, isn’t it?
What should I do now? I am emotionally exhausted...
I hired an architect in the Stuttgart metropolitan area to design a single-family house and submit the building permit / planning permission application (service phases 1-4). The architect immediately received an advance payment of 15,000 euros without doing anything.
Service phases 1-2 were basically skipped; at least, I did not receive a project schedule, summaries, cost estimates, or a timetable. She basically spent all her time working only on the design.
The first design was unusable! Our budget is 750,000 euros, which was communicated both verbally and in writing. According to three construction companies, realizing the design would have required 1.25 million euros.
So a new design was created, but it contained so many practical mistakes (corridor too narrow, wardrobe not deep enough, kitchen wall too narrow for a sliding door, ceiling heights too low, bathrooms too small), and many more. An unbelievable number of errors, which you wouldn’t normally expect from an architect (at least I didn’t). The design is now in its 10th iteration because we repeatedly had to point out illogical corners, incorrectly placed windows, etc. Many of the changes were contributed by construction companies and included in the design because it was otherwise not suitable.
It was agreed with the architect that the remaining amount of about 15,000 euros would be paid before submitting the building permit / planning permission application. However, this is too risky for us because the architect’s work is very poor technically, and we fear the application will not be approved as is. The architect charged fee zone IV for a simple single-family house and noted this in the invoice. Is that correct?
Our proposal is to pay the 15,000 euros only after approval. The architect has now completely lost it, refuses to submit the application, and demands 12,000 euros for the design.
I actually did the design myself, and she just used the software. I was not advised. She simply implemented things without pointing out poor practicality. As a layperson, I am not familiar with this and expect advice; that is part of the architect’s job, isn’t it?
What should I do now? I am emotionally exhausted...
11ant schrieb:
There can hardly be a clearer warning to leave immediately. That's true, I was too trusting. But that doesn’t help me now, since it’s part of the terms and conditions.
11ant schrieb:
I already said: you consistently fail to provide proof that this is even an architect’s contract. Who do I have to prove what to? The architect has to prove that there is a contract. Not me.
11ant schrieb:
But the architect has no obligation to enter into a contract; there are no mandatory engagements for architects. The architect agreed to proceed with this; she can’t just back out without reason.
11ant schrieb:
Clients with poor payment ability or ethics, unfortunately, are a different matter. Are you referring to me? The architect is obliged to provide services upfront. My payment record is excellent. I deposited 15,000 euros (about $16,000) immediately before she even made a single draft.
11ant schrieb:
Isn’t it understandable that we start to have doubts? What exactly are you doubting?
11ant schrieb:
That’s what the fee-required private consultation is for. You should be very polite during client acquisition, otherwise it won’t work out.
H
hanghaus202315 Mar 2026 17:33Have you agreed on deadlines? If so, you can issue a formal reminder. Otherwise, send a notice to perform the contract with a deadline. You can rightfully withhold the remaining payment until the contract is fulfilled. You have already made the advance payment as agreed in the contract. If this does not help, you can terminate the contract due to non-performance. Your contractor can create their own plan based on the work already done (which of course should not be identical, but at least correct some errors and incorporate standard dimensions for their building design, for example) and submit the building permit / planning permission application. That definitely should not cost 15,000.
hanghaus2023 schrieb:
Did you agree on any deadlines? No, but the architect said she wants to issue the final invoice now and put a lot of pressure on me. I asked her to provide a detailed list and send me the invoice. She did that—an invoice for the remaining full fee, so 100%, even before I had seen the building permit / planning permission. Then everything escalated.
Tomorrow I will send a formal notice by registered mail to set a deadline and then terminate the contract for good cause. Unfortunately, the design belongs to her. I hope that after termination there will be some kind of compensation, so that it will become mine.
It’s frustrating that I now have to find another architect (the general contractor is somehow reluctant to submit the building permit / planning permission...) just because she is breaching the contract. Thanks for your clear and helpful response!!
Ohropax schrieb:
That’s true, I was too trusting there. But it saves me now because it’s in the terms and conditions. The trustfulness certainly seems to persist in the present as well.
Ohropax schrieb:
Who do I have to prove what to? The architect has to prove that it’s a contract. Not me. It is certainly a contract. But whether it’s a visualization agreement or an architectural services contract, you leave that unclear.
Ohropax schrieb:
The architect agreed to the matter, she can’t just back out. Correct, she entered into the contract and has to fulfill it. If you want to claim poor or non-performance, that responsibility is on you.
Ohropax schrieb:
Are you referring to me? The architect is obligated to provide services upfront. My payment behavior is top-notch. I put 15,000 Euros down immediately before she drew a single line. Fraudsters also pay quickly at first, so that means nothing. And no, I have questioned her obligation to perform in advance. You agreed on an advance fee installment—which without a payment schedule leaves no clarity about when it will be used up. Phases 1 through 4 account for a total of 27 percentage points, with phase 4 being only the last three. Logically, by basic calculation, that phase should also fall into the second installment. If you didn’t agree with that, you should have specified it in the contract.
Ohropax schrieb:
What are you doubting? First, Yvonne doubted your design competence, and I join that doubt for the known reason. And as mentioned, your “reserve” about the overall perspective very much fuels doubts regarding the objectivity of the presentation.
Ohropax schrieb:
When acquiring clients, you really have to be friendly, or else it won’t work. Some clients are simply better not targeted for acquisition. The others appreciate my straightforward approach. Currently, my schedule is fully booked through May, and that’s a good thing. I also want to take a holiday, which I postponed extensively last year.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
Ohropax schrieb:
I will send a formal notice by registered mail tomorrow to set the deadline and then terminate for cause. Unfortunately, the draft belongs to her. I hope that after the termination it will somehow be "settled" and then belong to me.
It frustrates me that I now have to look for another architect (the general contractor seems reluctant to have the building permit / planning permission submitted...), just because she is breaching the contract. Thanks for your clear and helpful response!! That must be quite a contract (still confidential) if it means that your contribution and that of the general contractor are supposed to belong to her as well. As I said, based on my understanding of your description, she was just an employee, nothing more.
The fact that the general contractor is not interested in phase 4 of the services should raise concerns. It suggests he has reservations about proceeding with the construction.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
11ant schrieb:
Certainly, it is a contract. But whether it is a visualization contract or an architect contract, you leave that unclear. The contract states that the architect is commissioned with the design and the planning for the building permit. That’s all!
11ant schrieb:
And no, I have not doubted her obligation to perform in advance. That’s nonsense. It’s clearly stated in the very first sentence: progress payments.
11ant schrieb:
If you don’t agree with that, you should have included it in the contract. You have misunderstood the consequences of §307 of the Building Code (Baugesetzbuch).
11ant schrieb:
At first, Yvonne questioned your planning expertise, and for the well-known reason, I agree. And as I said, your "restraint" regarding the overall perspective almost certainly raises doubts about the objectivity of your presentation. You have a trust issue. Have you ever considered therapy?
11ant schrieb:
Some clients are better not acquired. The rest appreciate my clear stance. Currently, my schedule is full until May, and that’s a good thing. I also want to take a vacation, which I postponed for a long time last year. It’s a pity you no longer have time to take on my mandate.
11ant schrieb:
The fact that the general contractor (GC) is not interested in phase 4 planning should give cause for thought. That indicates concerns on his part regarding the execution. That’s exactly what I have been writing and suspecting all along. That’s why, at this point in time, I don’t want to pay 100%. That’s why the architect is applying so much pressure.
Similar topics