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...
M
MachsSelbst15 Mar 2026 23:38Ohropax schrieb:
Oh, the things people want... Said the one who gave an architect 15,000 EUR upfront 😀 😀
With the window manufacturer, it was about 120 EUR, so I actually took the risk, and even then I basically got screwed because the guy was there for 10 minutes, moved two screws, talked nonsense… I paid for one hour on site plus travel time 😉
But the fact remains… you think you know everything better, you’ve consulted lawyers, you supposedly have the original CAD files, and so on.
What exactly are you expecting here?
Ohropax schrieb:
I might have wanted to assign you a task, but you quickly called me "stupid," and that is not a good foundation for a trusting business relationship. At first, I intended to help you willingly; and when I clearly label actions as stupid, I mean the actions themselves. Your constant focus on the assigned roles "poor Ohropax vs. evil architect" without any verifiable facts then created "no good foundation for a trusting business relationship." Sometimes it is healthier to withdraw a helping hand again.
MachsSelbst schrieb:
The idea that companies have an obligation to provide services upfront is simply nonsense. That would also mean a duty to take on masochistic risk. Any contractor naively assuming every client is honest should always have their insolvency filing papers in their wallet and could program their GPS to the Salvation Army soup kitchen for their employees. There is an interesting ;-) overlap between delinquent payers, the loudest advocates for consumer protection, and those who block objective verification of their "victim status." As a volunteer debt counselor, I know real people who pastors might consider fairy tale characters—at least the Protestant ones, since Catholics know the truth from the confessional.
MachsSelbst schrieb:
When I had to call a window installer to adjust the windows, they also wanted 100% payment in advance. It was practically vandalism to readjust the windows if the customer paid with a bounced check. The enjoyment of a service often cannot be reversed. There are real experts in delayed payments and demands for price reductions. Sensitive responses to early signs are necessary. By the way, I have very few payment defaults, which is closely related to good clients.
kbt09 schrieb:
The question is really what counts as that. Just because someone presents a written contract draft doesn’t necessarily mean it qualifies as a “pre-formulated contractual condition” according to the rules. You didn’t have to accept it; you could have renegotiated, etc. Standard forms are there “to be crossed out,” but if they are good, they only contain few phrases that might not be ideal for the specific case. And you can always add to them.
Signing a slapdash three-line note on a beer coaster and then complaining later that it disadvantaged the poor end consumer is unnecessary and arguably unfair.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
H
hanghaus202316 Mar 2026 11:19Ohropax schrieb:
"Unfortunately," the design belongs to her. I hope that after the cancellation, this will somehow be "settled" and that it will then belong to me. I thought she only drew what you wanted anyway. Is the design so creative that it counts as a special service? Have my comments about the minor changes been taken into account?
kbt09 schrieb:
You didn’t have to accept, you could have renegotiated, etc. I could have declined but not renegotiated. The 15,000 euros were already listed and the statement was basically, take it or leave it. The architect uses this template with every client, her own words. It doesn’t get more standardized than that. Anyway, if in doubt, the lawyers are supposed to resolve it. The burden of proof lies with the architect—good luck proving otherwise :-)MachsSelbst schrieb:
It was about 120 EUR at the window manufacturer Out of the way, low earners!
MachsSelbst schrieb:
But that doesn’t change… you think you know better, consulted lawyers’ opinions, supposedly have the original CAD files, etc. I don’t claim to know everything better, but your other points are correct.
MachsSelbst schrieb:
What exactly are you expecting here? Ah, okay, you didn’t understand what this is about. I want to know if anyone has had similar experiences and how they managed to get out of the contract.
Can you contribute anything on this topic?
11ant schrieb:
Signing a careless three-line note on a coaster and later complaining that it disadvantaged the poor end consumer is unnecessary and questionable in terms of fairness. That is consumer protection law. I didn’t create it, but I’m happy to use it. It was good that I signed the document, as that’s probably the only way I can get out of the situation.