ᐅ The Same Old Problem – Turnkey Contracting vs. Individual Contracts

• An architect is usually the best choice when the client wants to be very involved in the process (see arguments from klblb or also nordanney’s better half). Building a house with an architect also allows for changes in the contract award later in the process, more so than in a traditional general contractor / main contractor (GC) approach.
• With the classic GC/main contractor model, every client needs to learn to distinguish between low-cost providers and reputable ones; this usually becomes clear after a maximum of two meetings and browsing well-known forums. The low-cost provider will always end up charging more for additions like an extra socket than the reputable provider. It is also usually easier with reputable providers— with the contractor’s approval— to expand individual contracts directly with the tradespeople.
• The fittings and fixtures shouldn’t be the main concern. These can be addressed early on, and desired changes can be implemented, naturally at extra or reduced cost. It is also always possible, for example, to exclude trades such as tiling (which is often a key issue) or sanitary fittings completely from the contract and then look for “own” tradespeople independently.

Bauexperte schrieb:
And before anyone believes that an architect doesn’t also put their contractors under pressure, they might as well believe in Santa Claus

klblb schrieb:
@ypg
You don’t have to believe me, it’s just the way it is. I don’t want to convince anyone here, nor do I want you to tell me how you think an architect builds.
It’s simply the nature of things that when working with an architect on individual contracts, you have much more influence than with any other approach (general contractor / design-build contractor / developer, etc.)

klblb schrieb:

Your statement

shows that you have little understanding of an architect’s work.
An architect is definitely responsible, for example, to ensure that thermal bridges do not occur. Only they have the overall perspective that the individual trades cannot have. They define how elements like rafters, insulation, windows, various construction membranes, vapor barriers, and roof waterproofing are installed at critical points. They specify what the trades must carry out and in which order.

klblb schrieb:
[USER=12491]And if you think that tradespeople build according to the current state of the art, you are very, very naive. There may be exceptions, but regarding continuing education and knowledge of new technical standards, norms, and guidelines, tradespeople generally are not role models. However, they are often very good at convincing you that they know what they’re doing.

ypg schrieb:
But you don’t actually want to read; instead, you dismiss or devalue the architect outright. You refuse to accept that a general contractor (GC) is equivalent, just different.....