ᐅ What is included when hiring an architect? What additional costs for plans should be expected?

Hello everyone,

We are planning to build with an architect and have received a proposal from the architect that generally complies with the HOAI 2013.

However, I am wondering if the costs for additional specialist planners will be added. For example, structural engineering and building services design (are there others?), which are also separately listed in the HOAI. Or are these already included in the total fee, with the architect receiving less if these services are outsourced.

Thank you very much and best regards
exerfoe

You will still need to budget for at least:

- A geologist for the soil survey
- A structural engineer

Energy consultant, electrical planning, heating system design...
You can have a lot planned, and you might even get it reimbursed when you place the order.

Thank you in advance for the answers! What is still unclear to me is whether there are basic planning costs that are actually included in the architect’s fee – for example, structural engineering – but the work is done by a structural engineer. Are these costs then added on top of the architect’s fees according to HOAI, or does the "architect" have to deduct something because they could have done this work themselves?

The structural engineer will definitely be involved as well. The architect "only" designs the house; the planning of building services and the structural engineering are contracted separately (unless your architect can handle everything – but you would still have to pay extra). For example, our structural engineer cost around €8,000 (approximately $8,700).

Hello,

exerfoe schrieb:

We are probably planning to build with an architect and have received a proposal from the architect which seems to correspond to the HOAI 2013.

Which project phases and/or additional services have you commissioned?

exerfoe schrieb:

I wonder if the costs for additional specialist planners will be added. For example, structural engineering and technical building equipment (are there others?), which are also listed separately in the HOAI. Or are these already included in the total fee, and the architect receives less if they subcontract these services.

Apart from the fact that no one here knows exactly what you have agreed on, it is usually the case that the commissioned architect primarily focuses on their core tasks: designing plans and obtaining the building permit, and—if commissioned—preparing the detailed construction drawings.

Additionally, you will need a geotechnical engineer, since the structural calculations are based on this; meaning you will also need to hire a structural engineer. If you want precise coordination of the technical installations, you will also require a specialized structural planner.

Note: In my experience, a good architect is not automatically a good construction manager, and vice versa. You should therefore consider outsourcing this role.

And very important: only—and truly only—start the adventure of new construction with an architect if sufficient financial reserves are available. An architect provides, whatever they call it, a rough cost estimate based on their data. There are only a few architects able to state the cost of a new build with approximate accuracy. The final price of the new build only becomes clear once the last tender documents are received.

Best regards, Bauexperte