How much for an architect?

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How much for an architect?
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bernie-woman

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 05 10:43 am Post subject: How much for an architect?

We have been told by two estate agents now that to maximise the money from our property (in order to make the big move) it would be wise to have an extension on the back of our property as many of the surrounding houses have done so.

It would be a first floor extesion creating another bedroom. My qusetion is how much should I expect to pay for an architect to draw up plans - I am guessing that the answer depends on what you are having done but I am not sure how much we should expect to pay

Also how do you find a decent architect - what should I be looking for

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45670
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 05 10:45 am Post subject: Re: How much for an architect?

bernie wrote:

Also how do you find a decent architect - what should I be looking for

It's best to find someone local in your situation, they'll know what the planning authority will and won't allow. Shouldn't be too critical for an extension, just take a look in Yellow Pages?

bernie-woman

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 05 10:48 am Post subject: Re: How much for an architect?

tahir wrote:

bernie wrote:

Also how do you find a decent architect - what should I be looking for

It's best to find someone local in your situation, they'll know what the planning authority will and won't allow. Shouldn't be too critical for an extension, just take a look in Yellow Pages?

The precedent has already been set around here - the majority of the houses in our street have had the extension done so we would not be looking for anything fancy or out of the ordinary. We have a couple of architects living in the village but am not sure how I would tell whether one is good or not or do youi not know until after you have commissioned them

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45670
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 05 11:02 am Post subject:
The only way you can tell if they're good is by speaking to people that have used 'em, do you know anybody that's had an extension done?

marigold

Joined: 02 Sep 2005
Posts: 12458
Location: West Sussex

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 05 11:24 am Post subject:

I'd ask several of the people who've already had an extension done for their advice - people usually like being asked for advice and will probably be pleased to talk to you. It doesn't matter if you don't know them already - you might make some new friends in the process

.

Gather up a few opinions, interview the possible architects, be very clear about your requirements and budget, then choose the one you feel best about. Good luck!

bernie-woman

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 05 11:39 am Post subject:

tahir wrote:

The only way you can tell if they're good is by speaking to people that have used 'em, do you know anybody that's had an extension done?

My brother has just had an extension done - hence the question - the architect he used lives in the village where I live and was recommended to him and he was not brilliant - stalled on sending in the plans for approval - didn't seem to understand all of the building regs amongst other things.

However, there are two extensions going on round here at the moment and I will take your advice and go and have a chat to the owners and see what I can find out

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 05 12:12 pm Post subject:
We paid our architect �800 for the house. mind you, he was craaaaaap.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45670
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 05 12:15 pm Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

he was craaaaaap.

In what way though? In my experience there are all sorts of crap they can be, not understanding the brief, not communicating well with client/builder/planning, inept at design etc...

I think it's sometimes a case of finding the least worst option.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 05 12:21 pm Post subject:

When I hired and architect/structural engineer (recommended by the council unofficially) to produced the plans for works to the front of our house I found several basic errors when checking them over, but that doesn't seem unusual from what I hear.

If you would like to get some ideas pop along to your local council's planning dept you can view all the old plans. You can also note down the architects names and possibly ask the people who live in the houses what they think.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 05 12:28 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

In what way? Well his first drawing was 800 square foot too big although we had specified the size and designed it ourselves so he was quite clear on what was required.

He forgot to inform bulding control of the start date, and lied to us that he had. he missed the steel beams that hold our roof up from the detailed plans, he forgot to get the electricity connection approved until 8 months after I had given him a cheque to so so and repeatedly lied that he had, thus delaying my completion by 8 weeks (at a cost of �760 rent to us) and causing us to move into a home with no power. He sent the wrong form to the environmental agency thus delaying the consent to discharge, he never, ever returned my calls. he wore a lemon shirt any shiny shoes to a site meeting when we only had the founds dug.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 05 12:34 pm Post subject:
So he's not getting a Christmas hamper then? These things do make you think if you could do just as good a job yourself. Are the professional bodies he belongs to interested in all the problems?

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45670
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 05 12:34 pm Post subject:
Well he seems to have covered all the different definitions of crap, a rare find, well done

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 05 12:38 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

So he's not getting a Christmas hamper then? These things do make you think if you could do just as good a job yourself. Are the professional bodies he belongs to interested in all the problems?

If my experience of professional bodies holds up then no. The thing is we designed the house, we are happy with it and he is just a necessary inconvenience I would rather forget and enjoy what we have. Oh yes, so far I've only paid him half his fee.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 05 12:39 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

Well he seems to have covered all the different definitions of crap, a rare find, well done

He actually excelled at crapivity, mind you everyone else on the job were real professionals, so i got lucky.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 05 9:56 am Post subject:
We are currently using a Shropshire firm called Pidduck & Whittaker for the work on our village hall. They got the planning permission through in double wuick time and have been really helpful. You could find out more from them, but as the building hasn't started yet you could also wait and see how that phase goes...

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