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Message
re: When building / adding onto a home - do you pay architect for a proposal?
Posted on 8/14/15 at 11:45 am to SUB
Posted on 8/14/15 at 11:45 am to SUB
quote:
It's not a huge project that involves adding onto the house, but it will require a lot of work to one big room, wiring outlets, and moving plumbing.
You may not need an architect for this project if this is all your looking at doing. We need more info here at the renovations you want done but A draftsman may be able to help. Just depends on the scope of work.
Most legit contractors will want a set of plans to go off of and you should too. You want accurate documentation of the scope of work to be done and the contractor will need that to make an accurate fair assessment.
0
Posted on 8/14/15 at 11:47 am to SUB
Any architect worth a shite won't charge you $100 for a quote/proposal.
Posted on 8/14/15 at 11:48 am to 4WHLN
As someone working on an actual major renovation (one room is not) get prepared for every architect and contractor to show up and immediately start bitching about how busy they are. I get that we are in a building boom but frick me people, act at least a little professional. I had one builder show up, I took off work to meet with him during the day, and he spent the first 30 minutes of our meeting on his phone in my living room. I finally stood up from the table and told him he was obviously too busy to work on my job and to get out. These clowns will also be throwing astronomical numbers at you since they are so "busy." Now is a horrible time to be trying to get a small job like yours done. You will either pay premium prices or be prepared to not see a sub working for long stretches of time while your job sits dormant. I am at the point where I think I am going to wait out the bubble and then call every guy I have interviewed back and let them come fight for my job while reminding them of how they have acted to this point.
Rant over I will say this. Be prepared for them to not act professional at all. My rule is no one gets paid up front. If someone needs you to put money down for "supplies" or whatever then they don't need to be working on your job. As far as the architect, if he is legit then he may very well be trying to figure out who is serious or not with the $100 charge. I could see that. I would just call him and ask straight out if that is the case. My guess is that, if he is using the $100 as a barometer, he will waive it. If he actually needs the $100 then I wouldn't want him.
Rant over I will say this. Be prepared for them to not act professional at all. My rule is no one gets paid up front. If someone needs you to put money down for "supplies" or whatever then they don't need to be working on your job. As far as the architect, if he is legit then he may very well be trying to figure out who is serious or not with the $100 charge. I could see that. I would just call him and ask straight out if that is the case. My guess is that, if he is using the $100 as a barometer, he will waive it. If he actually needs the $100 then I wouldn't want him.
Posted on 8/14/15 at 11:50 am to SUB
I'd dump the architect. Find a draftsman that will do the plans for you. Once you've got the plans done get a couple of contractors to bid it.
Posted on 8/14/15 at 11:56 am to jbgleason
quote:
As far as the architect, if he is legit then he may very well be trying to figure out who is serious or not with the $100 charge.
We usually have some sort of phone conversation/interview if you will before we head out to your home. That way we can usually weed out the people who are not really serious about their project.
Posted on 8/14/15 at 11:56 am to jbgleason
(no message)
Posted on 8/14/15 at 11:57 am to SUB
My firm never charges for a proposal. We always visit the client on site, go over exactly what needs to be done free of charge. The cost of the initial visit is incorporated into the design fee and retainer.
Any work that you ask of the architect should be clearly stated in the proposal you sign with them.
Any work that you ask of the architect should be clearly stated in the proposal you sign with them.
This post was edited on 8/14/15 at 12:01 pm
Posted on 8/14/15 at 11:57 am to crimsonsaint
Initial consultations should definitely not charge money.
Hell, as someone in the industrial construction sector, the costs of performing a bid/estimate are always incurred by the contractor/engineer. Have you tried putting together an RFQ and just emailing it to 10-15 architects to see who's interested?
Just add in some "any charges or efforts required to complete this bid will be the sole responsibility of the contractor" language and see if anyone bites. No clue if that's how it's done in residential, but I don't see how it wouldn't be unless this is just a case of architects/contractors going over people's heads because they don't know any better (which is definitely possible).
Hell, as someone in the industrial construction sector, the costs of performing a bid/estimate are always incurred by the contractor/engineer. Have you tried putting together an RFQ and just emailing it to 10-15 architects to see who's interested?
Just add in some "any charges or efforts required to complete this bid will be the sole responsibility of the contractor" language and see if anyone bites. No clue if that's how it's done in residential, but I don't see how it wouldn't be unless this is just a case of architects/contractors going over people's heads because they don't know any better (which is definitely possible).
Posted on 8/14/15 at 11:58 am to jbgleason
quote:
jbgleason
Man sounds like you've really been getting the run around. Sorry to hear but some of these guys can be some real assholes.
If you want some contractors we deal with on a regular basis that have a good reputation I can certainly throw out a couple names.
Posted on 8/14/15 at 12:00 pm to crimsonsaint
quote:
I'd dump the architect. Find a draftsman that will do the plans for you. Once you've got the plans done get a couple of contractors to bid it.
I don't like this. Unless the draftsman has either a PE or RA stamp, that's a bad idea. I mean if you want the project to go off the books without permits or inspections, that's up to you, but you will be dealing with possible zoning fines, shoddy workmanship, and no legal recourse against anyone if the project goes badly.
Posted on 8/14/15 at 12:01 pm to SUB
If you are sweating $100 already, buckle up baw
Posted on 8/14/15 at 12:03 pm to NYNolaguy1
quote:
if you want the project to go off the books without permits or inspections,
There are no issues with permits and inspections in Louisiana with a set of plans from draftsman.
Posted on 8/14/15 at 12:05 pm to SUB
quote:
businesses submit proposals to companies all the time for work, without the company spending a dime on them to do it.
This may have been addressed, but they submit proposals for work to be done later. What you are asking the architect for, is the actual work. There is the difference
Posted on 8/14/15 at 12:06 pm to SUB
quote:
It's not a huge project that involves adding onto the house, but it will require a lot of work to one big room, wiring outlets, and moving plumbing.
Why do you need an architect?
Posted on 8/14/15 at 12:06 pm to FootballNostradamus
Well, I misinterpreted the doc that the architect sent me. There is no fee. Like others said, whatever time spent in the initial meeting would be included in the total invoiced if I decide to use this architect.
Thanks everyone for the input!
Thanks everyone for the input!
Posted on 8/14/15 at 12:06 pm to SUB
quote:
The architect wants to charge us $100 for the initial meeting, to assess the current structure, and to put together a proposal.
Did you expect that he would come out, do this assessment, and put together a proposal that you may or may not follow for free?
What do you do for a living? Do you offer that service to complete strangers for no charge?
Posted on 8/14/15 at 12:07 pm to RealityTiger
quote:
Why do you need an architect?
It will involved some changes to the floorplan, though the overall structure will remain the same.
Posted on 8/14/15 at 12:07 pm to montana
quote:
For any work done
In this case, the OP stated that the architect would be assessing the structure of the house + creating a proposal. That's easily worth more than $100.
Posted on 8/14/15 at 12:09 pm to SUB
Ok, so I ask again. Why do you need an architect? That's a bit of overkill for what you're looking to do.
Is it that important that you have an accurate floor plan?
Is it that important that you have an accurate floor plan?
Posted on 8/14/15 at 12:09 pm to 4WHLN
quote:
There are no issues with permits and inspections in Louisiana with a set of plans from draftsman.
Wow, really? I went to high school and college in LA, but never practiced there. In every jurisdiction I have done engineering for, an engineering stamp is almost always required to get a building permit. The only exception was when we were working for a governmental agency.
So you're saying if Bob the draftsman put together a structural framing and foundation plan, that even though he's not a licensed engineer or architect, he would have no issue getting a permit?
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