Architect cost estimation experiences?

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Because of this, I was well taken care of with a general contractor house build and have no idea about the prices.

For me, it also started with an architect and similar fee expectations.... since I did not want to save on every corner of the house and, on the other hand, pay the architect a fortune, I went to the general contractor – the right step for me....

Those are just estimates spit out by a software given to the architect. At least he can calculate your fee.

That’s also the cheekiness here. He apparently just copies everything from his Excel tool without any reality check, creating very high costs and thus also his very high fee, since the costs are high. And then he even dares to say he doesn’t know how those figures are arrived at. Where is the advice I can expect from a professional who ultimately wants a six-figure amount from someone? I can also give a rough estimate based on knowledge picked up from the forum without background knowledge and expertise. That’s okay for €0 on the internet, but not for a professional. There has to be more explanation about why it’s so expensive, how one can save (and thereby also reduce the fee).

We paid 9000 net (plus costs for the structural engineer) for the architect (including execution planning). We had the construction carried out by a general contractor, with the construction costing 450k. The HOAI is only a recommendation.

Thank you for sharing your experiences. We are building in Baden-Württemberg near Stuttgart. How much do you pay for the architect? It is true that the architect's fee is calculated according to the current HOAI and only seems exorbitant because the construction costs are so high.

However, the HOAI is only a recommendation and negotiable. You could try negotiating again. But it also always depends on what kind of clients the architect has. We are friends with an architect who only builds in the high-price segment and accordingly his offers are priced. He can and only does villas. And he doesn't do work for friends either, because he has experienced that after a build you are only bound by hostility. We consulted him once when we received our offers for the extension, which also seemed very high to us. With him, it would have been even more expensive.

What has he set for plastering work, for example? 71,000 euros already sounds almost like Q4. Or is the whole house going to be replastered and not just the extension?

So, we don't actually know what is all being installed there. Maybe you also want all the nice-to-haves installed, like air spaces or ceilings open to above?! Maybe an extravagant facade design? Maybe the connection of the extension is also a major construction challenge. And yes, the architect doesn't have to bill according to HOAI. If it's just about the size, about simple areas, he can gladly slim down the invoice a bit. Ultimately, though, he has to explain the hefty costs to you, even if they are only individual items.