Architects or prefab house cost calculation and next steps

The architect already has it tough ;) . If he miscalculates at the beginning and the price goes up during the tender, everyone beats him up. If he gives a realistic estimate based on the ascertained wishes of the interested parties, he is considered too expensive. A general contractor or prefab house supplier gives a price and knows - quite differently from the interested party - what is missing in the description and is significantly below the price.

The architect's estimate promises the possibility to plan and stick to the budget - building smaller is also an option, then it becomes cheaper. I see the estimate from the prefab house supplier/general contractor as a "bait offer."

If an architect plans 40k€ for a kitchen... I would look for another one as quickly as possible.

It is always the question of how the consultation went and which wishes the customers explicitly or which quality expectations they implicitly convey. The 40k€ is a placeholder - just like the 30k€ with the general contractor/prefab house supplier. I would not evaluate such differences.

The main reason we ended up with the architect: he understood very well and was interested in what matters to us. We also had an appointment with an architect from a prefab house manufacturer on site at our plot. We wanted to integrate the house into the slope, he said it had to protrude with a huge glass front and insisted that we saw it "wrong." I can only recommend being aware of this aspect as well: does the person I am dealing with really care about our wishes and about us?

I can only recommend keeping this aspect in mind as well: Is the person opposite really interested in our wishes and us?

That is one OF THE points.... if he is good, he has an idea of how your wishes and needs will be in 10 or 20 years or he can discuss these points with you. Then you should also feel comfortable in your house. I no longer save on the architect (which does not mean that more expensive is better)

We are only looking for THE right architect now. Recommendations are welcome.

Now that you are just telling in another thread about the plot of land you found: how far has the search progressed?

Now that you are just talking about your found property in another thread: how far along is the search?

Good question. We took the advice here to heart and went to another architect. We felt much more comfortable with him and he was also much more responsive to our needs. In addition, after the first meetings, he created a rough sketch for us and guided us through his thoughts in detail. Overall, it became something very individual, as one would expect from an architect-designed building. It was interesting that in the corresponding rough calculation there were significant differences in the positions of the basement and ancillary construction costs.

Furthermore, we have received offers from prefabricated or solid house builders again, but so far without a concrete selection of materials. We have also not yet inquired with any other general contractors. Unlike the architect, however, we requested a relatively classic one- or one-and-a-half-story house with a gable roof and basement, with a self-developed floor plan. On average, this comes to about 65-70% of the cost of the architect house. Although comparing the equipment is difficult, foregoing individuality in the architecture would save considerable costs.

The next step is to talk with the architect and consider whether we can also reduce costs accordingly with him by working together on a "standard architecture," or whether he would even be willing to do so.

Overall, it had become something very individual, as one imagines such an architect-designed building. [...] Unlike the architect, however, we requested a relatively classic 1 or 1.5-story building with a gable roof and basement there, with a self-developed floor plan. Smoothed out, we end up at about 65-70% of the cost of the architect's house.

Then you must have made a mistake on the architect track (e.g. – often taken – "if already an architect, then also a stylish designer one-off"). Just google "why is the architect so expensive?", by the way you will also find further ways to my advice.

Then you must have made a mistake with the architect track (e.g. - always gladly taken - "if already an architect, then also a stylish designer one-off"). ...

By mistake do you mean that he suggested something so individual at all? If yes, it was simply the case that we presented him with our desired room concept, what we find nice and what not, etc. However, for example, we neither talked about the house or roof shape. He had offered on his own to first work out a proposal. Basically, we actually liked that approach. We had also already cautiously asked whether a certain shape (cost)advantages would have. The answer was that it wouldn’t be that dramatic, since, for example, the wall volume would not differ significantly. If that is really the case and the costs with the "standard variant" with an architect are similar (high), then I do wonder where the cost difference to the general contractor comes from?

Google "why is the architect so expensive?", by the way you will also find more ways to my advice.

Somehow I’m probably too dumb. All I find is that it can also be cheap with an architect. Or what do you mean by that? We would love to work with an architect. It’s also not about the last euro. But the above-mentioned difference is still too much. Or are we overlooking something here? Where do I find the mistake in our approach?