Architectural planning costs 50% more expensive than agreed.

Hello,

I would speak with the architect and make an offer. Something below the 10 percent

You want to pay your architect for a bit of planning - is the building application already approved? No paying 65k. Maybe 6.5. Just assign the trades yourselves, or start cutting costs. You can already save the 60k for the architect, not a single brick has been laid yet.

Anyone planning 240 sqm is also planning ambitiously. At 240 sqm at €3k per sqm, you're already at €720k. Then add earthworks etc. €50k + double garage €50k + terrace/driveway etc. €50k. Not to mention a (not specified) basement.

The price can (and perhaps will) be realistic.

My statement comes from the fact that I am currently planning or have commissioned roughly the same size. And I get by well with €700k (without land).
However, without a basemented double garage, no KfW40+, a normally sized terrace and some own contribution. But with a rather upscale standard and Munich prices and a full basement...

Contract until input planning or approval

The architect can/wants not to continue supporting us because supposedly no time.

I am curious what the professionals will say about this. As a naive layperson, I would think: the architect has not fulfilled his part of the contract. His service is of limited value to you. He should be paid appropriately, but certainly with reference to the benefit, for example, that the requirements gathering has for you. And certainly not according to HOAI LPH 1/2. Or?

Through an acquaintance, we were recommended an architect (her husband).

Every crime show viewer already knows from the time when Chief Inspector Derrick was still on duty that alibis from wives are worth little *ROTFL* *SCNR*

Our planned house turned out to be considerably larger than we thought (we had said 170m2 – it is now 240m2). The architect always said that the additional costs were manageable.

Just 40% more – you don't have to have studied to realize that describing this as "manageable" points to a playboy. What kind of acquaintance is that – silk blouse, gel nails, Daimler convertible? One thing is certain: budget overruns are unavoidable under these circumstances (no matter who you contract).

Naively and trusting as we were, we signed a contract with him up to the application planning and approval stage.

You never choose this scope of services; it is the favorite scope of architects who are totally useless at cost estimation and also not usable for construction supervision. How is the contract with the architect formulated?

I am curious what the professionals will say. As a naive layman, I would think: the architect did not fulfill his part of the contract. His service is of limited value to you. He should be paid appropriately, but definitely with regard to the benefit, for example, that the requirements determination has for you. And certainly not according to HOAI phases 1/2. Right?

That is a good approach from you; the lever can be applied here at the basic evaluation stage. Then the architect better brace himself, I see his professional liability premium increasing soon.

Basically, you can add another 10-20% to the price of the general contractor. I would have a ready-made house offered to me.