Architectural planning costs 50% more expensive than agreed.

2022-03-05 14:05:29

Just me at the lawyer. Apparently, you’re not allowed to go to some lawyers anymore on Wednesdays around midday when the golf course is already calling. Seeing slim chances of winning a lawsuit with an 80% budget overrun, I read this as a clear sign of laziness.

I am a lawyer myself, of course I know the cited decision (and a few similar ones) and certainly had the best construction law attorney in the region. Note: A lazy/incompetent lawyer just sues because their fee is secure and even increases that way.

But yes, of course, it depends on the details. The sticking point for us was the hourly fee and in the breakdown of services by phase 1-4 it was hidden that the cost calculation is not part of the fee calculation (although it was commissioned later). The architect took the position that he did not have to worry about costs with this clause, no matter what else was discussed (and written down). The lawyer would have sued if we had wanted to, but among lawyers, he advised against it because of the immense cost risk and completely uncertain outcome.

So we paid a lot of tuition fees, but now have a cheaper and much nicer house.

2022-03-05 14:25:02

But yes, of course it depends on the details.

You have now provided them, and that puts the matter in a different light. "Apology accepted" ;-)

2022-03-06 12:50:44

I still can’t understand why "ordinary people and average earners" would want to build an architect-designed house,

I think you associate architectural planning too much with a "Dior dress," a "chief physician treatment," or a design object to show off to your favorite theater subscription enemies. But far beyond such antics like having yourself made a Le Corbusier glasses or a Gropius bow tie, there are good reasons even for ordinary statutory health insurance patients to "employ" the planning intellect of a "graduate." Personally, I would do it because I do not consider "detailed planning instead of drywall bumps" a "luxury" (and because I know enough architects who are craftspeople at heart, as I am and would have remained as an architect). Architects from my circles would even decline to build self-aggrandizing monuments for the self-proclaimed better society. For this task, one usually also finds "exactly the right" colleagues (the kind whom warmly and strongly advises all builders to keep their distance from).

2022-03-06 13:12:46

I believe you associate architectural planning too much with a "Dior dress," a "chief physician treatment," or a design object to show off in front of your theater season ticket favorite enemies. But far beyond such antics like having a Le Corbusier glasses or Gropius bow tie made, there are good reasons for ordinary statutory health insurance patients to "engage" the planning mind of a "graduate." Personally, I would do it because I do not consider "detailed planning instead of drywall warts" a "luxury" (and because I know enough architects who are hands-on craftsmen, as I am and would have remained as an architect). Architects from my circles would even reject building self-presentation monuments for the society that considers itself superior. For this task, one usually also finds "exactly the right" colleagues (the kind of people that strongly and lovingly advises all clients to keep their distance from).

I can accept that and therefore count the renunciation of an architect-designed house among our mistakes. What I remember is that I once visited a well-known couple in their owner-occupied maisonette apartment. This apartment was impressive, but not the usual "chic" or "wow" or "great," but rather subtly impressive, different, a very high feel-good factor right when entering the apartment, you felt comfortable everywhere in the apartment, I can’t describe it more precisely and don’t know what the "tricks" were ... I was then told that this apartment was built by an architect for himself. I think the best served is one who buys a house or an apartment that an architect has built for himself.

2022-03-06 15:33:02

just award the trades yourselves, ...
You can already save the 60k for the architect, not a single brick has been laid yet

the question is only:

who has such a gap between the original expectations and the result already at the first planning contract (with the architect) ...

... how well does that person manage the contractors of the individual trades?

2022-03-06 15:55:22

I think the best option is to buy a house or an apartment that an architect built for themselves.

Yes and no. I also know really awful architect houses that teeter on the edge of being unsellable.

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Architectural planning costs 50% more expensive than agreed.

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