Basis for creditable total construction costs

Do you know what the service phases mean? And also that at the latest in service phase 3 a cost estimate according to DIN 276 must be prepared and handed over to you (it's a requirement, not a "wish" you make to the architect)? You can assume that an invoice according to HOAI without a cost estimate is incomplete and does not have to be paid by you initially.

P.S. You already realize that it was naive to give the architect carte blanche. I don't need to point that out anymore. And as an addition – the renovation of a listed building can easily be calculated at the middle rate (fee zone III) + 30-35% surcharge. Or directly be classified in fee zone IV (or V for very complex renovations).

Of course, it makes no sense to say the architect was recommended to us by very good friends, the mother in turn works for this architect, etc.

Which DIN 276 is that? Building regulations? Thanks

We received the invoice directly with the completed building application, which he submitted without our review. Now three errors have come to my attention, or rather were apparently forgotten by the architect.
P.S. Yes, I could kick myself right now, I also always believe everyone should be paid fairly. But unfortunately, I have the feeling that the ignorance was mercilessly exploited.

The mutually agreed reality between client and architect regarding the interpretation of "service phases 1-4" in building renovation often looks like this: Service phase 1 we skip, the house already exists Service phase 2 we skip, the house already exists Service phase 3 planning Service phase 4 building permit / invoicing.

He fully invoiced all 4 phases. Fee zone 3 mid-rate

As a kindness, I was granted a 15% discount at the end.

the house has a living area of 92 sqm according to the new plan. The architect has now precisely invoiced phases 1-4. However, he was not arranged for anything beyond that. A building application was submitted under the exemption procedure since there is a development plan. In other words, it was only about changing windows, replacing the front door, installing an air conditioning system, etc. No structural changes like knocking down walls or recalculating statics.

Well, if only windows or the front door are replaced, no building permit is required. So there must have been other structural changes somewhere. Maybe walls were actually torn down to turn a small window into a large one... And I would also be interested in that "etc." If I plan the interior of the house luxuriously, you can easily reach half a million (extensive electrical work with home automation, solid oak floorboards at 250€/sqm pure parquet costs, flush-mounted frames/doors up to the ceiling, etc.). Honestly? If you ask me about the costs for the renovation of a 97sqm listed building and thus mean renovation and not just a cosmetic fix-up, I would have named a minimum price of 2,000€/sqm as a basis, but pointed out that a really comprehensive renovation is usually around 2,500€/sqm. Pure experience values. And with that, the architect is not wrong.

Well, if only windows or the front door are being replaced, no building permit is required. So there must have been other structural changes somewhere. Maybe walls were actually torn down to make a small window into a large one...
And the etc. would also interest me. If I plan the interior of the house as a luxury, you can easily reach half a million (extensive electrical work with home automation, solid oak floorboards for 250€/sqm pure parquet cost, flush-to-wall frames/doors up to the ceiling, etc.).

Honestly? If you ask me about the costs for renovating 97 sqm of a listed building and mean renovation and not just cosmetic work, I would have given you a minimum price of 2,000€/sqm as a basis, but pointed out that a really comprehensive renovation is rather around 2,500€/sqm. Purely based on experience. And with that, the architect is not wrong.

So in our case, the whole process is being carried out under the exemption procedure since there is a development plan that regulates everything.
The architect did not take over any interior planning except for a staircase that is being moved (non-load-bearing) and a door that is being closed off with drywall.

Otherwise, the architect was only responsible for the external changes, but these were only listed and referred to the development plan.

He took a new measurement once for the living space calculation and that was it.

We were not informed about the phases or anything else, the invoice came and that was it. Even now, no cost estimate has been provided to me after repeated inquiries.

Which DIN276 is that?

Just Google it. It is the basis for everything related to costs within the framework of the HOAI.

We were never informed about the phases or anything else, the invoice came and that was it. Even now, after asking again, no cost estimate was provided to me.

Well, if you are supposed to pay at the end, then ask the architect – referring to the service phases – that a) he has not performed his services and b) has issued an invoice that cannot be verified, since a)

Briefly for you – what is interesting is service phase 2 g) or the cost estimate in service phase 2 or its update in service phase 3





If, of course, he receives a very simple task and does not have to perform most of the possible services, then agreeing on a fee according to HOAI is naturally problematic (for the client), because the architect bases it on the total estimated costs and not simply on a flat fee of X.

Maybe the catalog of his actually necessary tasks (which he did not perform) helps you reach an agreement. He won’t deliver anything more and only accepts a negotiated flat fee.

Well, if you have to pay at the end, then ask the architect - referring to the service phases - that he a) has not provided his services and b) has created an invoice that cannot be verified, because a)

Briefly for you - the interesting part is service phase 2 g) or the cost estimate in service phase 2 or its update in service phase 3

A dumb question, why did the architect only indicate costs of €50,000 in the building application itself, but set €240,000 in his HOAI. Typo?