Building with an architect, which performance phases are meaningful???

Hello everyone,

we are currently planning our house and are in the design phase with our architect. Since I have never built a house before, I find it very difficult to estimate the required services. We know that we definitely will not have a turnkey house, but will do a lot of the interior work ourselves.

Now my question is which phases of the architect's services I need. I think phases 1-5 are clear, without these I won’t get a usable plan. But from now on I lack experience. Do I necessarily need phases 6 & 7 or can I also hire a mason or roofer with the plan I receive after phase 5??? If the static calculations are done based on the plan, the tradespeople should know what to install, right?

Regarding construction management / supervision, I wonder if it is more sensible to have this done by the architect or a third party. Since many trades will be done by ourselves inside, a truly necessary construction supervision should mainly relate to the shell construction.

I would be very grateful for recommendations and experiences from other builders...

Hello,

We know that we definitely will not have a turnkey project, but will do a lot of the interior work ourselves.

Now the question arises for me which performance phases of the architect I need. I think phases 1-5 are clear, without them I won’t get a usable plan.
But from here on I lack experience. Do I necessarily need phases 6 & 7 or can I also hire a bricklayer or roofer with the plan I receive after phase 5??? If the static calculations were done based on the plan, the trades should know what to install, right?

Can you create a quantity survey/bill of quantities based on performance phase 5 and do you really trust yourself to check the incoming tender documents for completeness? By the way, the architect commissioned for phase 6 also checks the incoming invoices for correctness after the agreed services have been carried out.

Regarding construction management / construction supervision, the question arises for me whether it makes more sense to do this via the architect or a third person. Since many trades will be carried out internally by ourselves, a really necessary construction supervision should mainly relate to the shell construction.

Who is doing the electrical and sanitary rough installation and who inspects these trades as a master craftsman? Are you sure that for these critical trades a second pair of eyes is not advisable?

As for construction supervision, I am always in favor of getting external help. It is always good—especially when the architect contacts craftsmen he has worked with for a long time—if a neutral person is on board as a buffer for possible disputes. That neither causes nor fuels conflicts!

By the way, it is interesting what you as a layman dare to take on

Rhenish greetings

Hello,


Can you create a quantity calculation/bill of quantities based on service phase 5, and do you really trust yourself to check the incoming tender documents for completeness? Btw, the architect commissioned with service phase 6 also checks the incoming invoices for accuracy after the agreed service has been performed.

According to our architect, invoice verification takes place in service phase 8. Of course, I cannot prepare a quantity calculation and have no idea about it. However, I also cannot imagine that every craftsman relies on this list from the architect. Hence the question whether these are absolutely necessary?

Who carries out the electrical and sanitary rough installation and who accepts these trades as master? Are you sure that a second pair of eyes is not useful for these critical trades?

There are already very good local companies that would be commissioned with the installation. It's less about the control, which a third person can also take over for these trades, but about the question whether I need a precise service description in order to commission, for example, the sanitary work???

By the way, it is interesting what you dare to take on as a layperson

I certainly do not trust myself with more than I can do. However, since various craftsmen are represented in my circle of friends and family, much of the interior finishing can be done as own work.
I leave alone the things I have no idea about, hence the question whether construction supervision should be better done by the architect or a third person.

We are in the design planning phase with our architect...

.. please, who is supposed to judge that in an internet forum? The question is, how good is your architect? I know architects who would get from me a maximum of phase 1, others only the site management ... besides, the architect can only charge you for the service phases for which he has actually provided corresponding services or which you have commissioned ...

.. please who is supposed to judge that in an internet forum? The question is, how good is your architect? I know architects who would get from me a max. service phase 1, others only the construction management... besides, the architect can only charge you for the service phases for which he has actually provided the corresponding services or which you have commissioned...

I was honestly more concerned about whether it is at all advisable to commission the architect with the construction management or whether this doesn't also lead to nepotism. Often the architect works with the same companies. That's why I wanted to know if you shouldn't assign a third, external person for the construction management!?

Hello,

Of course, I cannot create a quantity calculation and have no idea about it. However, I also cannot imagine that every craftsman depends on this statement from the architect. Hence the question whether these are absolutely necessary?

Yes. If not via the quantity calculation and the resulting bill of quantities, how else are you supposed to check the invoices?

... but rather the question whether I need a precise scope of services in order to, for example, commission the sanitary work???

Yes - how else are the craftsmen supposed to know what technology they are supposed to deliver?

I certainly do not claim to be able to do more than I can. However, since various craftsmen are represented in my circle of friends and family, a lot of the interior work can be done as own labor.

That is always a tricky thing - they certainly don’t work for free just for the fun of it? You also have to register helpers with the accident insurance; accidents sometimes happen faster than you can say “oops.” The more interesting question, however, must be: are they reliable and do they keep their commitments regarding the deadlines on site?

However, I don’t really understand your question. You have – probably for good reasons – decided on a very individual planning of your construction; fully aware that the architectural costs will be higher than with a general contractor. Why are you now questioning some phases of the service?

Best regards from the Rhineland