End cooperation with the architect

I had enough of architects. With a little help from an architect known to us personally, we then developed a floor plan ourselves and are now looking for a GÜ.

Hello,

There is no contract that we signed. When I mentioned costs in the first conversation, he said he would charge the minimum rate according to the HOAI and that he would first create a draft.

Since you have not agreed on anything else and unfortunately nothing in writing, the minimum rate according to HOAI applies; this is the best thing for you from a contract without paperwork.

But now it is the case that we no longer like the floor plan due to all the cutouts ....

I also read here that you (you & the architect) failed to speak so clearly with each other that what was intended was actually received on the other side; probably even mutually.

In my opinion, we are in phase 2 - preliminary planning + cost estimation.

At least it reads like that, yes. If this is confirmed, your architect can invoice a fee of around €4,300.00 gross, in case you end the cooperation at this point. However, you should be clear that your idea of the house (I recall the discussion here) will not be inexpensive to implement. Therefore, another architect will not be able to present you with numbers that are - from your perspective - more pleasing.

If I were you, I would casually seek a conversation with the architect and explain your reasons for wanting to end the cooperation objectively. If the conversation, contrary to expectations, gets out of hand financially - your architect gains nothing if the previous cooperation is not consensual - you can always turn to the architects' chamber as an arbitrator.

Until then, there is still some way to go. So stay calm and let things come to you.

Rhenish greetings

Thank you construction expert for your answer. Well, you also have to see that the first draft was €60,000 over our stated budget. I didn’t tell him what to plan. Our guideline was a 160 m² house for a budget of €260k, even though that’s not realistic as I realize in hindsight. But in my opinion, he should have said that when I told him our limit and not just go ahead and then massively go over the budget. And it won’t get any better with the changes.

Well, I will try to talk to him normally and hope to get off lightly. Although the amount of €4,300 would also be too much for me, as in my opinion, he did not fully cover the individual services of phases 1 and 2. But we’ll see when he tells me a price he wants.

Hello,

Thanks Bauexperte for your answer. Well, you also have to see that the first draft was 60,000 above our stated budget. I didn't tell him what to plan. Our requirement was a 160 m² house for a budget of €260k, even if that isn't realistic as I realize in hindsight.

That’s why I wrote that, in my humble opinion, you didn’t communicate properly with each other. I just looked at the draft again and remembered that my estimated figure was actually much higher than the architect’s €320k.

For comparison: we have just designed a split-level house for a client. Not because the site conditions required it, but simply because the client likes a split-level. On the ground floor, we have two levels with clear heights of 2.36 and 2.735 m respectively, the basement similarly 2.31 and 2.685 m clear height; in total 164 sqm plus expansion reserve in the attic and a good 80 sqm of usable area in the basement. So far, €343k is on the clock; plus €26k for converting the usable basement into living space and plus several extras which are on the clients’ nice-to-have list. It is a straightforward architecture, without corners, offsets, or changes in roof shapes as your architect designed, yet the prices are not so far apart.

I estimate that you will be around €300k for a basemented 160 sqm standard house quite comfortably. Straight architecture as a one-story gable roof house plus costs for additional expenses due to hillside location, ground water layers, possible conversion to living space, extras, etc. I hope you realize that it cannot become significantly cheaper for you. A hillside location is visually attractive, but always requires more budget than mostly flat plots.

Well, I will try to talk normally with him and hope to come out of it reasonably well. Although the amount of €4,300 would be too high for me since, in my opinion, he didn’t fully cover the individual services of phases 1 and 2. But we’ll see when he names a price he wants.

It’s not about your opinion, but about the services your architect has delivered so far. So try – I know it’s difficult – to approach the conversation as unbiased as possible. If you try to explain his services to him, that will certainly not make your negotiating position easier.

Rhineland regards

The question is just, what then? The same requirements for the next architect? Increase the budget? Make compromises? With the change, you are actually reducing your budget.

- he has to prove what work he supposedly did. He can't just demand anything. Even in the phases, there are services that must be provided in order for them to be invoiced at all. And I doubt that the services were provided accordingly. Well, we'll see when I have spoken to him.

- It is clear to me that it won't be cheaper elsewhere if we build with an architect. But it's just a breach in our relationship. Our wishes are not taken into account because he doesn't listen at all and doesn't consider our needs. Since the first meeting, we have wanted an interior fireplace, which has never been planned so far. There is always a reference to a stainless steel pipe that can be installed from the outside. We wanted the upper dormer in the bathroom, which was never implemented either. We wanted electric blinds, why take those when you can just have curtains. Topic geothermal heat pump due to funding. The architect's statement is that it's not worth it; the heating installers are now just adding the subsidy on top, etc., etc. There are so many things where we just don't agree and have different views. That is also why we want to end it.