Hello Azalee, hello Honigkuchen, and all the others,
much of what Honigkuchen writes here in his post may well be correct, but at this point I must also speak up in favor of the many freelance and independent architects and civil engineers.
There are also civil engineers who carry out building planning. They are additionally capable of preparing the structural calculations and taking them into account in advance during the planning, thus understanding their profession in the sense of the old master builders and working accordingly.
Certainly, there may be the occasional bad apple among architects and engineers, but through an architect or engineer contract they are exclusively obligated to their client.
If, in carrying out this activity, they represent interests other than those of their client, i.e., the builder, they automatically breach the contract with all its consequences.
The HOAI (official scale of fees for architects and engineers) regulates not only the fees for these professions but also which services architects and engineers have to provide for these fees.
This is analogous to the fee schedules of other liberal professions such as lawyers (BRAGO), doctors (GOÄ or GOZ), etc.
It should also be noted that the fee rates in the HOAI were last adjusted in 1996, that is, 13 years ago. This means that this profession has not received any "wage increase" since 1996.
Certainly, it may be nice for a builder to have to pay as little as possible. The question is only which service the architect/engineer is prepared to provide for that.
If an architect or engineer invoices according to the minimum rates per the HOAI, the prescribed services must be rendered even in this case; this is definitely not sufficient for the architect/engineer and can even be existentially threatening.
An essential point to consider here is that architects and especially engineers must ensure the safety of the users of buildings through their work. This public interest is one of the reasons for the existence of the HOAI.
Because here it cannot and must not be about "cheap, cheap" or "stinginess is cool," it can and must only be about the safety of people, and this can only be guaranteed by an appropriate fee.
The construction of a building by an independent architectural or engineering office also offers a builder a variety of advantages.
Moreover, it is a great misconception to believe that construction by a turnkey company, property developer, general contractor, or prefabricated house provider is always the cheaper way.
Only a detailed cost comparison that truly considers all costs can provide clarity here.
The architect or engineer, as the construction manager, is also responsible to their client for the quality delivered by the craftsmen. The construction manager of a turnkey company or similar is only responsible to their employer since they depend on them.
I hope this has provided a bit more clarity.
Best regards
Danton
Engineering and Planning Office
Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Brandenburg
Consulting Engineer and Building Expert
Insurance Specialist (building contract)