Pre-planning with the architect - is having your own floor plan sensible?

In the concern for the forum, we even agree (we better discuss your exaggerated protector instinct via PM).

Therefore, I find this statement more than questionable:

And if you don't like it, you can always pull the sketch out of your pocket. But I don't think it will come to that.

This floor plan is in no way suitable as an emergency solution in this case either!

The commissioning of architects and the contract design (keyword e.g. step contract) must be carefully prepared in order to be prepared, among other things, for the case that no implementable design emerges. Observe HOAI and have the contract externally reviewed if necessary.

Regards WD

(about your excessive protective instinct, we better talk via PM).

Why? I have no desire to teach you the basics of etiquette. Since you have clearly lost all sensitivity and completely misunderstand situations, that would be a mammoth project.

I have not read everything now, but: Our architect deliberately did not want to see our designs in order to be unbiased.

Our planner asked in the initial meeting about rooms that absolutely had to be included in the concept and then went through each individual room with us regarding the requirements. Additionally, he also inquired about general requirements (e.g., for the hallway, utility room, etc.) and then sat down and made a first draft. And that was already very promising...

Would do this approach again at any time and also recommend it (if the planner is any good).

@ kaho674 I had hoped that the order: sleeping -> writing a post would be beneficial to the quality of your post..... Well, I remain optimistic anyway. One more thing, also for those who read this later: it is sometimes hard to tell when the acquisition phase has ended and the commissioning of the architect (even without written form) begins. Therefore, ask about this during the initial consultation to avoid later misunderstandings. Regards WD

@ Wanderdüne You just brought up an interesting point again – contract and co. We actually already had a first (acquisition) conversation in this respect. However, here we only outlined our plan and checked the "chemistry." It is now definitely supposed to become more concrete. We thought that we would first commission the architect for a preliminary design. First, we want a reference point to see if our budget planning is even realistic and to create a basis for construction financing. Second, to be honest, I can only say if we can work with the architect after working with him more concretely. In the first conversation, the architect mentioned that he would initially offer billing based on hourly rates, capped by the HOAI. That means, if the HOAI is cheaper for us, billing would be according to that; if the hourly service is cheaper, that would be billed. To me, that sounds fair at first. Now I wonder if there is anything legally to consider here?