Single-family house, approximately 160m², Bauhaus style; first draft according to our wishes

I would also be careful here. A service has been provided after all. Therefore, with these prices, it should be considered whether to sit down together and still manage to create something nice together. The last draft was already improved so far here in the forum that it would become a rounded matter. Maybe the architect also has strengths in dealing with the building authority and the trades that you do not see yet.

Once the lawyer is involved, it is hardly possible to turn back. On the other hand, it can of course also really be a dud. Now your fingertip and construction feeling are called for.

- Invoice: without legal basis, no contract, I reject the invoice as without legal basis - Without an approval-capable draft, no contract for work, therefore no claim to remuneration

What kind of intern was sitting at the hotline there?

No legal basis: no – you commissioned the guy (implicitly through the conversations, a contract can also be concluded orally), the legal basis for the billing items is the HOAI, which you did not exclude. So the work contract existed. Approvable design: also no, because if the planning is stopped beforehand, he simply cannot owe it. In my (legally admittedly layman) opinion, he fulfilled his work contract up to service phase 3.

But the trust (in his professional skills, even if it is only those as an owner-understander) is probably irreparably shattered. I therefore consider it most effective to involve a lawyer experienced in mediation, who may bring about a settlement. From my point of view, there will be a settlement – in the third instance or before, that now depends on the skill of your legal advisor.

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But the trust (in his professional skills, even if only as someone who understands clients) is probably irreparably broken. Therefore, I consider it most effective to engage a lawyer experienced in mediation, who may be able to reach a settlement. From my perspective, a settlement will be reached - in the third instance or before, that now depends on the skill of your legal advisor.

The man obviously did his work, so it probably wouldn’t be the right or fair way to pick apart whether a contract was concluded or not.

Whether it is right to demand the 13,000 immediately is another question. Honestly, that seems like quite a lot even for performance phases 1-3! We have a higher total fee ahead of us and agreed on a flat net 5,000 € for performance phases 1-3.

For two undesired and two drafts based on our templates.