Stop or pause house construction? Costs too high

How is the relationship with the architect? You need to be able to have an open conversation with him - the costs are too high, where can we save something? What is included? For example, our architect said that for a similar house size you save 50 TE with plastic instead of wood-aluminum windows. For example, did the architect calculate 75 TE for outdoor facilities? What does the attached double garage cost? etc.

You need an architect with whom you can discuss everything. I wouldn’t immediately terminate the collaboration, maybe something can be redesigned or done differently.

However, I find it strange that the architect did not ask about the budget.

Even though the fees are now freely negotiable according to HOAI, to my knowledge the architect can charge a maximum of the basic rate according to HOAI without prior agreement. With 1 million gross construction costs and service phases 1 and 2 (where the first design is created), that would be around €10,000 in fees.

I would also calculate with 10k - I have a HOAI invoice in front of me for under 10k for chargeable costs of 825k (building, structural construction, and technical systems), fee zone III, middle rate.

Clever fox the architect, a high cost estimate increases his salary for the design… Maybe there was never any serious intention to continue building with you? But that would be unlikely, talk openly with him.

Since he wants money from you, you first have the upper hand.

How do you come to that? - oral contract without agreement on deviations, service phase 9 for a single-family house is extremely uncommon, it is based on HOAI service phases 1 to 8. He can bill definitely completed phases, and that’s exactly where it gets difficult for him: because apparently he delivered a completely floating service phase "2 or 3" *ROTFL*. It will probably be hard to classify this botchwork according to HOAI. However, this does not mean in reverse that its application could be excluded; by default, it applies first of all – and with that we are already in the regional court league, because the dispute value is over 5000.

But I find it strange that the architect didn’t ask about the budget.

Exactly this gross unprofessionalism is the leverage to make him willing to settle.

I wouldn’t immediately break off the cooperation, maybe something can be replanned or done differently.

You don’t seriously want to let this *ahem* artist build a butcher’s house too :-) ?

Hello,
Please send me the plans confidentially (inkl) 3D, as you said, including the architect's name at kriminelle@freenet.de
I want to see what has come out in 300 hours, that is 4 months of planning time at 4 hours/day.

Did you order a 3D model? The architect only does that if additionally requested. You don’t really need that for the building application. Sketches are sufficient for the cost estimate.