What costs should we expect for the design from the civil engineer?

Hello!

We are planning the construction of a single-family house and have obtained offers for it. We also visited a civil engineer. He made 3 sketches. 2 were his ideas, the 3rd was a sketch from me, which he then "nicely" drew. Nothing else has taken place so far, not even a calculation. What costs should we approximately expect? We have not signed anything but had email correspondence regarding the designs and 2 conversations. Thank you very much for your help!

You must have somehow already discussed what business basis actually led him to sign: should these be proposals with which he is applying for an actual contract, or did you say he should prepare plans or sketches?

Basically, contracts do not necessarily have to be concluded in writing; even "Waiter, a coffee please" is a delivery contract. The fee schedule for architects and engineers, as far as I know, only recognizes services, without differentiating between those provided as an architect and as an engineer. But—oral or written—some basis for his actions must have been established.

If he only applied for a planning contract with the sketches and you do not use them, I see no cost at all. But such things should be clarified beforehand.

Hourly rate somewhere around 70-80€ would be okay imho. You have to estimate the time required.

A freelancer who needs consultation meetings and drafts as a sales activity would have to prove it to me. I wouldn't count on that.