When should we receive the cost ceiling from the architect?

We found a plot of land in December. We want to build on it, found a house, came up with a floor plan, sent it to construction companies, and now the offers are coming in. Back then, we also had an architect come who looked at the plot. He wanted to build with us. We gave him our plans, and he drew the floor plan by hand once, which we did not like. We explained to him what, how, and why we wanted certain things, and he redrew it on the computer. Then he asked us to come by. He still did not tell us a price. I repeatedly pressed his employee in advance to find out this information.

He then called me two weeks ago and wanted to start the tender process. Duration 1-2 months. Too long for me! I told him that would already mean costs for him; I first wanted to know the scope of the build (costs). He told me he had to find that out first. I then told him that if I cannot afford it, I cannot give him a commitment to want to build with him. He said, "Well, I assume I will be building with you!" I denied that and said I need the cost framework in which it plays out. Then he said if it’s too high, things just have to be cut... great, I thought...

Now I already have, as mentioned above, several — in my opinion, good offers from construction companies. If I now cancel with the architect or stop following up, can costs come up for us? We haven’t signed anything with him, never talked about money... what now?

Hello,
you do not need to pay anything if you have not confirmed an order in writing. Only sign a contract for work with a fixed price. Then everything is watertight.
A completion bond is always important.
I hope to have helped you.

it's not a construction company.. but an independent architect...

he apparently assumes to build with us firmly... which we never promised him...

we wanted, if at all, a cost estimate of what the house will cost with him / through him.... but that seems to be too expensive... so forget it...

let's see how he reacts tomorrow when I tell him that he is too expensive...

hello

so making a cost estimate (DIN 276) for an architect, even based on design plans, cannot be rocket science.

they usually do that without a contract, because it is a basis for decision whether the money is sufficient.
verbal contracts with architects are also legally valid. however, the burden of proof lies with the architect.

if possible, I would leave out the basement, because it costs a lot.

variant: have your house offered once with and once without basement!!
I have read the soil survey; these are all very expensive measures for the basement. at least what the expert recommends!!
if you can "relocate" the utility rooms in the basement, then do that better (to the ground floor, upper floor)

greetings

had a good conversation with him yesterday... he let us know that it was purely a cost estimate on his part... gave us all the documents he had and wished us good luck, we can of course commission him anytime with the building application/ tendering etc.... so we're off the hook for now :-)

now let's see what else comes, how we do it...

give up the basement?

well.. on a slope we really have to underpin... if we build without a basement... more sheds or drag the roof, which we originally planned, is not possible... because the neighbor allows no more than 9 m boundary building.. that already takes off 6.5 m for the carport.. leaves 2.5 m.

sure we don't need that much space for two at the moment... but children are planned... where am i supposed to extend then?!

then i'd rather have the basement constructed only as a shell and do the rest myself later...

ground floor finished, live inside... and then the rest will be a hobby

Spoke with him recently, he saw it as a free cost estimate... fine, I'm relieved for now....

for everyone who was interested :-)