Who has built with an architect? Experiences??

We have clearly decided against an architect now. It's crazy what they sometimes charge. And in the family, they're currently renovating with an architect... The first trade (shell construction) suddenly became a modest 25,000€ more expensive... Reason: craftsmen marked up their prices...

... and you believe that your general contractor – who maybe works with the same craftsmen as in single trade contracting – will then offer a cheaper price? The general contractor will more likely have a safety buffer in their calculation to absorb price increases from their craftsmen (or materials). By the way, there is also the option to have the entire planning done by the architect (and thus probably a house designed with more "love," since they work exclusively for you) and to have the construction carried out by a general contractor (however, for us that was significantly more expensive than what single trade contracting ultimately achieved).

Our architect also offers the construction as a general contractor.... but has also told us directly upon inquiry that a price buffer is included in the fixed price. Ultimately, a fixed price guarantee, in addition to the building itself, is also a service... that no one gives away for free. The trades are supposed to regularly reflect market prices according to the information provided. If something is significantly cheaper, there were considerable savings made somewhere. Who have you decided on now? Is it allowed to ask about the price per cubic meter or square meter?

And the family is currently remodeling with an architect... The first trade (shell construction) has suddenly become a subtle 25k€ more expensive... Reason: craftsmen have added on...

Is this in the offer or execution phase? The latter can hardly be the case – unless the builder changed a lot after the planning.

According to the offer, our shell constructor was 35kEUR above the architect's estimate. Meanwhile, we are almost 30kEUR below the offer – a bit more will still come, but in the end we will stay below the estimate.

I find this thread very interesting right now because we are currently asking ourselves the same questions.
Architect, construction company, what is probably good or deciding for one where we know you pay for quality and the name.
An acquaintance told me that he would only build with an architect (he himself owns a carpentry / roofing company), so experience probably speaks here as well.
For me as a layperson, it is obviously difficult to decide among the many architects that exist after the first search... just which ones to contact. In my case, I would definitely get recommendations from my acquaintance, but still.
Ultimately, I am still not really sure what would be safer or possibly cheaper. At the moment, I still have the idea that the project would be better secured (monitored) with an architect. Whether this is true, I do not know.
Based on which points do you decide, have you decided?
In my case, as shown above, for example, carpentry / roofing (very good friend with own company) and heating technician (acquaintance in a very good local company) are actually already fixed.

For me, transparency was important and that I pay everyone fairly according to their performance. I could only find that with the architect.

In my case, as can be seen above, for example carpentry / roofing (very good friend with his own company) and heating installer (acquaintances in a very good local company) are actually already decided.

Then you have – perhaps unconsciously – already decided to work with an architect, because with a classic contract for work as a general contractor / general planner you will not be able to include these "acquaintances," nor remove both trades from the contract. Rhenish regards