We are planning a major home remodel and just got a quote back from our architect/engineer for the drawings. It is much higher than we anticipated.
If you have done a major home remodel with an architect/engineer (ours if both), can you give an idea of what you paid? Also, if you have any recommendations for the N.VA area, I would greatly appreciate them. |
How expensive is the project? Architect fees are usually between 8%-15% of the construction costs (8% or so for expensive projects, like $1mil+ custom builds, 15% or so for smaller projects, like $150k additions, etc.).
I will never understand why people are happy to pay 6% for a real estate agent to sell their home for them, but get grumpy about paying 8-15% to the person who actually designs it, produces construction documents, etc. But that is probably a topic for another day. |
10% of the construction cost. |
We judging by those standards ours was high. |
Sorry, that should well, not we. |
In DC, sometimes it can go up to 18-20% for smaller projects. |
OK, thanks. It was $25K for a $150K addition. Still seems high to me. Design is nothing high end and doesn't include sight development plans. |
If there's nothing high end or complicated, you can find cheaper. Call up UMD's architecture department and see if they can give you the name of any alums who are trying to build their own practices. That should save you a ton of $$. |
that seems really high. We are doing a $100K-$120K addition (adding 2nd level to rambler with master suite, staircase, etc) and our architect cost is $4500. Scott Allen. http://www.sallenarchitect.com/ |
We did a $260k reno and the full drawings and permit prep were $36k I think. |
Thank's all, especially for the referrals. Ours does not include permits either. It's a very simple addition (builder agreed). |
I'm doing a simple $150k addition to a Falls Church rambler and your price seems really high to me. Unless there is some special engineering concern with your addition, I think you should keep shopping.
Does your builder have suggestions? |
If the addition is that simple, you can also just use engineers to draw up the plans for permits. You don't officially need an architect. This makes sense in the case of, say, bumping out the back of a row house, where there's really not a whole lot of variables. |
This was my builder's recommended architect. |
I am an architect and the fees range from 8 to 12% depending on the size, complexity and location of the project.
Feel free to give me a call and I would be happy to guide you through the design process and provide an estimate. Ileana Schinder www.ileanaschinder.com ile@ileanaschinder.com |