Architects costs

if this is all a possible fantasy then just been indulged by you and the misses I wouldnt go paying architects for what are essentially sketches. They will charge a fortune for what is essentially a legally backed art degree grad to draw you up something which looks amazing but its inpheasable and almost impossible to construct for under a lottery winners budget. I would knock the plans up for you free of charge provided you allow me to keep the rights of the plans so that I may use them in my own profile, to try to encourage paying custom in the future

Things to think about regarding construction of a single dwelling:
1. Location, isolated is brilliant but planning and services (gas water elec) are a nightmare and an expense. The cheapest locations available are generally existing houses with a large garden, its a MASSIVE initial expense but the idea been that you live in the initial house whilst building the dream home. Then depending on status you knock down/sell on the original house and move into the newly built one. THis is the most ideal solution to single dwellings as it means all the connections to services already come into the site boundary (ie you do not need to get through as much complicated and expensive form filling in to get everything you need connected up).

If thats not an option then your looking for a planning approved location, as has been mentioned its going to give many sleepless nights if you buy a plot with out outlined permission, then only for the planners to refuse (it is common and it does happen).

Following the aquisition of a suitable plot and some outline planning permissions you'll no doubt have certina planning conditions which need to be followed by the letter; height of roof, number of floors everthing externally from the length of the drive to the colour of the mortar between the bricks you use.

Thats the stage you'd take the floor plans (i can do) to an architect give them the planning conditions and the floor plans and get quotes for how to make the floor plans into 'working drawings' these will include the required finishes and specification for the individual details eg the type of roof construction which would be required.

Once a working drawing is produced you'd need an engineer to arrange for the relevent connections and 3d levelling also the foundation details they'd need detailing up which will require a site investigation (no good building it ontop of a hidden marsh without the proper preparation).

You'll then be looking to already have the site manager employed and he's the little wizzard who turns all that chaos into deliveries and contractors arriving on site on the right day to do their jobs.

I can put you in contact with people that can provide all of the above, but with them been local to me rather than yourself I'd be wary of thier involvement past the advice stage as once constructions starts any problems can arrise and the last thing you want is a 250mile site visit call out charge. Depending on their moods however I'd imagine they'll offer adivce for free but get local companies to actually do the work for you.

I hope that hasnt put you off its something I'll definetly be doing one day and once you've got the plans all togther then you'll see your self doing all sorts of little fantasy day dreams about the possibilties.

Originally Posted by leedsmatt7

architects are ******s.

+1.

Most of the time, you'll unknowingly be dealing with a technician and not an architect anyway.

Originally Posted by speedplay

+1.

Most of the time, you'll unknowingly be dealing with a technician and not an architect anyway.

Yeah its amazing how many of them call them architects when their not.

Originally Posted by specialone

Yeah its amazing how many of them call them architects when their not.

+1 an architect isnt an architect until they've got their degree.
Then again neither are engineers... and on that vain I should amend my initial post. Im not a civil engineer, I'm a civil engineering technition but Im a ****ing good one plus ill be an engineer come july when we get results it'll also mean Im more qualified then my boss... but I know who knows more about engineering than the other and it isnt me lol.

Just make sure if your consultant is a technition that your paying tech rates and not grad rates there is a nice difference!

if architects are c***s are not, its not as simple as just knocking some plans up, otherwise every daffy who could use cad would be knockin some up, its hard enough yo get planning without presenting a planning authority something that looks like you dont know what youre doing, you need someone who speciailizes in housing, not neccesarily an architect put someone whos used to dealing with planning and preferably has a good relationship with the planning inspectors, nothing going to cause you more problems than ****e plans,

they need to know the building regs inside out, you dont need an architect but you do need someone who understands why rooms have to be certain minimum sizes, why doors and windows are in certain places and just why you cant put an open plan staircase there, im a civil engineer , i have a hnc in building and have previously done plans and had them through planning and construction, buti wouldnt want to do it now, cos despite doing it succesfully before the regs have changed so much id be back and forth to planning all the time trying to give them what they want,

if youre serious, ask around someone will know someone local,

Originally Posted by leedsmatt7

+1 an architect isnt an architect until they've got their degree.
Then again neither are engineers... and on that vain I should amend my initial post. Im not a civil engineer, I'm a civil engineering technition but Im a ****ing good one plus ill be an engineer come july when we get results it'll also mean Im more qualified then my boss... but I know who knows more about engineering than the other and it isnt me lol.

Just make sure if your consultant is a technition that your paying tech rates and not grad rates there is a nice difference!

I am always likely to use, when i can, the people who are good at what they do, not just because they have a degree.
Experience counts in my eyes, i've had qualified plumbers do work for me who tbh have been crap compared to my own plumbing work and im a chippie.
They couldnt even get a bath level, putting first fix pipes in the wrong place, untidy rad pipes, using copper tails on chrome towel rad etc etc.

So, if a guy can produce a good set of plans that will get through building control and allow for latest regs i really dont care if he has a degree or not.

Phil

Originally Posted by Captain Nemo

if architects are c***s are not, its not as simple as just knocking some plans up, otherwise every daffy who could use cad would be knockin some up, its hard enough yo get planning without presenting a planning authority something that looks like you dont know what youre doing, you need someone who speciailizes in housing, not neccesarily an architect put someone whos used to dealing with planning and preferably has a good relationship with the planning inspectors, nothing going to cause you more problems than ****e plans,

they need to know the building regs inside out, you dont need an architect but you do need someone who understands why rooms have to be certain minimum sizes, why doors and windows are in certain places and just why you cant put an open plan staircase there, im a civil engineer , i have a hnc in building and have previously done plans and had them through planning and construction, buti wouldnt want to do it now, cos despite doing it succesfully before the regs have changed so much id be back and forth to planning all the time trying to give them what they want,

if youre serious, ask around someone will know someone local,

dont worry about having had taken time out lol, the regs change so damn frequently that even those who got a set passed last week, submitting the same thing for somwhere else would prob be out of date by the time they came to be assessed. lol

Wow - thanks guys for all the advice and pointers - I really appreciate it.

I'm not sure I really considered all the roles that are played in such an endeavor, but you've given me a 30,000 ft view that I can mull over.

Just for the record, I'm not a lottery winner or anything, just been saving fairly hard for the last few years whilst we get some problems with our current house sorted out (thankfully that will be in the next month or so).

A lot of houses seem to have dual-aspect living rooms (i.e. long and thin) which may look nice and let lots of light in, but are rubbish for socialising - everyone sits in a line and peers up and down trying to chat to people!

And I'd love a cinema room (I love films), which I always thought a cellar would be perfect for as it wouldn't let in loads of light, but they seem to be something of a rarity now, and the houses that do have them are well out of our budget.

Texture is very important to me, so having stone, wood, glass, steel etc would be like a dream, and being able to decide the rooms, the aesthetics of the rooms, the windows, all that, I'd love.
I suppose as a number of you have said, it's a very expensive and stressful experience, but given the money and time (allowing me to find the right location, whether that be a piece of land or an existing house), it sounds like a life-changing experience.
I guess my naivety may help me in that I'm not scared off it, but the experience a lot of you guys have would end up with a better final product, closer to the initial budget.

I'll print all this out for (probably future, but who knows) reference.
Thanks for taking the time to reply in so much detail, and I may well be in touch with some of you, even if it's just to play devil's advocate - I'd much rather someone call me a muppet than making a very costly mistake, or making a decision that gives years of heartache.

rgds

Rupert.

Originally Posted by leedsmatt7

+1 an architect isnt an architect until they've got their degree.
Then again neither are engineers... and on that vain I should amend my initial post. Im not a civil engineer, I'm a civil engineering technition but Im a ****ing good one plus ill be an engineer come july when we get results it'll also mean Im more qualified then my boss... but I know who knows more about engineering than the other and it isnt me lol.

Just make sure if your consultant is a technition that your paying tech rates and not grad rates there is a nice difference!

LeedsMatt, you can become a chartered engineer with pretty much any engineering qualification. I know at least two who are chartered and all they have is a HNC each. You just have to do a massive evidence based technical report which takes years to compile, oh and of course actually have gained the experience on the job.

A degree isn't the be all and end all. I don't have a degree, although I'm going onto an MSc possibly this year or next (thinking of going travelling first) simply because I can get on it with experience, allbeit only four years worth.

@rpwoodman

Apologies for the massive de-rail rpwoodman. Oh, and if you need any transport work done such as a transport statement or need an access junction designed, just give me a shout! It's very unlikely that I'd get involved in a single house build, but some areas have set stupidly low analysis thresholds!

[Luckypants]

Rupert, I'm thinking along the same lines when my house is sold (and proceeds split with my ex). Building my own home has been a bit of a dream for years, but land is the hardest thing to find. I got out-bid on a plot once over 10 years ago, ever since the opportunity had not arisen.

WRT Architects I do not agree with the general comments on here that they are bad people. Ask around for recommendations, speak to other self builders in your area, join some self build forums and ask, read the self build mags... etc. Remember that your architect does not have to be local (might even help if you do not want them doing the project management), they just need to be approachable. I'm lucky, I have a friend who happens to be an architect and I really like his work, so if I ever get to do this I know who will be designing my house - he now lives in Scotland and I want to build in N. Wales, I don't consider this an obstacle. Basically find an architect you can talk to and who 'gets' what you want from your new home, if you are happy with them and they with you the result could be your dream home.

I do not feel qualified comment on what is a reasonable cost, but you can get a good feel for it from the self-build community. I do know that an architect designed house will be more expensive, in general, than something built by engineers drawings. I also know that every house I have ever thought 'WOW' about, or loved the atmosphere, the light, the aspect or whatever - has been designed by an architect.

Getting an architect designed house but not one designed for you individually is a cheaper way to a great house. Check out some of the design and build companies or those selling packaged homes, their houses are architect designed but are not individual. This reduces the design fees quite considerably.