Architect fees for extension

[Peps]

We're planning on extending our kitchen by just 1.5m. There is no change to the building, just brick extension and an extra window in the kitchen. This seems about as simple as it gets and would be really quick to do.

Our architects bill has come in at £600 for 15 hours work, which I can't understand how he'd have spent even half that time. We had no changes other than the window which he missed off.

Is this right?

Thanks,

Peps.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Doesn't sound too bad tbh, did he pop round to see you for a visit, did he give you a quote (and did you agree to it), did he do a survey, did he draw up existing plans & elevations, did he draw up proposed plans & elevations, did he pay for a location plan, did he fill out the forms, did he print off several sets of drawings and post to planning or convert the drawings etc to PDFs and upload onto the Planning Portal, does he drive a car and put fuel in it etc, does he pay tax, does he pay NI, does he pay VAT, does he expect to be able to take some time off, do a proportion of the jobs he views and quotes for not go ahead, does he have an office, does he have a printer, does that printer need ink and paper to run?

£30/hour is pretty good for an architect. You'd pay £80/hour for a commercial practice. You could have gone to a technician who would be around £20/hour.

When you buy or sell a house do you happily pay a solicitor £400 odd for 3 hours work?

 

[Peps]

Yes he popped round, yes he quoted (less than this), yes he drew up plans, no he didn't need to pay for location plans, yes he filled out the application form (not that this would take long as it's so simple), no this doesn't include any planning fee, he works from home ...

This is work that the most basic level of architect could do (even I could do it!) and I still can't understand how this could take more than a day at tops. Agree £40 an hour is fine (not £30, check the maths), this seems a fair rate, what I struggle with is the time quoted.

Do you really believe this would have taken him two whole days?

Peps.

 

[adlplumbing]

well he came to your house took mersurement`s
he talked about what you want
then left and did the real work
you paid for that bit when he left you in peice and quite

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

even I could do it!.

So why didn't you?

Was this for a planning application or a Building Regs app? Just some drawings or what?

If he has charged you more than you were quoted have you asked him why?

 

[Peps]

Just Planning.

I'm going to ask him why, but wanted a bit more info on the norm before I did as we were surprised with the time spent, hence putting the question on here.

Thanks for your advice.

Peps.

 

[Mark Br]

What was his original quote, what did he do extra from his quote?

 

[Peps]

He quoted up to £600 including some other work, but said he expected it to be less as it was straightforward. The overall bill came in a £800.

I've now discuss with him and he's agreed to honour his original quote.

Thanks for your help here.

Rgds,

Peps.

 

[Mark Br]

Good to hear he honoured his original quote. If he quoted a price and didn't do extra work, then I don't really see how he could do anything else, the fact it took him longer is really his tough luck