Want the boards input. I built a custom him in 2015/16. Since then I've added a wife and child and looking to custom build again. (Already have the lot purchased)

Started the process of vetting architects. I knew building costs obviously took a dramatic hit after Covid but some of these architectural prices being thrown have seemed to almost tripled or quadrupled since I last built in 15.

I had a guy today say his base starting price is $7 per DRAWN sq foot (not livable) which didn't include interior elevations or much detail.

I might be way out of touch but am I taking crazy pills here thinking the starting base price for a 3000 sq ft house is over $25k after adding in porches etc?

I built a custom home in 2022. Our architecture fees were considerably less. I'd have to dig them out but I'm wanting to say in the $4000 range and that was with about six different drafts

I'm in Belton/Temple

Did a 2600sqft + same size basement finished + 1200sqft garage in 2023.

Cost was between $4000 and $5000. We had around 4 revisions prior to final but there was no charge for those.

How much detail were these set of plans for yall?

Basic schematics or did they include interior elevations and more specific renderings etc?

Most architects charging by the SF you are getting a basic builders set with like 10 sheets of drawings. We won't touch a set of plans for anything close to that. We typically charge 5% cap fee, charge hourly up against that total and usually less but some more difficult projects we will have some overage on hours . And looking at houses in the $2-8m and occasional 10 +. It's way more of a niche market but our residential plans are more detailed and encompassing than some/most of our commercial and institutional plans. Just the architectural sheets with none of the engineers can be 50-60 sheets worth of information and the design time from our first meeting to the set issued for permit/construction is 6 months.

Also look at additional costs for the architects to meet. Some of them have add services for the client meetings and to go on site during construction.

But to the question at point I think a lot of the increase is from having fairly stagnant rates for too long so when the opportunity came to increase the pendulum swung more dramatically.

Quote:

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But to the question at point I think a lot of the increase is from having fairly stagnant rates for too long

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The level of detail & finish out has gone up as well, has it not? (Not to mention the typical SF of a house these days)

Averages have been ~1/10 that price if by-the-hour
includes color prints, 3Ds along the way, many extras

Residential: by-the-hour, anyone can quit anytime or pursue whatever services is the best deal while Owner or Builder is in control of the process.
$$/SF pits a Designer (protecting P&O) against the Owner or Builder trying to get enough plans to make it go together flawlessly.
Stories tell of when P&O is threatend, the Designer backed away from further services in a $$/SF deal but would continue to the end by-the hour. Incredible.

Commercial: a percentage of the construction costs is typical BUT if not involved in high-dollar finishes in any way (problems or ease of installation, procurement, etc.) then such extras should not be a percentage inclusion for the architect portion.

The last TAMU project that invited me was to convert 3 hotel rooms into one suite ... = 3 suites in the previous Student Center in-the-day. The contract was a fixed fee given to an Interior Designer firm even though they were charged to purchase the finest curtains/linens, fixtures and appliances. I charged by-the-hour. They could have paid for less hours if they followed my advice ... and when it came to construction, they finally did (a more fully demoed area genesis).
The City of CS re-housing projects followed this same path (sigh).

As usual, forgive spelling, typing, lack of 10-words-or-less, etc. please

ABATTBQ11 said:

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$25k for exterior elevations and floor plans? Either he doesn't want a job or he thinks really highly of himself because all he's effectively delivering at that price is a concept. That price for the stated deliverable seems insane.

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The thing is I've received 3 bids all around similar pricing. 18-23K

I even had one guy quote us $30k.

They keep referring 5-10% of construction costs is standard. Why would architectural pricing have anything to do with construction costs for the most part? Not understating that angle either

The % of construction cost is the basis for a lot of arch and engineer project fees. The more expensive the building typically the more time in detailing, coordination and planning. To that point why would a contractors fee be tied to construction cost. Example. Just because you pick nicer tile his "job" is the same to install it. In reality the percentage fee is just an easier way estimate a job. Like doing a 3000 SF Brando vs a 3000 SF truly custom home. That's typically why we do the % as a cap. If we don't spend the time we don't charge for it.

Also that wasn't a dig at contractors. Just an example of using % fees. The % of construction is tied to a lot of factors and not in a vacuum. Increases rents, utilities, manufacturing costs, employees salaries, insurance both health and liability have gone thru the roof in the past 4-5 years.

04.arch.ag said:

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The % of construction cost is the basis for a lot of arch and engineer project fees. The more expensive the building typically the more time in detailing, coordination and planning. To that point why would a contractors fee be tied to construction cost. Example. Just because you pick nicer tile his "job" is the same to install it. In reality the percentage fee is just an easier way estimate a job. Like doing a 3000 SF Brando vs a 3000 SF truly custom home. That's typically why we do the % as a cap. If we don't spend the time we don't charge for it.

Also that wasn't a dig at contractors. Just an example of using % fees. The % of construction is tied to a lot of factors and not in a vacuum. Increases rents, utilities, manufacturing costs, employees salaries, insurance both health and liability have gone thru the roof in the past 4-5 years.

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Yes I guess what I'm asking is…are they making their prices to you based off what the ballpark construction cost will be

OR

Are they simply saying that 5-10% of construction is just usually how it comes out at the end of the day

What im getting at is we don't know construction costs until the plans are finished so why would it matter if that's what they are basis their fees off

I might have worded that poorly but does that question make any sense ?

Most will base it off your actual budget and similar project experience. Our Conversation starts on we (client) want to spend x. We look at similar projects, architectural style, project scale and estimate a projected cost range. Percentage usually in the middle of a high and low end.

As arch.ag said, more expense correlates to more work, but it's not necessarily a given. 6% has been the ballpark I've always heard, but that's for commercial work and a lot more than exterior elevations and floor plans. Is that what the other architects you've talked to are including, or are they including interior elevations and details?

Been designing houses since 1999.

I try to meet the clients where they are at, so I have crafted 3 levels of services:

1. Builder's Set - I have a sliding scale depending on location (permits/HOA/Wildfire Code). This set has an outline spec and very standard details. Enough to engage an engineer for the foundation and framing, and pull permits. Will still need someone to pick out all the finishes, fixtures , and equipment. By far my most popular delivery. Average fee is around $7500. Way more than 10 sheets I might add, all in 3D, with 1 artistic rendering.

2. Interior Design services. I break out this service from the Builders Set. Some folks recognize how hard this part of the project is and come back later on. This does not have a set fee, but is around $1500 per room. Full specs, show room visits, and on occasion will be at the site for the install. Most clients that seek this level of service want a pro to handle it- I have done my fair share of home theaters, libraries, and man caves.

3. The "white glove" services option. Full architectural and interior design services. I draw everything right down to the tile pattern, furniture layout, lighting design, full spec appliance package, and even art procurement. This is the higher fee of 10-15%.

In all options, I pass through the engineering fees. HTH


ETA: what architect doesn't include elevations with the plan!!

2nd Pablo! He is a good Ag and fine gentleman!

I recently had a house designed in the hill country and the architect let me look through his collection of previous plans. If I chose one of these plans, the cost was significantly cheaper. I had to pay for a plan design and then an hourly fee for any changes made to this plan. Lots cheaper and quicker than starting from scratch on a plan

04.arch.ag said:

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The % of construction cost is the basis for a lot of arch and engineer project fees. The more expensive the building typically the more time in detailing, coordination and planning. To that point why would a contractors fee be tied to construction cost. Example. Just because you pick nicer tile his "job" is the same to install it. In reality the percentage fee is just an easier way estimate a job. Like doing a 3000 SF Brando vs a 3000 SF truly custom home. That's typically why we do the % as a cap. If we don't spend the time we don't charge for it.

Also that wasn't a dig at contractors. Just an example of using % fees. The % of construction is tied to a lot of factors and not in a vacuum. Increases rents, utilities, manufacturing costs, employees salaries, insurance both health and liability have gone thru the roof in the past 4-5 years.

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I looked at hiring an architect when I had my garage apartment built, and the architect wanted to charge 7% of the FINAL construction costs. So if I put in $3000 quartz countertops instead of $250 laminate countertops, the architect would get paid an extra $192.50, despite there being no difference in design costs. It was just stupid.

PabloSerna said:

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Been designing houses since 1999.

I try to meet the clients where they are at, so I have crafted 3 levels of services:

1. Builder's Set - I have a sliding scale depending on location (permits/HOA/Wildfire Code). This set has an outline spec and very standard details. Enough to engage an engineer for the foundation and framing, and pull permits. Will still need someone to pick out all the finishes, fixtures , and equipment. By far my most popular delivery. Average fee is around $7500. Way more than 10 sheets I might add, all in 3D, with 1 artistic rendering.

2. Interior Design services. I break out this service from the Builders Set. Some folks recognize how hard this part of the project is and come back later on. This does not have a set fee, but is around $1500 per room. Full specs, show room visits, and on occasion will be at the site for the install. Most clients that seek this level of service want a pro to handle it- I have done my fair share of home theaters, libraries, and man caves.

3. The "white glove" services option. Full architectural and interior design services. I draw everything right down to the tile pattern, furniture layout, lighting design, full spec appliance package, and even art procurement. This is the higher fee of 10-15%.

In all options, I pass through the engineering fees. HTH

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In your white glove service, all of the MEP and structural engineering costs are not included? Not poking, just asking. I would assume that MEP and structure is carried in the thrown around 6-8% of cost fee.

PabloSerna said:

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Been designing houses since 1999.

I try to meet the clients where they are at, so I have crafted 3 levels of services:

1. Builder's Set - I have a sliding scale depending on location (permits/HOA/Wildfire Code). This set has an outline spec and very standard details. Enough to engage an engineer for the foundation and framing, and pull permits. Will still need someone to pick out all the finishes, fixtures , and equipment. By far my most popular delivery. Average fee is around $7500. Way more than 10 sheets I might add, all in 3D, with 1 artistic rendering.

2. Interior Design services. I break out this service from the Builders Set. Some folks recognize how hard this part of the project is and come back later on. This does not have a set fee, but is around $1500 per room. Full specs, show room visits, and on occasion will be at the site for the install. Most clients that seek this level of service want a pro to handle it- I have done my fair share of home theaters, libraries, and man caves.

3. The "white glove" services option. Full architectural and interior design services. I draw everything right down to the tile pattern, furniture layout, lighting design, full spec appliance package, and even art procurement. This is the higher fee of 10-15%.

In all options, I pass through the engineering fees. HTH


ETA: what architect doesn't include elevations with the plan!!

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Understood. Shoot me your email and I'll connect with you to discuss our project

website is my name + ".com"

Ok- trying this again. I misunderstood your two part question.

First part, the "white glove" service option does exclude engineering until final design. I learned the hard way with Class A steel buildings. Long span structures need a higher level of engineering. We don't always know that until we get the final design. At that point I get a few proposals from engineers I know that specialize in residential structural engineering. When I say "pass through" I mean I don't add anything on top for coordination and meetings. My time is included in my fixed fee.

To your second part, 6-8% is more of the fee range for commercial buildings that have a higher budget. Yes, that fee typically includes MEP and Structural engineering.