What is a reasonable price for an ARCHITECT in NJ?
7 years ago
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Comments (12)
7 years ago
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Pricing of architect?
Comments (12)We had a rough road with a couple local architects working for firms. I look back now and see some of the reasons why. Building was booming and thier was plenty of work. Our project was also small (2000 sq. ft.)in comparison to what I saw going on in the firms. We felt rushed and over-whelmed with project bids (20-30K). Fast forward two years and many circumstances later. We had literally gave up and decided to remodel and add a small addition. We had an engineer stamp some drawings to submit for a permit. One of his staff contacted us for some clarification. This person spent 30 minutes on the phone with me and brought up things and inquired about things that garnered my attention and to some-what, my trust. We permitted the remodel plans and while that process was going on maintained contact with the person whom we found out was a designer doing some freelance work the firm we had used. We ultimately ended up shelving the permitted plans and spent another 3 months working on a whole new home design. We have pushed our financial reality to the edge to pull off what we have to date. We will have to finish the home on our own and in stages, but am very happy with what we will have compared to otherwise. It is after all for us, not to sell in a few months. Our designer recently moved and is pursuing other interest. I fed off his passion and proffesional ability to give clarity to things I was confused about or un-educated to. To me, as an owner builder he was a mentor (he once was a builder), I actually talked to him often, he would even check-up on me. It was in-valuable toward keeping the motivation and building process going forward (he knew that). We encumbered many things with utilities, the munincipality, counterfiet subfloor materials, pricing issues, etc., that his experience (and this board) helped immensly with. I look back now and wish I would had taken more time in the architect selection process. I understand the importance of assistance and clarity in things that are not of my skill set. It is amazing what one can do when given intelligent and accurate directions (detail drawings). I think back to being a youngster and recieving a snap-together car model for a gift. It was usually comprised of 10-20 pieces that you could assemble after doing a couple kits, with out even looking at the directions. On the other hand, if you try to assemble a true scale model of 63' corvette complete with glue, paint, rolling wheels, engine detaling, etc. You had better have a good set of instructions or you will botch things up and possibly quite before it is ever finished. Corny analogy sorry, I was model builder. I paid nearly 5% of total cost so far. My designer was casual with his fees and in the end I was just paying an hourly rate for his assistance. My one regret is squandering resources away I know did not feel right. Those resources could have been used to further my time with some one who did. I took that process way to light, compared to the energy I willingly put into other details. I'm not trying to promote neither a designer or an architect, though there is a huge difference. But my opinion is that, if your investment is something other than a spec style home that has been built in a repetitive fashion by a builder, an architect is a must. So find a good one!...See MoreIdeas for reasonably priced railing that won't block view?
Comments (27)We stepped our main deck level down one step (a small landing outside the door and then a step down to rest of deck) and then used a combination of black wrought iron vertical railing joined with wood decorative posts. I don't know the style of your home, and the overall "color" of your view (ie, if it's light, you may want white railing), but this worked very nicely for us. The white painted corner posts tied in with the traditional style of our home, and the iron blended with the trees/forest so that it is practically invisible from inside, yet the overall look makes the outside area a focal point rather than a railing distraction. Just an idea. I'm not sure if it was all that affordable. My husband did the woodwork, and brought in the iron guy to measure and fill in the railing lengths. Reeha...See MoreLooking for a REASONABLY Priced Custom Cabinet Line
Comments (24)Unless you obtain cabinetry from a design and build firm (which you've discovered is rather pricy) most kitchen firms aren't "whole project one stop shops". They'll handle the design and install, but won't do structural work or systems work. They may have some contractors in those areas that they'd recommend, but they won't act as general contractor on the job. You'll have to act as GC or else you'll have to engage the services of a general contractor to oversee the project as a whole. In a project such as yours, getting the right GC will be more important than even the brand of cabinetry. You can get nice cabinets from a lot of sources, but getting a contractor who can plan out the job so that the demo, electrician, plumber, and drywall guys show up at the right time with little lag is priceless. Or, you can GC it yourself and take a bit longer, but probably use higher end products because you're not dealing with the GC markup. Of course, you're dealing with the risks of scheduling etc. yourself, but it might allow you to have a better quality kitchen than can be afforded on your budget without having to cut so many of your wants....See MoreQuestion about architect blueprint pricing
Comments (25)None of us here were at the early meetings, or a party to any discussions or information exchanges, so we can only respond based on the normal and standard practices of the architectural profession and our experience therein. "... My in-laws made an assumption that that would be a few hundred dollars (yes, assumptions get you in trouble). Just seems shady not to mention exactly, or at least ballpark, how much the construction plans would cost..." I don't know why or how they could have made such an assumption, but given the amount of work actually required that sort of thinking is simply and completely unreasonable. Look at the itemized scope of services provided in your description above. How could that be provided for "a few hundred dollars"? That means someone at a $100/hr billing rate would spend up to three hours to complete your project! Does that sound reasonable? Or even remotely possible? So far as I can see from this thread, there was nothing shady, unethical or unusual about the contract arrangements or sums. There was an initial phase to create a design, "to the owner's satisfaction", for a modest sum of $3,000. As a retired architect, I would have never used the term "to the owner's satisfaction" (since I well know how often consumers can change their minds over the smallest, often inconsequential, issue), and I would not have used a fixed sum, but an hourly rate, so that the owners had a share in the responsibility for how long the design phase took. So in this phase, the owners really got a bargain, and to their advantage. The fact that your MIL is "hooked" on the design suggests your family got their money's worth and what they were hoping for. Having a separate, fixed fee for the necessary detailed construction drawings and specifications is a good (and normal) practice. The list of items covered in the description above is very thorough and complete; it's far more than many residential architects, designers and drafters ever provide! The fee for these services is reasonable and may actually be low, if separate engineering design, drawings and calculations, or other services, are required by the local jurisdiction. As proposed, your family will receive a much more thorough and complete set of documents for bidding and construction than is the norm. As a result, the quality of construction and lasting value should be significantly higher than normal. You are concerned about why the costs for services weren't itemized up front. It's a reasonable concern. As you describe, the architect said there would be an initial charge for the first phase (design) and a subsequent charge for services to complete the project. Until the schematic design of the house was complete and approved, the architect had no way of knowing the scope and extent of time and services required to prepare and complete the construction drawings and specifications. It would be like trying to determine if something was bigger than a bread basket and/or flatter than a pancake. How would anyone know the scope and complexity of the house (and the amount of time to prepare and complete the required construction drawing and specifications) until the owners had first approved a design? If you buy a ready-made plan from one of the Internet plan factories, you will thereafter have to spend money to have the plan adapted to your family's needs; you will have to have pay for a foundation design to fit your specific site; you will have to pay for the necessary engineering structural services; for the creation of systems plans--HVAC; electrical, lighting, signal and controls; plumbing, etc. Your local jurisdiction may have other special requirements to be addressed, i.e., seismic or hurricane forces, etc. All of these are included in the services the architect has proposed. I'm very sorry that this situation has occurred and that your family feels wronged or misled. But, as far as I can tell, the total costs are reasonable, and actually less than normal in many areas, for the extent of services provided. I know this is likely not what you want to hear at this point, but it is a fair and reasonable response to the situation which has been described. I sincerely wish you and your family good luck with your project....See More
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7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago- 7 years ago
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