Architects’ fees for a refurbishment, extension or new build project can vary significantly. There’s lots of different reasons for this. Ranging from the level of expertise to how comprehensive the service is.
When you’re looking at making a significant investment in your home, it’s tempting to choose the architect with lower fees to keep your costs down. But when, in your experience, has cheapest been best?
Have you considered that investing in the best architect for your project will save you money on the rest of your project?
In construction, the lowest priced ‘drawings’ can often lead to more expensive builds. Investing in a more comprehensive, detailed services can keep your project on budget, on time and lower the risks of problems during construction.
Here’s why spending more on the right architect (and other consultants) from the start can be one of the most financially savvy moves you can make.
Be wary of unqualified and unregulated architects
It may come as a surprise that not everyone that carries out architectural services are qualified or even trained architects.
Titles such as architectural designers or draftsperson are common place for people who carry out architectural work but are unregulated and aren’t qualified to the same level as an ARB or RIBA Chartered Architect. These people are not allowed to call themselves architects.
Like a doctor or nurse, architects have to be registered with the Architects Registration Board (ARB) and subject to strict codes of conduct, mandatory training and professional insurance requirements.
All Project Leads at HEM Architects are ARB registered architects and we’re a RIBA Chartered Practice which means we have the highest level of training and skills and unlike unqualified professionals can be held accountable if things go wrong.
Maximising the potential of your house or site
A higher level of architectural service brings a better level of creative problem solving to the table.
A cheap architect or architectural designer will likely give you the solution you ask for as it’s the quickest and easiest way to solve your problem. However, a better architect will challenge your solution and identify different strategies in order to achieve your goals.
There might be different costs and benefits attached to each of the strategies. But a good architect will clearly lay them out, asking questions and offering solutions to your brief that you’d never considered.
For example, they might suggest ways to maximise the use of your existing spaces without even building the extension you asked for allowing you to save money or to spend more on fixtures and finishes.
Architects that think hard about this at the start of a project can often cost more. But having considered more options, it will be a better project and likely to save you money overall.
The early briefing stage of the project is when the greatest savings can be made at the lowest cost. Cheaper designers skip this all together and, in offering cheapest fees, prevent you taking advantage of this opportunity to get the most out of your home.
Potential cost saving: £5,000 – £50,000. Reducing just 10m² of build area at £2,500 per m² saves £25,000.
Lower energy bills and a healthier home
While most architects or architectural designers can create a modern looking home, those that can design and create a better performing home that needs less heating and creates a healthier environment is likely to be more expensive.
Specialist architects understands the physics of a home. They design out thermal bridges, prioritise airtightness to stop drafts and choose efficient and healthy materials. This precision transforms your home’s efficiency, often reducing energy costs significantly compared to basic building regulations performance.
We can create a home with zero energy bills. But perhaps more importantly, a good architect will also help to improve the air quality and comfort of your home.
This may not have an immediate financial return, but it may keep you and your family healthier and happier for longer, which is priceless.
Potential cost saving: £500 – £3,000 each year. Reducing your energy bills by 80 – 90% each year over 10 years is a significant saving.
Comprehensive technical package prevents on-site problems
Another significant difference between a cheap architect and a premium service can be the level of technical information and coordination that’s provided.
A cheaper architect might provide basic drawings that satisfy Building Control but leaves details to the builder’s imagination.
When a contractor has to figure out a complex junction or a structural connection during the build, it will always be more expensive than if they were able to plan and cost for it properly before the works started on site.
By investing in an architect who produces a highly detailed technical package, you eliminate the ambiguity that builders can face that cause increases in build costs.
Potential cost saving: £5,000 – £30,000. Eliminating just 3 – 5 problems on a building site could save you £5,000.
Expert specification and procurement advice
A better quality architect doesn’t just draw walls, floors, roofs and details; they specify exactly what goes inside them according to your budget.
They have the expertise to understand which materials, heating systems, and fixtures will be most appropriate for your project and budget
A cheaper service often leaves these decisions to you or the contractor. This can lead to over-specification on items that do not add value, or under-specification on cheaper materials that don’t meet your agreed brief and leave you with earlier maintenance costs.
The best architects manage your budget by knowing where to spend for maximum impact and where to save without compromising the build.
Potential cost saving: £5,000 – £15,000. An architect understands your project and will prevent you for overpaying for materials, fixtures and finishes and save you early replacement or maintenance costs.
Active contract administration and oversight
Lower-cost architects often finishes their service once planning or building control approval has been granted, leaving you to manage the builder and the budget alone.
A better architect will help you find the right builder for your project, check that tender costs are appropriate and that you have the right contract in place for the project.
Contracts give you and the builder protection if things go wrong and a method to manage change. Either of these can make or break a project.
This professional oversight prevents you from using builders that aren’t suited to a project. Also reducing the risk of them charging too much for work, asking for too much money early on in the project, and ensures the final details are finished correctly.
This professional oversight makes sure you employ the right builder for your project; pay them appropriately without exposing yourself to undue risk and that you get the product you paid for and expect.
This protection is often worth far more than the fee itself when dealing with a complex construction project.
Potential cost saving: £5,000 – £20,000. An architect can be the person advocating for you if there’s problems with your builder, taking away a significant amount of stress and burden.
A better architect will easily return on your investment
While a fee for a more premium architect may seem high. This investment is a service that protects your budget, reduces long-term costs, and ensures your project is finished on time and to the highest quality.
When you have your initial conversations or meetings with architects, look to see what services are included and excluded from their fee proposal and ask questions about the level of services they provide.
Make sure you really are comparing apples with apples, as often the lower quote from an architect won’t be a comprehensive service and leave you with lots of headaches and work to do and likely to cost you more money overall.
The most expensive mistake you’ll make.
Choosing a cheap architect won’t make the most of your project’s potential and increases the risk of your going over your budget and it dragging on unnecessarily.