Architect search

Finding an architect who is the perfect fit for your project can sometimes be quite a challenge. Of course, you want to make sure you choose an architect who understands your housing needs and can translate them into a plan. Read all about architects, prices and get useful tips on this page.

What are architect fees?

Hiring an architect costs on average between £500 and £15,000. The total architect cost depends largely on the architect’s experience, the type of project and its size. In the table below, you will find a price indication per project and the associated work an architect can perform for you.

What is the work of an architect?

An architect is responsible for conceiving and designing a building, home or space. In most cases, the architect also supervises the implementation of the plan. The various activities an architect can perform are described below:

Designs

In the first phase, the architect will map out your wishes and needs based on an introductory meeting. Next, the architect will work with these and design sketches will be made. The design sketches will be shown to you, after which you can have various adjustments made. These changes are incorporated into the preliminary design, again allowing for feedback. Finally, the architect makes the final design, incorporating all your feedback. Once you are completely satisfied, the architect will start working on the construction drawings for the contractor.

Construction preparation

In some cases, you need an environmental permit before you can build, rebuild or renovate anything. The architect can take on this task by contacting the municipality and providing all the necessary documents.

He or she can also arrange the contract with the contractor. Quotes will then be requested from several contractors and the architect will then check with you which contractor best suits your project. The contracts are then drawn up and the architect ensures that clear agreements are made with the contractor.

Construction supervision

When all agreements have been made and the contract has been signed, the contractor can start on the project. During its execution, the architect ensures that everything goes according to plan. The architect monitors the time and budget planning and will make adjustments where necessary. Only once the architect is completely satisfied will the house or space be handed over to you.

What are the advantages of hiring an architect?

When carrying out a major renovation, it is often advisable to get advice from an expert. Still not sure why you should hire an architect? Check out the benefits of finding and hiring an architect below.

An architect will help you find your style.

You can identify your interior design needs by finding inspiration through websites, magazines and looking at home furnishing shops. But how do you translate these living requirements into your own interior? An architect will help you work out your living preferences and come up with new ideas. An architect also gives advice on how to make the best use of the space in your home.

An architect prevents unforeseen problems.

The architect checks both technical and administrative matters before starting the renovation. An architect knows everything, for example, about the support beams in your home and where a roof, dormer, window or new wall can or cannot be placed. The expertise of an architect therefore ensures that you do not face unexpected problems during a building project.

With an architect, you save time and ultimately money.

These unforeseen problems often cost a lot of money. With a big project like expanding or having a house built, you don’t want to run into high unexpected costs. An architect will prevent these problems and ultimately save you money and time.

How to find a good architect?

From the above comparison, it is clear that you can use the help of an architect for your renovation. Now you start looking for the best architect for your project. How to go about this? Take a look at the points below.

Step 1: Orientation

Before you start looking for an architect, there are a number of things you can do yourself. By reading up on yourself beforehand, you will find it easier to choose a suitable architect. Consider the points below.

• Your situation: Do you want an entire house built or a renovation done? Or maybe you want to build an extension? Map out what you need the architect for. In some cases, an extension can also be supervised by an interior designer. An interior designer is often cheaper than an architect. Then you need to think about what work the architect should do for you Do you only want a technical design and do you prefer to do the contracting and building supervision yourself? Put these things in order. This will help you to clearly state your wishes later on.
• Your style of living: Not entirely unimportant is your living style and taste preference. Do you like modern or rural? Then you will naturally choose an architect that matches this style. Not quite sure which style of living suits you best? Make a mood board or find inspiration online. The architect will then help you identify these wishes.

Step 2: Determine your budget

The costs of an architect are often calculated on the basis of an hourly rate, fee or per m² that the architect draws. Usually, an architect chooses a fee because construction costs often turn out differently during the building process. A fee is a percentage of the total renovation cost the architect receives for carrying out a project. A fee is usually between 8% and 14%.

It is, of course, always difficult to estimate what the total project will cost without having received a quote. Nevertheless, it is important to consider your own budget well in advance. You can choose to draw up your own budget following several conversations with architects. Is your budget a bit lower? Then look into the possibilities of doing some of the work yourself. In any case, take extra costs into account during the renovation. These unexpected costs can be quite high in some cases. Take this into account when preparing your budget.

Tip: Determine the percentage of the fee with the architect in advance. During the renovation, ask for regular updates on the estimated costs. This will give you a better indication of what the architect will eventually cost.

Step 3: Request several quotes

By comparing several architects, you can be sure to find the right architect for your project. Get free and no-obligation architect quotes here and compare architects on the following points:

• Price:Does the price match your budget?
• Procedures: Does the architect offer the features you are looking for?
• Portfolio:Does the portfolio match your own living requirements and style?

Stage 4: Non-binding first appointment

In an introductory meeting, your requirements are briefly discussed. You determine whether you click with the architect. He or she will be your point of contact throughout the entire renovation. A click with the architect is therefore an important part of your selection process. You can often request a free no-obligation consultation with the architect.

Frequently asked questions