Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Oct 21, 2008 12:13 pm Hello Everyone
This is my very first post. A friend recommended the site to me. I hope to get alot of helpful information whilst my fiancee and I decide what to do - to buy a house and land package, or buy land first and build a custom home. I will also try and give back alot of information as my fiancee is a cabinet maker (you should see the kitchen I have in mind lol) Im just wondering if anyone has any architect recommendations, and give me an rough idea of how much architect services cost? We havent bought land yet, but we're actively looking. We'd prefer to build custom, but if all these types of costs add up then it may not be financially viable Thankyou everyone Re: Architect recommendations and costs - Melbourne 2Oct 21, 2008 4:25 pm I have a "challenging" block and want an upside down house so after getting rejected by all the major builders I went through archicentre and spent $1500 to have a chat with one of their registered architects. Well that was the most depressing and expensive chat I ever had. Depressing because his ballpark was $550k for a 20 square home and expensive because it was $1,500 for a chat. Granted I could of got his thoughts written down for that but he suggested I just paid a further $1500 for some "sketchings" that would of been more "useful". Oh and another "$12k for plans.
Thinking I just got a dud I tried the process again with someone different, (this time without spending the $1,500 for a chat) and I got exactly the same result - well this one started from $525k for a 20 square but whats $25k between friends. So - after total disappointment I came on here and am now looking at smaller builders that customise. Thus still getting the discounts of volume builders as everything is within the same company (Architect 1 told me all about the tendering process and it hurt my head). So far I've found JG King and Creations GMH (both recomendations from here) and found their "ball parks" to be less than half the cost of what the architects "ball park" was. edited : Don't get me wrong not knocking Architects, I wasn't getting ripped off but I was asking the opionion of a highly trained artist and designer etc. and as such you have to pay for that. If I had gone with either of them I would of got a truely beautiful home that was worthy of a better homes and gardens segment. I just can't afford to pay for that. Re: Architect recommendations and costs - Melbourne 3Oct 21, 2008 4:38 pm My architect (1 year ago) 10k...for absolutely everything. Highly recomended, another person on the forum is also going through him.
500k plus for a custom built house, 20 squares...totally ridiculous! get quotes of custom home builders who dont have fancy offices but come with outstanding recomendations from normal people who have built with them. They are there I am building inner west btw Also an architect should design your home within your budget...if they dont then they are not listening I might also add the tender process from our builder was painless, almost too easy. Final figure was given and all the specs as well. No hassle at all, we signed up and told him to start...it was that easy. The building process has had its ups and downs (he is taking too long) but the quality and the changes he has made without charging has been a blessing. Hope this has helped a bit, find a good decent architect. They are also able to recomend you builders as well. Mrs B Mrs B Re: Architect recommendations and costs - Melbourne 4Oct 22, 2008 12:18 am You can also look at drafters/building designers which pretty much do the same thing as architects but on not so expensive level....
Harvan Design http://www.harvan.com.au and EB Design Vision http://www.ebdesignvision.com.au both have been good at getting us quotes. After 2 false starts, a year living overseas, two more world trips and 3 years of uncertainty we are now starting the build process again - hopefully for real this time! Re: Architect recommendations and costs - Melbourne 7Nov 02, 2008 11:16 am $1500 for a chat with an architect !! Wow wish I can charge that with my clients. reality is most don't. There are plenty of building designers and Architects as myself that don't charge anywhere near these figures for professional advice and drawings in Melbourne. Our initial discussions and site visit for advice is free to promote our services.
as for budget required for custom homes, most small builders we know that win our tenders are pricing between $12,000-$14,000 per square for quality finished custom homes with high level of design. You can pay more if you go with well known major custom builders or can pay less with simple design solution and standard finishes. It really depends on the design and level of finish. Volume builders will always be cheapest if just selecting one of their standard designs with minimal adjustments. Looking to tile the facade pillars rather than rendering. Builder is quoting 2500$ laying cost for upto 10msq. The 2 pillars come to be 16msq. So laying costs are 5000$… 0 7547 I do enjoy the drama:-D In his latest two videos he has started bringing security guards to site, I am waiting for the punch on to begin lol 6 45547 Hello, we can help you please get in contact 0421019219 thank you 3 31838 |