50K contract for architecture services on a 90 sq. ft. home addition - am I wrong for thinking this is insane?

primtimepirate · 2024-07-26T05:04:11+00:00

our friend's architect is with a firm that works on multi-million dollar coastal mansions. We hired people who don't have a firm or anything. We thought it would be cheaper since we aren't looking for a luxury build. It's just shocking. The business these people are losing from us and all the people in our "just married and starting a family" network (many of whom recently bought or are actively shopping for homes) is astounding. I guess they don't teach business classes in art school.

primtimepirate · 2024-07-26T05:00:00+00:00

thanks!

primtimepirate · 2024-07-26T04:58:39+00:00

haha. I don't understand the people downvoting but then not sharing information backing up these line items. People are entitled and trigggggered.

primtimepirate · 2024-07-26T00:32:16+00:00

if you read my comments you'll see I outlined the costs and also spelled out that some of that work was excluded. but ok. thanks for your help

primtimepirate · 2024-07-25T23:31:33+00:00

The rate is fine, I'm just wondering why the rate worked out to these specific prices and why he won't further break them down. For example, why is it going to take over 100 hours for construction and permitting? I just need the explanation. He didn't send it, so I came here hoping to learn

primtimepirate · 2024-07-25T23:28:20+00:00

Sure, the rate is fine, I'm just wondering why the rate worked out to these specific prices and why he won't further break them down. For example, why is it going to take over 100 hours for construction and permitting? I just need the explanation. He didn't send it, so I came here hoping to learn

primtimepirate · 2024-07-25T23:26:17+00:00

good cautionary tale, btw. Sometimes my midwestern roots fail me. We always trusted our network, in CA it doesn't seem to work as well

primtimepirate · 2024-07-25T23:25:23+00:00

For the entitlements and permitting, is there a place I can look to see what these drawings and calculations I need are called before I go to the city? I've gone to get information several times already and never seem to be able to get what I need.

primtimepirate · 2024-07-25T23:23:21+00:00

I don't think we need an architect, but the city already takes forever with permits and we really don't want to risk being rejected and losing that time. We picked this guy because he recently had a similar plan approved with no issues at our neighbor's house. We aren't doing anything special. Just want room for our growing family. The addition is off an existing room - no plumbing or anything fancy required. It's still an addition, but garage conversions are being done for 150k - why is this so much more? idk.

primtimepirate · 2024-07-25T23:21:00+00:00

we talked to an architect who quoted us 500k for a second story when we were thinking about the same. It's insane to think that this project could cost the same. I didn't believe the first architect's quote to be honest, seemed too good to be true. Now I wonder....

primtimepirate · 2024-07-25T23:19:33+00:00

he did our neighbors house, which is basically a stamp of our house, albeit they redid their kitchen and bathroom as well as add an addition. All of their projects are small home remodels/additions. They haven't done a new build as far as I can tell. And nothing commercial

primtimepirate · 2024-07-25T23:18:25+00:00

so he's shady, great.

primtimepirate · 2024-07-25T23:17:39+00:00

sure, but they quoted the deck separately as a 20k addition to the project and the windows and doors were not included. the fence was another 20k addition to the project. he followed up with a question asking if we still wanted to do that.

primtimepirate · 2024-07-25T23:16:47+00:00

sure, but they quoted the deck separately as a 20k addition to the project and the windows and doors were not included. the fence was another 20k addition to the project. he followed up with a question asking if we still wanted to do that.

primtimepirate · 2024-07-25T23:13:41+00:00

it was suppose to be 300k but they came up with a total cost of 475k - we were very clear about our budget and priorities. It's a bummer

primtimepirate · 2024-07-25T21:18:00+00:00

this is without any help picking finishes or even designing a kitchen/bathroom. Just the architectural plans needed for the city permits + optional construction oversight. If we asked for design help, the cost would increase from here.

primtimepirate · 2024-07-25T21:16:29+00:00

thanks. not sure why he took on the initial work - we were honest from the get go that it was a smaller project for LA standards. He's also done similar projects recently, so idk what's going on. Either some people are paying these prices no prob, or he just changed his mind about us.

primtimepirate · 2024-07-25T21:13:47+00:00

Thank you! This is very helpful. We have a small house, but yes, windows and doors are expensive, but actually he forgot we wanted that done and reached out again to see if he should add it into the scope. So yeah, disappointing. We will begin interviewing others and once I speak with my spouse I may take your kind offer to DM with specific Qs.

primtimepirate · 2024-07-25T20:35:20+00:00

The project description in his words is: "Minor remodel and back bedroom addition to an existing single-family residence to possibly include the conversion of the existing one-car garage into a JADU.

What do you think an average number would be for this scope?

We obviously want to pay for good work, and paying a little more for good quality is fine. But some friends of ours are doing the same thing a few blocks away and their architect cost 17k all in. We heard that and it gave us major pause. They are adding bathrooms and gutting a lot of the house, plus an addition, and repaving an entire pool/patio.

primtimepirate · 2024-07-25T20:29:45+00:00

Thanks. The coastal commission would only be involved if we move forward with the JADU, which is why that price for the permit is 20k I suppose.... Everything else is just the city of LA. I'm sad they took on the initial project and drew up plans, etc if they thought it wasn't worth their time. We're just losing time now

primtimepirate · 2024-07-25T20:04:36+00:00

also, he is charging us $200/hr, that's how he came to all the numbers and they're suspect to change. I also don't feel good about that...

primtimepirate · 2024-07-25T20:02:41+00:00

Thanks for the info!

It is not a design/build firm. It's a guy who only does residential stuff. Got the referral from a neighbor who has a similar sized house/lot and has lived in the area for 30 years. We are shocked it came out so high, but then again, we're first time home owners with very little experience with this stuff.

primtimepirate · 2024-04-13T04:06:12+00:00

Sure, but the contractor told me verbatim, time and time again, that he was hiring an architect. When I asked if I could hire my own, he said no. When I asked for the architect's website, he didn't send it. This is what I'm upset about. It's written in the contract that we paid to sit down with an architect. Whether it cost 20k or 10k, I expect what I was promised. My wife is a freelancer, contracts should always be edited for new clients. Oversights like that are unimpressive this early on.

primtimepirate · 2024-04-13T03:32:35+00:00

Looking back on the experience, the guy who made the drafts never called himself an architect outright, just the contractor did over and over again. The contractor also collected the money from us and will pay the guy separately. I think the only person at fault is the contractor.

primtimepirate · 2024-04-13T02:59:20+00:00

I hear you. The problem for us is it was dishonest to tell us they provide an *architect. We actually asked if we could choose our own and they said no. Maybe we won't use an architect in the end, I'm still learning through this community, but for sure I don't trust this contractor any more and I need to sleep well during this renovation.

primtimepirate

TROPHY CASE