The importance of an architect

Be it land, plans or permissions, an architect is not just about design; they are one of your keys to success. They negotiate planning permissions and building warrants with ease; know the best and latest methods of insulating and heating and have far better contacts within in the building industry than you could ever hope to achieve. Architects’ fees are part of your house building project’s overall cost and are traditionally calculated in one of three ways. • Percentage is based on the total construction costs in the building contract. • Lump sum fees are best when the project can be clearly defined right from the start and has no surprises for either side. • Time charged is the flip-side of that coin and best where the amount of work cannot ‘reasonably’ be seen; an agreed upper limit is needed.