Self Build Designer
Finding a talented designer who can interpret your ideas is a key stage in any
self build project. But how do you find good house designers and how much will
they charge? If you are looking for a good architect, The Royal Institute of British
Architects (RIBA) is a good place to start. The RIBA runs a helpful Clients Advisory
Service which will put you in touch with your nearest regional office –
you can contact their main office on 020 7307 3700 or visit them in person at
66 Portland Place, London W1N 4AD. The Service has a computer database of architectural
practices which includes information on the type of work the practice undertakes
and information on past projects.
Other sources of information about local architects include Yellow Pages and, of course, any friends and neighbours who have had to commission major building work. Some architects have special interest areas – for example in 'green' building technology – so if you have a particular interest area of your own, it may be worth looking slightly further afield to find a sympathetic practice.
Having identified two or three possible practices, invite each of them to visit you and talk about their previous work and the service they could offer you. They should have a portfolio of projects and should be willing to put you in touch with recent clients to find out how satisfied they were with the work done.
Two potential areas of conflict are the degree of 'artistic freedom' you are willing to allow the architect when it comes to the design of the house, and budgets. It is essential that your architect is willing to listen to your design ideas. It is also essential that your architect understands the importance of working to your budget. The way to handle these concerns is to air them before you commission your architect.
Achieving a satisfactory relationship on this level is going to be critically important to the success of the build and you would be well advised to put a high priority on this aspect of the 'package' rather than simply choosing the cheapest architect on your shortlist.
Many architects will charge you a fee which represents an agreed percentage of the total construction cost. However, you may prefer to negotiate a 'lump sum' fee for your architect's services up front. This approach has a lot to be said for it as it removes any uncertainty from your budget planning, and protects you against any unforeseen overspends as the project progresses. Your architect is only likely to agree to this option if he feels that the build is going to be a very straightforward one.
If you have a clear idea of the design you want a professional to develop, you may prefer to approach an architectural technologist instead. Technologists have a science background rather than the arts training of the architect and are good at working on complex structural projects such as conversions. You can find a local technologist by calling the British Institute of Architectural Technologists on 0207 278 2206.
If you want to convert an old barn, an architect can also handle this kind of project. Again, you are likely to be charged a percentage of the construction cost, but the percentage charged is likely to be higher than for a new build to reflect the greater complexity of the job. Here, if the construction cost is £50,000, your architect's bill is likely to be around £7,000. If the construction cost is £100,000, the architect's fee is likely to be around £13,000.
What you pay your designer will depend to some extent on the size of the project. With smaller jobs, you may find they are willing to wait until the house is finished, but with large projects, payment by instalments is the norm. This may be monthly, or more likely at the completion of different work stages.
Most designers will charge expenses in addition to their basic fee. These will include charges for the cost of printing, reproduction or purchase of all documents, drawings, maps etc; travelling expenses and telephone calls.
If you want to manage the project yourself and just hire a designer to produce
your house plans, this will reduce your costs considerably. We always recommend
that you leave your options open during the initial stages of your discussion
with prospective architects even if you think you will probably use their project
management skills. This way, if you find you are not getting on as well as you
thought you would during the design process, you are free to end the relationship
when the design is complete.