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How Much Does An Architect Cost in 2022?

April 29, 2022
how much does an architect cost

Building your dream home can be a big and exciting task, but it comes with fears. What if I did not use the land area correctly? How much does an architect cost? How can I hide the electrical wires in the home? Is the design of the house eco-friendly?

To get the answers to these questions, it is best to hire a professional who can guide you through every step of your house construction. But, architects can be expensive if you do not know the correct market cost. Here is a guide on how much does an architect cost for different projects.

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How much does an architect make?

An architect is a competent and licenced practitioner who gives you various building designs and other construction services. How much does an architect cost depends on the services they provide.

The duty of the architect includes:

  • According to the client’s demands and suggestions designing the inside and outside of a house
  • Drawing up house plans that can fit the client’s budget
  • Managing the building process
  • Handling the official work of submitting planning applications to local authorities 
  • Renovating an already constructed building

Now depending on the type of project, an architect in Australia can make an average of $93,000 a year.

How much do architects get paid in Australia?

how much does an architect cost

Coming to the point of how much does an architect cost deepens on the scale of the project. Australian architects charge 8 to 15% of the total project budget. For example, if you build a home for $700,000, the architect may charge somewhere between $56,000 to $105,000.

Here is a breakdown of architect’s fees:

  • 0.5 % for a Construction Certificate
  • 3.5 % for a Contract Administration
  • 4.5 % for a Construction document and detailed tender
  • 1.0 % for a Design Development
  • 2.5 % for a Development Application
  • 1.5 % for a Concept Design

Architect cost as per the project

The important thing to consider is that the type of contract or the project will define the point how much does an architect cost. A house drawing architecture project will not charge the same as the architect for home renovation.

To make the best use of professional help, always have a meeting to discuss your needs and budget with the architect. Ask for sustainable options that can help cut down your cost of building. 

The experienced architects will charge you the higher end of the spectrum, but their work will speak for itself. If you have a tight budget, try hiring a new architect. 

Examine their qualifications and ask for work samples. New architects may cost you way lesser and deliver work to your satisfaction.

Architect costs according to the percentage

how much does an architect cost

This is the most common type of architect fee when you consider how much does an architect cost. As mentioned, this can range from 8-15%, but it is always negotiable

The percentage also depends on the kind of assignment. The answer to the question ‘how much does it cost to get house plans drawn up’ is, on average, 5% of the total building cost. This lower percentage is because of the reason that it does not include the managing part of the project.

On the other hand, a home renovation architect will charge a higher percentage, somewhere between 6% to 8%. This is because it is much more challenging to build something new, keeping in mind the old parameters of the house.

Even being the most common pricing method, percentage fees are not very suitable for a person building a home. This is because the project’s total cost may vary, and thus will the expenses of the architect. Opt for his method of payment only when you have a fixed budget.

Pay your architect on an hourly basis

Here the answer to how much does an architect cost depends on the experience of the architect. This will cost anywhere from $50 per hour to $250 per hour. 

It is the best option for people who need just a piece of advice from the architect and does not require their full involvement. In this way, you can cut the cost while getting an expert’s advice. 

Before starting the contract, set up an upper limit on the number of hours this project will take. If, in any case, the number of hours exceeds this number, you can negotiate the terms. In this way, you can hire an architect without fearing that he will take advantage of the situation.

how much does an architect cost

Pay the architect according to the square meters

This method of pricing a project is not very common. The answer to the question of how much does an architect cost will depend on the square meters of land on which the architect will work on. 

This fee can vary from $1000 to $2000 per square metre. The cost is high as it compensates for the time required to make a blueprint of your home. In the end, it will cost nearly as much as the percentage fee for a $700,000 project.

Pay a fixed fee

This is undoubtedly the best option if you worry about how much does an architect cost. Also, once the fees are fixed, you can adjust your home building budget accordingly

The contract drawn between you and your architect will clearly enlist the job responsibilities of the architect. If in case anything extra needs to be done, the architect will charge you on an hourly basis.

Combination fees

how much does an architect cost

How much does an architect cost depend on you and your architect. This is the most customized version of architectural fees. You can discuss all the parameters with your architect and pay using various payment schemes. 

If you utilise this scheme correctly, this can save you a lot of money. Just make an agreement explaining the different payment methods in detail before beginning.

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