Here are 4 ways an Architect can price your New Jersey home project.
1. Percentage of Construction
Some architecture firms offer their fee as a percentage of your overall construction cost. You determine at the start of the design phase what that set percentage will be. Often, it ranges between 10% to 20% of your total project price. You would pay approximately $3,500 to $7,000 in architectural fees for a minor kitchen upgrade of about $35,000. On a larger home remodel project of about $150,000 could cost you anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000. This approach helps ensure your architectural fees are proportionate to the size, scope and price of your project. With this option you can scale up or down depending on your budget. Unfortunately your architect fees may be higher than you expected when complications arise during the construction phase and your experience an increase in your total project costs.
2. Hourly Fee
Another architectural option occasionally used by architects is to charge you by the hour. This method is pretty straightforward: The firm shares with you their hourly rates for architectural services, which tend to run between $200 and $500 per hour. You will then be billed for the number of hours completed as your progress through the project. However, the overall cost you will pay to hire the architect is more difficult to understand as you have no way of knowing in advance how many hours of work are required the architect will spend on your New Jersey remodeling project. If the design takes longer than anticipated to complete or if you continue to change your mind, this could end up costing you much more than you originally budgeted for.
3. Flat Fee
If you do not like uncertainty you may want search for an architect who can provide you with a flat fee for their services. This method establishes a shared expectation from the start, giving both you and the architect a solid number to work from. To define this flat rate for you, the architect will first conduct a thorough evaluation of your project scope to make certain they full understand your intentions. You then may pay the fee in installments as various milestones are met during the course of the project, or you could pay a larger fee upfront to which you will draw down once the project progresses.
4. Price Per Square Foot
Finally, there is the option of architects charging on a per square foot basis. This enables you and the firm to base your cost on the scope and complexity of the project. However, it doesn’t always work well for expansions or additions. You may decide to add a couple hundred square feet onto your kitchen, but enlarging a space is much more complex than simply redesigning one. For this type of fee structure, you should expect to pay about $5 to $10 per square foot.
These are the four ways an architect can price your New Jersey home project,
and we wish you the very best in creating your dream home.
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BUDGETS ENHANCE.
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LESS STRESS IS BETTER.
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Using an Architect Led Design-Build for Your New Jersey Remodel
While using an architect (who does not build) or general contractor who has their own preferred architect to design your residential remodel in New Jersey may seem like a no-brainer, it also gives you a potential conflict between parties. Yes, your contractor’s architect could provide you with a design for permits, but that same architect may not be available as his fee was structured with the general contractor and not with you. And in the instance of an architect who does not build, you may be faced with a cat and mouse game as the general contractor and architect try their best to collaborate on the project. Plus, there’s always the risk that the design could be more difficult to construct than you imagined and, subsequently, more costly, forcing you to revisit the plans with your architect and make adjustments to get back on budget.
In contrast, the architect-led design-build remodeling approach provides you with all the professional services you need for your project—including an architect or architectural drafter—under a single source from start to finish. This one point of contact approach streamlines the remodeling process and helps prevent potential miscommunications between the architect and builder.
You have one architect project manager overseeing your home remodel from start to finish. The architect will actually manage the construction to ensure your dream home is feasible and cost-effective.
If a problem arises, you don’t have to deal with finger-pointing or trying to track down who is responsible. Your whole design-build remodeling team will work together to develop a creative, cost-effective solution to keep the project moving forward.
Designing Your Home Renovation in New Jersey
Going with an architect-led design-build approach doesn’t mean you only have access to architectural services for your home remodel in New Jersey. It simply means you’ll have access to a whole lot more. With Home Architect Studio, your architect and general contractor are the same team members, rather than having them typically independent. This enables us to have control over the schedule, the quality of work performed in your home and the outcome. It also streamlines the budgeting process so you’re not having to manage two contracts or plan for contractor change orders.
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