GETTING STARTED
There are several ways to engage an architect and get started working together on your project. Here is an overview of options that we offer.
Full Service - % Fee
After having met to discuss your project and our services, you may decide to start assembling the whole project team. A traditional method is to simply engage the architect for full services with fees based on a percentage of the building costs.
Hourly rates
Some projects, especially renovations, lend themselves to starting work on an hourly rate basis with an agreed maximum per invoice period. Once the project in underway and the scope better understood, it is common to move to either a lump sum or percentage basis fee arrangement.
Concept Design Package
New building projects can commence with this two-cycle sketch design process. At the completion of this stage, enough should be known about the project for us to prepare a detailed service package and fee for the remainder of the project. Generally, fees from this stage are absorbed into the fees for the project as a whole.
Following is a list of activities performed at this stage.
Pre-Design
- Visit site to assess conditions, opportunities, and constraints
- Discuss overall project goals with client and prepare a written design brief
First Design Cycle
- Prepare series of design options which respond to the site and the design brief
- Prepare preliminary opinion of building costs *
- Meet with client to discuss design options; compare with original project goals
Second Design Cycle
- Review initial concepts in light of first meeting
- Consolidate design work to updated sketch design
- Prepare updated opinion of building costs *
- Meet with client to discuss updated design options.
- Clarify viability and direction of project
- Review fee and service options for further stages of design work
* Note that where meeting budget targets is important, we recommend engaging a quantity surveyor to prepare a professional cost report.
Fees for this stage
| Expected size (roof area) | Fee (incl GST)** |
| Less than 150 square meters | $3,300 |
| 150-250 square meters | $4,400 |
| 250-350 square meters | $5,500 |
| 350-450 square meters | $6,600 |
| 450-550 square meters | $7,700 |
| 550-650 square meters | $8,800 |
| 650-750 square meters | $9,900 |
** Refer to the Travel Cost section for projects more than 30Km from our office in Ballarat.