Do I really need an architect for this job?

[The Sauce]

The wife and I are planning on rebuilding (from the ground up) a small cottage on our property for rental purposes - about 600-800 sq ft. It's in the country - no public utilities x-cept electricity. Budget is about 80K. Have a few plans already picked out. An architect came over and quoted us an estimated fee of about 10K for the job.

Couldn't I just pick a plan out of a book and hand it to a contractor? What does the 10K for the architect really buy me? I am a construction noob so I really have no idea what an architect adds to the project that I couldn't do myself.

 

[The Sauce]

One bump for the day crowd.

 

[SearchMaster]

Have you talked to any contractors?

 

[LS20]

if the initial structure fails you could pay 10k for some messicans to rebuild a 2nd one

 

[SonnyDaze]

Originally posted by: Snatchface
The wife and I are planning on rebuilding (from the ground up) a small cottage on our property for rental purposes - about 600-800 sq ft. It's in the country - no public utilities x-cept electricity. Budget is about 80K. Have a few plans already picked out. An architect came over and quoted us an estimated fee of about 10K for the job.

Couldn't I just pick a plan out of a book and hand it to a contractor? What does the 10K for the architect really buy me? I am a construction noob so I really have no idea what an architect adds to the project that I couldn't do myself.

If you're a "construction noob" as you claim than I'd stick with a contractor and let them do it.

 

[dandruff]

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze

Originally posted by: Snatchface
The wife and I are planning on rebuilding (from the ground up) a small cottage on our property for rental purposes - about 600-800 sq ft. It's in the country - no public utilities x-cept electricity. Budget is about 80K. Have a few plans already picked out. An architect came over and quoted us an estimated fee of about 10K for the job.

Couldn't I just pick a plan out of a book and hand it to a contractor? What does the 10K for the architect really buy me? I am a construction noob so I really have no idea what an architect adds to the project that I couldn't do myself.

If you're a "construction noob" as you claim than I'd stick with a contractor and let them do it.

check w/ your local bldg code officials first. you need to foolow IRC (international residential code) ... you may or maynot need a stamped permit set ... if you are buying cookie cutter plans of the net - they can prolly seal the dwgs for your state as well ... if sealed set is needed most cities will acccept an engineers PE .. no need for arch seal ... i echo if you are a noob then just get a contractor ... only hire an architect if there is something you cannot figure out .. if structurally anyhitng out of the ordinary (like a free span etc) hire a structural engineer .. if anything out of the ordinary for civil/ grading/ earthwork .. hire a civil engineer ... we architects are umm.. not necessary hth!

 

[Demon-Xanth]

The plus side of a contractor is that they know what permits are needed, where to get them, and how to get them easily. Often they are like lawyers, they seem overpriced until you realize the cost of the mistakes that they didn't make.

 

[The Sauce]

So then what I am hearing is that for this project, and Architect would be a waste of 10K and it would be better for me to pick out a plan and get a general contractor? What I am still not clear on is exactly what the roles of the architect and the contractor are. What would an architect do that a contractor would not, or vice versa?

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

we cannopt tell you if you need an architect or not. If your jurisdiction requires a building permit, they may or may not require stamped plans for residential.

as others have said, a contractor will know what is required (or should, if he doesn't...RUN) to obtain a permit.

 

[SirStev0]

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze

Originally posted by: Snatchface
The wife and I are planning on rebuilding (from the ground up) a small cottage on our property for rental purposes - about 600-800 sq ft. It's in the country - no public utilities x-cept electricity. Budget is about 80K. Have a few plans already picked out. An architect came over and quoted us an estimated fee of about 10K for the job.

Couldn't I just pick a plan out of a book and hand it to a contractor? What does the 10K for the architect really buy me? I am a construction noob so I really have no idea what an architect adds to the project that I couldn't do myself.

If you're a "construction noob" as you claim than I'd stick with a contractor and let them do it.

 

[FP]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
The plus side of a contractor is that they know what permits are needed, where to get them, and how to get them easily. Often they are like lawyers, they seem overpriced until you realize the cost of the mistakes that they didn't make.

This is the absolute truth. It may seem like extra cost now, but it will be well worth it if something goes wrong.