Our fees

'The best services offer clients a wide choice'.

FOR INITIAL PRELIMINARY SITE MEETING

This initial site meeting lasts between 30 minutes and 1 hour and allows me to briefly inspect the property and to consider your requirements.

It allows me to inform you of any relevant Planning and Building Regulation issues that you should be considering within your scheme together with likely build cost budgets. After this meeting I will write to you normally within 2 - 3 days with my 'mini feasibility report' or 'property potential report' covering all the issues we discussed together with my fee quotation including costs. This is a great way for the potential client to assess my ability, the quality of the advice offered and my resources available for a very small outlay.

Provided you already own the property, CHP charges a nominal £35.00 one off fee to cover time, travelling and expenses involved in visiting the client (locally) to discuss initial concepts. 

If you are considering purchasing a property which you do not yet own and require my initial design thoughts on what you can achieve for the dwelling then my one off fixed fee is £50.00 (local site).

Being a small practice with a current high demand for Architectural Services, CHP is unable to absorb the time and expenses associated with visiting potential clients for the first time.  At this first site meeting, the prospective client will obtain advice and opinions together with a mini feasibility study or property potential report and a fee quote letter for their consideration that will follow in the post or buy email.

FOR DESIGN DRAWINGS and SPECIFICATIONS

For minor works (below £25k contract value) - CHP will normally give an estimate of hours for each stage of the design process (normally 2 to 3 stages) when the clients project is known after the initial site meeting.  A cost per hour will be stated together with an estimate of all costs applicable. The current hourly rate will be given upon application.

For medium works (£25k to £80k contract value) - CHP charges either an hourly rate or 3 to 5% of the contract value for Planning design stage and 3 to 5% of contract value for Building Regulations design stage. Alternatively an estimate of hours for each stage of the design process (normally 2 to 3 stages) when the clients project is known after the initial site meeting.  A cost per hour will be stated together with an estimate of all costs applicable.

For Larger works (£80k to £300k+ contract value) - CHP charges 3% of contract value for Planning design stage and 3% of contract value for Building Regulations design stage. Alternatively an estimate of hours for each stage of the design process (normally 2 to 3 stages) when the clients project is known after the initial site meeting.  A cost per hour will be stated together with an estimate of all costs applicable.

Notes - All percentage and hourly quoted fees exclude normal expenses for printing postage, council fees, disbursements, travelling etc.  VAT is currently not applicable (client to check first).   Contract values for fee calculation purposes will be based upon current building cost estimates given by the RICS.  CHP reserves the right to adjust the percentage fee scales according to the complexity of the scheme. 

FOR DRAWING ALTERATIONS

Most minor alterations (if required) in satisfying Planning or Building Control issues are absorbed by CHP as part of our normal service at no extra charge.  For larger scale design changes required by the client or Council 'may' be charged at the normal hourly rate (subject to prior agreement). 

FOR TENDER APPLICATION (OPTIONAL SERVICE)

CHP charges a nominal fee plus expenses to cover the time and administration involved in submitting a tender to local builders should the client choose not to do this themselves. 

FOR CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION (OPTIONAL SERVICE)

CHP charges a negotiated percentage of the final contract sum plus expenses for this service to cover regular site visits, associated administration time, and increased liabilities. However, most clients choose to save money on this service and not engage my services.

FOR APPEALS TO THE DOE (OPTIONAL SERVICE)

CHP will normally give an estimate of hours for this service. A cost per hour will be stated together with an estimate of all costs applicable. The current hourly rate will be given upon application. 

FOR BACK OFFICE CLIENT SUPPORT

CHP will normally provide most 'back up support services' to the client or their builder during the works on site as part of his normal services without extra charge (subject to time, extent and complexity). Examples could be assessing variations, offering telephone advice, help resolving disputes etc. on an 'as and when basis. Please note that this is not contract administration duties.

COMPARING SERVICES and FEE QUOTES

As with any service, it is vital that you obtain fee quotes for similar levels of service and scheduled below are a few suggested important questions that a building owner should ask when selecting their Building Design Agent.  

If the answer to any of these questions is 'NO', then the building owner may not be obtaining the 'best value' service.  Cheap fees do not necessarily mean best value.  A few pounds saved at the start of a project can cost you dear if the plans and specifications are deficient in detail for you or your builder later on. Please feel free to print off this table of questions.

The purpose of this question sheet is to ensure that the building owner is better informed at the outset and that any alternative quotations for professional services are based on a similar level of service and resources.  This question sheet is not intended to be a comprehensive checklist but merely a guide for CHP promotional purposes only.