Architects fees

[Tricorne]

We've been quoted around £3.5k for drawings/structural engineer/planning submission for a 5x3.5 extension in a pretty standard semi. We are in the South East. This feels pretty steep to me! Has anyone had recent experience of instructing an architect and can give me an idea whether this is a reasonable quote? We have another quote coming in the next day or so, but It would be good to know if that might come in the same, or might vary hugely.

This isn’t a cutting edge design with all
Mod cons. It’s a pretty basic kitchen diner extension (appreciate I may not be seeing some hidden complexities...)

We have literally just had our plans from the architect this week his bill is £1500.00 we are in Birmingham that is for kitchen /diner extension and dormer on existing loft room

We had an extension 2 years ago. The plans were done the year before so 3 years.

We had three architects come around. Asked them for ideas and it was striking the difference in the ideas. We went with the one whose ideas we liked although he pissed us once commissioned as he changed what he suggested and it was clear he was trying to use some template designs. However, he sorted it when told off!

All out quotes were around £2k. On top of that was £450 for a structural engineer as we had a lot of tricky steels and supporting walls to build. That was basically for a large ground floor extension of 40m square. We could have got it cheaper I believe.

Our neighbour did use an architectural technician who was fine to be honest. He charged £1200

Your quote does sound very expensive even for the south east

Doesn't sound expensive to me! Structural fees could easily be 1k. Drawings, changes, consultations and meetings are all chargeable; what about drainage? If that's required by the council (mine had a conditional placed on it) then maybe further fees for the drainage engineer. Building inspections too... If that 3.5k includes all the above then it's not so pricey. My architect fees were well over 5k PLUS structural, drainage and building inspectors costs