How many architect's revisions is normal?

[FlamedToACrisp]

Our architect is drawing plans for an extension. We're currently on Revision D and we still want changes. He keeps adding new ideas and then we don't like them and suggest other things...

It's a first (and last) time for us - I don't want to be 'that awful couple' who are never satisfied, but I also don't want to pay out my inheritance for something that's not really what I wanted because I didn't like to make a fuss!

How many times did you need to get your architect to make changes before you were ready to apply for planning permission?

sounds like there is not a good communication between you & him about what you want.

do you know exactly what you want or do you change your mind when you see it drawn out? That would annoy any architect.

But if you know what you want & s/he is drawing something different then something is wrong with the communication. could you find a different architect who is closer to your ideas?

How about you sit down and draw out a load of alternatives before talking to the architect? You can look at what you like and what you don't?

We have a range of options we are looking at and about to employ an architect or design / build company. At the end of the day decisions need to be made, an architect doesn't make then, they are an adviser. if they are on an hourly rate then have as many discussion as you like / they get bored / you run out of money!

This is why we have always used ‘just’ a qualified technical draftsman for our plans. We have completed several house revamps and every time the architects‘ ‘vision’ was not what we asked for and their quote for building costs was always well over our specified budget (and if you watch Grand Designs their quotes usually end up being woeful underestimates). It’s like they wilfully stick their fingers in their ears when we spoke and just drew what they wanted 🤣. Well the ones we had anyway. We saved thousands and had full control by going down the cheaper technical draftsman route. Sorry I know that advice is no good to you, but it may be useful for any control freaks like me who are not looking for outlandish designs and just need someone to just draw what they blooming well want!

Our architect says paper is cheap! He drew lots of different ideas and then we picked and chose what we liked and worked from there. If you're not on the same page at all then it sounds like you need a new architect.

We didn't make a single change to ours, our architect took notes on what we really wanted, what we would like if they could fit it in and absolute no no's. They took detailed notes including minimum sizes for rooms, size of our dining table (antique Old school table so unusual size) they discussed a few layouts during the measuring up stage, they had 1 great idea that we hadn't thought of so that's the one they went with first. On paper it's perfect for us and I'll know for sure in about a month. I think you either need to communicate better or they need to listen better.

Just seen initial designs today and I can't imagine many revisions. He's got almost everything we wanted. I'm not sure about coming up with random new ideas throughout the process

I had a pretty good idea what I wanted.
Architect came up with several alternatives and they were useful to see, but ultimately I only made a couple of tweaks to my original plan because I knew what I wanted, and my budget & the architect listened to me.
If I needed to make changes or I changed my mind on the design I would expect to do that without fuss. I wouldn't expect endless tweaks.

My architect is a woman, and the ability to listen to me was one of the main reasons I chose her.