How is your experience with your architect?

[A1677 0]

I just started my journey to build my 2-storey envelop house and have engaged separate architect and builder as we were told it would help with check & balance. 

My architect was recommended by a friend so we did not look around. He only works Mon-Fri and I have to make an appointment with him one week in advance. That said he still does his job to submit plans to URA, apply for SIP, tell us to get our TOPO done.

My builder has started to quote us based on our draft floor & elevation plans. I am concerned that my builder’s quote is not accurate as I have yet to receive the  updated floor and RCP plans. When my builder’s PE submits his drawings to BCA and shares a copy with us, my architect did not comment - is it like that?

Please can anyone share your experience with your architect? Is it the architect or owner who has to discuss the building design with the builder as I am the one responding to my builder’s Whatzapp messages, my architect waits for us to tell him when we meet him. Is it too late for me to change architect now?

Greatly appreciate any advice to help clear my understandings on role of an architect. 

[snoozee 98]

what is stated in the scope of work for the contract you signed with your architect?

Have your architect submitted the plans to URA for approval? Have you obtained the PP or WP from URA?

If there's no submissions to URA yet, I'm not sure what you PE is submitting to BCA since your building plans has not even been approved by URA? Unless your PE is just submitting to BCA the demolition plans than your architect wouldn't have any comments on that since there's nothing much to comment on by the architect for demolition since method statement for demolition is done by PE and not architect.

The builder's quotation should be based on URA and BCA approved drawings since there might be major changes required on the draft design especially if URA doesn't give approval.

Building design and layout should be discussed between owner and architect. After approval of plans and start of construction, the builder has to refer back to architect on design clarifications and such. Of cos you as the owner can be involved but the clarifications of details should be between the builder and architect. When there's queries by the builder, it would normally be near to where the workers are planning to construct already so the architect should respond to these clarifications soon. If your architect is going to take 1 week to reply, then your construction may get delayed if the workers can't proceed with what is intended to be done.

you still can change your architect even after submissions. you just have to pay your current architect on what has been done till date.

Again it goes back to my first question on what is indicated in the contract you signed with your architect. If there's no black and white, then it's hard for you to dispute on whether your architect is doing what he is supposed to do or not.

[yoongf 11]

TS, what u have mentioned is totally out of the norm. U mentioned that builder is still quoting you. U mention that PE submited to BCA. The usual practice is that design must be finalised first, then get authority approvals, then get builder quote. Is this sequence you are following? Which step are you now?

[A1677 0]

@snoozee My architect did produce the floor and elevation plans but thereafter it is difficult to find face time with him. Putting aside the submissions to authorities, I wanted to understand the experience of others using architect to build their home if it is a norm that your architect is a super busy man, that you have to check the builder’s quote yourself, review the power, light, fan points, etc., on the M&E coverage yourself. So the architect is only responsible to produce the floor and elevation plans?

[snoozee 98]

Well I would be concerned if the architect can be at your beck and call as this could mean that he has only your project ongoing. 
An architect normally would have a few concurrent jobs on hand so of cos you need to make appointment to schedule time with him.

I had asked you what is stated as the scope of work between you and your architect. So if the scope doesn’t cover all the extras you are asking about then you can expect the architect to do all those thing for free right?

if you have a QS for your project then the QS would be helping you and the architect to review the builders quotations. If you don’t have a QS and the architect is willing to double up as one then he has to do it. 

If you want someone to plan your lighting coverage there are architects who specialise in lighting. Same as there are landscape architects to design the greenery. But for a small project like a landed house you don’t need it unless you are willing to pay for these services. 
 

I’m not sure about other house owners but I was very hands on with the layout of the lighting, fan, electrical and network points for my house. Cos only I would know what I want and the architect will design the layout based on my input. If you have an M&E engineer for your project, then the M&E engineer will cover this portion of the work. 
 

again the question is what is stated in the scope of work between you and your architect. 

[AWS 6]

9 hours ago, A1677 said:

@snoozee My architect did produce the floor and elevation plans but thereafter it is difficult to find face time with him. Putting aside the submissions to authorities, I wanted to understand the experience of others using architect to build their home if it is a norm that your architect is a super busy man, that you have to check the builder’s quote yourself, review the power, light, fan points, etc., on the M&E coverage yourself. So the architect is only responsible to produce the floor and elevation plans?

Just asking, did you engage your architect first and do all the necessary as adviced by the architect like topographical survey, soil test etc. Then proceed to engage a PE once the building plan is finalized? Because the PE will decide a few things that needs to done concerning the structure, eg piling. The builder will be a last stage process by calling a tender because by calling a tender, the design of the house would have been 95% finalized. Of course in the tender document, you can put certain items as PC sum. Meaning if you decide to exercise that certain item, you can ask the builder to do it and pay extra for that item. Example will be boundary wall finishing with SKK textured finishing or stone finishing etc. Toilet fittings or ironmongery can be under PC sum too. It all depends how you want to draft out the tender document with your architect before calling for tender. 

[Snowcapper 0]

Do you mind sharing how much you paid for your architect?

[prodriver6 7]

@A1677 i know how you feel, i dont have the exact context of your situation but maybe part of the issue is "us"

i suffer the same issue as you, as home owners, we tend to be more "kan cheong" and expect them to respond to us quickly or participate in discussions enthusiastically, but the truth is this is just "another house" for them 

i tell myself, instead of feeling upset over it, i should just focus on his deliverables, as long as his meets the key milestones and does his job then i have no right to expect more.

why dont have a candid conversation with him and let him know how you feel? perhaps this may help iron out expectations?

 

as to your builder's quote not being "accurate", i feel its somewhat normal. i've just started my rebuild journey, so i cant speak with conviction, but what i have observed so far is quotes are really "arga arga" one. i'm almost 100% sure that more VOs will come along the way. i'm still early in this journey, so it would be better for folks like @snoozee to comment in this department.

 

Chill bro, i feel cant be help one... its a home for us, but its just concrete and bricks for them, so there bound to be some disjoint in expectation. if you have the time, try to get more involved if you are worried.