Key takeaways
- Compare scope before comparing fees — two quotes for the same project often cover different work.
- Ask explicitly whether approval submissions and construction-stage inspections are included.
- Find out which consultants are needed, who appoints them, and whose budget they sit in.
- Agree in writing what happens when the brief changes, before it changes.
Continue exploring all architectural design process guides.
Scope, before fees
Two practices quoting the same project may be pricing substantially different work. Comparing the numbers before comparing the scope is the most common and most expensive briefing mistake.
About the appointment
- Which stages does this fee cover, and where does it stop? Map the answer against the five stages.
- Are approval submissions included — planning, building control, or whatever applies here?
- Are construction-stage services included? How many site inspections, and what happens on each?
- How many revision rounds per stage? What triggers an additional fee?
- What deliverables do I receive at the end of each stage? Ask for the list, not the adjective.
- Who holds the drawings and in what format if we part ways?
About the team
- Which other consultants does this project need? Structural is almost always required; services, fire, acoustic and cost consultants depend on the project.
- Who appoints and pays them — you directly, or the architect?
- Who is actually doing the work — the person in this meeting, or someone else?
- What is your insurance position and what does it cover?
About the project
- What do you see as the main constraints on this site? A good answer here is the strongest signal you will get about whether they have understood the problem.
- What could make this project cost more than expected? Anyone who says “nothing” has not thought about it.
- What would you push back on in our brief? You want someone who will.
- How do you handle it when the budget and the brief do not reconcile?
About change
- What happens to the fee if we change the brief after design development?
- How do you record and price variations during construction?
- What is the process if we disagree about something?
Red flags in the answers
| Answer | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| “We’ll figure out the fee as we go” | The scope is undefined, which means the cost is too |
| “You won’t need an engineer” | Almost never true, and suggests the structural implications have not been considered |
| “Planning won’t be a problem” | Nobody can guarantee an approval outcome |
| Vague about construction-stage services | This is the stage where design intent gets built or quietly abandoned |
| No written appointment offered | Everything above becomes unenforceable |
Bring the right things to the first meeting
- Your brief, with requirements and preferences separated — see how to write an architectural design brief.
- The real budget, including what it covers.
- Site information you already hold: title plan, survey, any previous approvals.
- Fixed dates and what drives them.
- Annotated references, with a note on what you liked in each.
What you are actually buying
Not drawings. You are buying a coordinated, compliant, buildable instruction set that a contractor can price accurately, plus someone accountable for it. See what does an architect do for what sits inside that, and the architectural design process guide for how it is sequenced.
Frequently asked questions
Is the cheapest fee the cheapest project?
Usually not. A lower fee often means fewer stages or no construction-stage services. The work still has to be done — either by you, by the contractor without design oversight, or as a variation later.
What are typical architect fees?
They vary widely by country, project type and scope, and are quoted as a percentage of construction cost, a fixed sum, or hourly. The useful comparison is not the number but what the number buys, stage by stage.
Do I need other consultants?
Almost always at least a structural engineer. Depending on the project you may also need services, fire, acoustic, planning, ground investigation or a cost consultant. Ask early — these are project costs that clients often discover late.
What should be in the appointment document?
Stages covered, deliverables per stage, revision rounds, fee and payment schedule, what triggers additional fees, who appoints and pays consultants, insurance, and how either party can end the appointment.
Sources
- RIBA Plan of Work — Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Accessed August 27, 2026.