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mpm32:
I'm pretty sure most general contractors will be able to help you find someone or maybe even be able to draw the plans in house. Call them first and pick their brains - when and if you can get them to show up. ;)

Tons of additions are done without an architect.

I would hire an architect if I bought a nice 10 acre plot and I wanted to put something unique on it. But most likely I would look around online and find some plans of a house that's similar to the one I want, and buy them that way.

javeryh:

--- Quote from: shateredsoul on September 08, 2010, 03:47:07 am ---If you don't mind me asking, why are you thinking of expanding?

Might help some people here give you advice on whether you need that much room instead of paying someone for that type of advice :laugh:

but yeah, I had no idea architects charged a percentage, but it seems like it has to do with them overseeing the project. A 1 million $ project is going to require more overseeing and checking than a $200,000 project so it makes sense to me.

--- End quote ---

We are thinking of expanding because I love the neighborhood but my house is just too small. The footprint is 25'x25' - we have one shower, two kids (hopefully more soon) and an unusable basement (6' ceilings). I have been looking at real estate in town and it will cost a minimum of $200,000 to "upgrade" to a bigger house (that we'd probably have to completely redo over time). I am hoping to get an addition for about 70% of that cost and since it will be built just for us it theoretically should be exactly what we want.

--- Quote from: mpm32 on September 08, 2010, 08:38:11 am ---I'm pretty sure most general contractors will be able to help you find someone or maybe even be able to draw the plans in house. Call them first and pick their brains - when and if you can get them to show up. ;)

Tons of additions are done without an architect.

I would hire an architect if I bought a nice 10 acre plot and I wanted to put something unique on it. But most likely I would look around online and find some plans of a house that's similar to the one I want, and buy them that way.

--- End quote ---

I understand now if the architect was overseeing the project that it would cost more. I didn't think of that and I don't think I'd need the architect to also be the GC but I also don't know anything about this process and after reading a bunch online it seems like hiring an architect might cost more up front but it could potentially save you thousands of dollars in the long run because the plans will be more specific and the costs will be easier to predict.

I want to do this right but I am super sensitive when it comes to spending money and I'm a little nervous. I mean, on paper I know we can afford it but still - it is a LOT of money. We are also having some built-ins... um, built-in near our front door (desk with some drawers and bookshelves) and the guy wants $8,000 just for that!!! I'd do it myself but I don't have the time - it would probably take me a year and it would make my wife mental. Why is everything so freaking expensive???

shateredsoul:
why don't you test out your haggling with the "built-ins" guy? Ask him how many hours, check cost of materials, and try to get him down to somethings more reasonable.

mpm32:

--- Quote ---built-in near our front door (desk with some drawers and bookshelves) and the guy wants $8,000 just for that!!!
--- End quote ---

I used to swing a hammer for a living. For every job on my house, I had someone in and got estimates. As I was looking at the astronomically high quotes, I'd say to myself, screw that, I can do it myself cheaper. I did most of the improvements to my house myself. When I bought the house, I stripped it the studs, moved doors, changed rooms around, built a bigger kitchen. After that was done, my wife decided the house wasn't big enough. So we decided to take off the second floor of the house, it was a cape, and go up with a full second floor and walk up attic.

Now I could've done it myself but there was no way I'd be able to get the second floor off and covered in time to prevent damage to the first floor. I did most of the demo of the second floor - saved there.

So I contracted out the shell of the house. This way it would be covered and I did all the finish work a lot of the electrical, plumbing, contracted out sheetrocking , painting too (I hate doing that). Doing it this way saved a ton of money and we were able to go with higher end materials and fixtures.

So maybe take a look at what you can do and are willing to do. You can save a ton of cash.

eds1275:
I did my own reno - not an addition, though I would do one myself if it were just a ground level thing, but not a 3 story. I too found that everything is so expensive.

I would add a small sitting room or area in the master bedroom if I were you; a space for yours & the wife's personal library, maybe a tv/movie player... it's nice to be able to have your own little hide away.

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