We engaged an architect to design an extension to our semi-d., to include a two-storey side extension and a rear ground floor extension and a garden room for working from home.
We set an initial budget of 275k all in. After the initial consultation the architect sent us a fee proposal and estimated the cost of the project would be 300k ex VAT and fees. We agreed to borrow 100K from a family member and increased our budget to 375k all in.
Architect designed beautiful plans, in many ways much nicer than we had expected (e.g. bedrooms larger, open-plan space very large, downstairs bathroom huge, walk-in wardrobe included etc.), we were delighted, went through some small changes (moving doorways, swapping utility and bathroom, etc.). The only thing we added was an extra 4.5 sq meter extension at the front of the house, which they estimated would cost 10-15k.
We were ready to progress to the next stage of the process - planning - when the architect told us the current plans are going to cost 400k ex VAT and fees and this doesn't include the garden room, which will be another 50k ex VAT and fees. So, well over 500k total. We don't have this money. We discussed by phone and they're saying we'll have to lose a bedroom to get under budget but we need that bedroom, it's one of the main reasons for doing the extension.
They've now billed us for the work to date. What should we do? Are we within our rights to ask them to go back to the drawing board and design something we can afford?
We set an initial budget of 275k all in. After the initial consultation the architect sent us a fee proposal and estimated the cost of the project would be 300k ex VAT and fees. We agreed to borrow 100K from a family member and increased our budget to 375k all in.
Architect designed beautiful plans, in many ways much nicer than we had expected (e.g. bedrooms larger, open-plan space very large, downstairs bathroom huge, walk-in wardrobe included etc.), we were delighted, went through some small changes (moving doorways, swapping utility and bathroom, etc.). The only thing we added was an extra 4.5 sq meter extension at the front of the house, which they estimated would cost 10-15k.
We were ready to progress to the next stage of the process - planning - when the architect told us the current plans are going to cost 400k ex VAT and fees and this doesn't include the garden room, which will be another 50k ex VAT and fees. So, well over 500k total. We don't have this money. We discussed by phone and they're saying we'll have to lose a bedroom to get under budget but we need that bedroom, it's one of the main reasons for doing the extension.
They've now billed us for the work to date. What should we do? Are we within our rights to ask them to go back to the drawing board and design something we can afford?
