In doing a little research today I came across an interesting article in the Washington Post about Architects, and their fees. Being in the field of Architecture I have a pretty good idea of what most Architects cost, and where my firm lies within that spectrum… but there is one consistent theme I have found: Most clients don’t know what to expect for fees, and they don’t understand how we determine our fees.
If you shop around, you will find that the standard percentage fee varies from firm to firm, as do the standard services offered. In the Washington area, the standard fee can be anywhere from 8 to 18 percent of construction cost.
There is a lot more in the article which gives a good, albeit brief, look at what Architect’s do, and what we cost.