At Icelabz, we strive to be transparent and share knowledge to help you make informed decisions about measured surveys. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive guide on how to save money without compromising on quality.
One of the lesser-known tips in the industry is to conduct a measured survey before engaging an architect. This approach can help you get the best price for architects and ensure that you have the necessary plans in place for your project. Our research suggests that this method can save you a significant amount of money, with some clients saving up to £100s by doing so.
Our experience has shown that there are several ways to reduce the cost of a measured building survey. Some of these methods can be implemented at the initial stage or later stage of your project, depending on your needs. By engaging with a specialised company carrying out measured building surveys, you can save time and reduce the risk on certain aspects of your project.
Undertaking the survey before getting an architect
This tip is not well known in the industry, but it can be a game-changer for your project. By conducting a measured survey before engaging an architect, you can get the best price for architects and ensure that you have the necessary plans in place. According to a study by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), clients who conduct a measured survey before engaging an architect can save up to 10% on their overall project cost.
The usual method…
Generally, when approaching an architect, you will need to obtain existing plans of your property, which includes a measured survey. This can be produced by the architect or a land surveyor, and it can be a costly process. The architect can charge anywhere from £100-150 per hour to produce these plans, compared to £30-60 per hour for a land surveyor.
However, once you have engaged an architect to produce your plans, they will either contract another company to produce the plans or ask you to look for a surveyor to produce the plans. Either way, you will need to produce the plans, which can be a significant expense.
How to save cost
Our research has shown that clients who approach us for a measured survey before engaging an architect often find it more economical. By conducting the survey before engaging an architect, clients can save on the cost of getting an architect and get better and competitive prices. Additionally, having existing plans in place allows for better creative discussions with the architect, as the plans can be used as a starting point for the project.
As one of our past clients put it, “Having the same plans produced by us can be used for our planning application, building regulation, and part of the tender to our builders. It’s a huge time-saver and cost-effective.” By taking this approach, clients can save time and money on their project, while also ensuring that they have the necessary plans in place for a successful outcome.
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