Invoice for work

What does the hourly rate equate to? I'd expect around £100 an hour for a qualified architect for that kind of work.

I’ve got a client who likes to negotiate a better “hourly rate” , as in half of what I normally charge . Funny enough , those jobs take twice as long 😉😂😂

Not wanted to sound like an ass, but I assume one would ask for an estimate or quotation before commissioning work as it’s a bit difficult to argue afterwards?

How do you stand regarding invoices for work but nothing agreed at start in terms of what would be charged and exactly what would be done.

I imagine you would stand with your pants down.

The time to agree that stuff is at the start

Is this not what estimates are for?

How do you stand regarding invoices for work but nothing agreed at start in terms of what would be charged and exactly what would be done.

Both of you need to have a word with yourselves.

Specifically asked an architect to do some plans- no indication of cost for the job or hourly rate. Then bill arrives for what seems like a lot of time.

So is the problem the rate or the time? Seems like time, here.

It’s not crazy crazy but got me thinking they could have doubled or tripled the hourly rate- where does one stand on this

I'd have asked for a rate and an estimate first so I wasn't surprised. Maybe a 'If you think it'll take longer than n hours, please let me know' as well.

I've always been very careful to quote rates, expected time and payment terms whenever I've done work for someone to avoid nasty surprises at either end. The key thing is open and honest communication - in both directions. If there's a problem here, you're both at fault, so I'd take it as a lesson learned.

The law is that you can be charged a reasonable price. Consumer Rights Act 2015, s51

So if it's a reasonable price for what you asked for, pay up and move on. If it's not (or if you've been supplied more than you asked for) document this and why, hopefully as a basis for negotiation, but potentially as your grounds for defending yourself if you get sued and stand your ground.

If you want to pursue this, you'll end up getting rival quotes because that's basically the only way to determine what's reasonable, at which point you'll wish you had started there. But it's pretty common practice to contract for services without getting a price. Requires trust and clarity though, not sure which you were lacking.

Thanks all. Request to put together plans to replace a knackered Lintel (see other thread!).

architect meets at property then eventually sends a very basic sketch (think auto shapes in ms word) and a dozen or so bullets of notes about what has been requested ie replace the Lintel and measurements but nothing about how to actually do this / support property etc.

He meets a builder there to discuss. Then bill for 7 hours at 110 per hour. So rate seems ball park but time spent feels long.

I Did try to get clarity upfront but It’s complicated by the fact the property is a flat so I don’t own the whole building and it was the other owner who contracted the architect- I did ask him to get a quote but he didn’t.

By comparison I had an engineer report which proposed something different (encase the rusted beams in concrete) and the charge was £170. He didn’t meet any builders there but still a massive difference!

2 trips to site - that's going to be 4 hour minimum isn't it - hour each plus travelling time?

Sounds like your contract is not worth the paper it's not written on.

By comparison I had an engineer report which proposed something different (encase the rusted beams in concrete) and the charge was £170.

Well that seems like a patch up job rather than removing and replacing? A patch up might well be fine (im not a builder), but that's maybe why theres a big price difference?

Request to put together plans to replace a knackered Lintel

nothing agreed at start in terms of what would be charged and exactly what would be done.

What we've got here, is a failure to communicate.

Hang on a minute …. Why is an architect coming to look at it ? You have had an engineer report done on it . The architect or yourself will have to get a structural engineer to come up with calculations for size etc , or has he done that already and is part of his charge.
Sounds to me like you have been done up a bit

If the beam just had surface rust and had not delaminated etc then the concrete would have surely done the job. I supplied steel for someone to replace some massive rotted timber lintel. Once it was in place it was shuttered up and concrete cast in-situ so it’s not uncommon

I think the interior one is ok. The concrete proposal was to bolt some angles to the centre and then fill the middle. No idea how feasible - struggling to get anyone to quote as it is a bit wacky.