We interact with hundreds of users on Houseyog for house designing services. And, Architects fees and charges remain the most frequently asked question. Although there is no fixed tariff or a rate chart for architectural services, I can certainly help you get a good idea of architects fees and charges in India.

But before we get into the architects fees and charges, let’s first understand what they do. And why it is important to hire an architect to design a beautiful house or a building.

What do the architects do?

Architects are professionally qualified and trained professionals who design buildings and structures. Architects primarily create floor plans and designs for new construction projects. They also help renovate and redevelop an existing residential or commercial building. They use their knowledge and skills to design space-optimized buildings that’ll be safer, functional, efficient and aesthetically good-looking.

And that’s why it is important to hire an architect while designing or renovating your homes, offices or any other types of residential or commercial properties. From designing functional and efficient floor plans to creating beautiful and stunning exterior elevation designs, they can help get it all right for you.

An architect can help design and develop all types of residential and commercial building including independent house, bungalow, villa, duplex houses, shopping complex etc.

Listed below are the key architectural services that an architect in India can help with.

• Set of floor plan drawings which may include master plan and individual floor plans
• Floor plan with furniture layout
• Building elevation designs to help visualize the building
• Structural and working drawings for the building
• Electrical, drainage and plumbing drawings

Apart from that, they can also do site inspection, measurement and supervision throughout the construction of the project.

Architect fees and charges for architectural services in India

Now that you broadly know what an architect can do and how they help plan, design and build a residential or commercial building, let’s understand the architect fees and charges in India. As the architects offer a service, their fees and charges depend on the level of engagement.

While some architects may charge a flat fee to help design your building, some of the architects in India charge a percentage of the project cost as their service fees. And then there are architects who would charge based on the total plot area or build area or as per the number of services as in drawings and detailing you want them to provide.

So, as you can see, there is no fixed rate card, or a fixed formula to calculate the architect fees and charges in India. Based on the size of the project, level of engagement and expertise of an architect, the charges and fees can well vary.

Different ways of calculating architects fees and charges

Architects fees and charges in India are not fixed and they can change a flat fee considering the size of the plot and building or a percentage of the construction cost as their consulting fees. However, there is no one-fit method and different architects may charge different fees based on their expertise, location and of course the circumstances.

Standard architect fees for different architectural services

Most of the architects in smaller towns and cities charge fixed fees for architectural services. Although the architects consider the size of the project i.e. the total area that needs planning and the number of floors, they usually charge a fixed fee for each of the services they offer.

For instance, here’s the standard rate chart of architect fees and charges for different architectural services for a single-floor, 1000 sq ft house.

• Simplex floor plan– Rs. 4000 to Rs. 6000 per floor
• Exterior elevation design – Rs. 4000 to Rs. 6000 per floor
• Structural and working drawing – Rs. 8000 to Rs. 9000 per floor
• Electrical, plumbing and drainage drawing – Rs. 6000 to Rs. 7500 per floor
• Site visit and supervision – Rs. 1500 to Rs. 2000 per visit

While you are looking at the above rates, you must consider that these rates are valid for smaller house design projects. As the architect’s rates and charges are also determined by the size of the building, the rates stated above can change in case of bigger projects.

Some of the well placed architects in major cities can charge between Rs. 30 to 60 per square feet for larger projects for floor plan drawing only. They also charge separately for other allied services like structural and working drawings, and drawing for plumbing, fire, drainage system etc.

Percentage of construction cost as architect fees

If the architect you are working with charges a percentage of the project cost as their fee, then it can vary between 4%-6% of the project cost. The project cost includes structural building construction cost and not the finishing and interior design cost.

So, if you are building a duplex house of around 1500 sq ft, and the cost of construction is around 150000, then the architectural service fees can range between Rs. 60000 – Rs. 900000. The architectural services should include Floor plan, schematic drawing, and exterior elevation, structural and working drawing, plumbing, electrical and drainage drawing along with project supervision.

However, 4%-6% is a standard architect fee in mid-tier cities in India. And that’s what the majority of the architects will charge as their fees. But don’t assume this is an absolute percentage. Because, in some cases, the architect can even charge up to 8% – 10% of the construction cost as their fees.

Final thoughts on architectural service rates and charges

Finding and hiring a qualified architect to design a new house or renovate an existing building can be overwhelming. Especially if you are concerned about the rates and charges of the Architects. Naturally, as a homeowner, you would want to work with the best possible architect and interior designers to design your dream home. However, you would also like to hire an architect that offers you the best possible architectural services. And at the same time, charges you the least for their service.

Unfortunately, there is no fixed rate card or standard for charging architectural service fees. Different architects charge differently for different types of projects. Some architects in India charge a flat fee. Others may charge a percentage of the total house construction expense. And in some cases, they take the mix-and-match approach.

And that’s where it gets complicated. We have been working with a number of architects and based on our interaction with them; we have simplified the process of calculating architect’s fees in India. The rates stated above may not work for all the practising architects and for all the locations. But, this will certainly give you a good idea about the architect’s fees. And it’ll help when you meet an architect to discuss your project requirements and their consulting fees.

If you are planning to build a house and need remote architectural services then talk to us: 7596058808. Our house designing services start from Rs. 4499 only. We’ll be happy to help design your house at extremely reasonable rates. Happy home construction!

The post Architect Fees and Charges in India for House Designing appeared first on Houseyog.

Today in this post, I am sharing everything worth knowing about the construction cost for a new home. I am also going to help you calculate the cost of constructing a new house in 2021 on a plot size of 1200 sq ft.

Although the average home construction cost in Indian was around Rs. 700-1000 per square feet in 2018 with standard quality materials, the construction costs have increased substantially in 2021.  

Today, average home construction cost can range between Rs. 1300 per sq ft – 2000 per sq ft, depending on the grade of raw materials you want to use, and quality of finish you want in your new house.

You already know that the home construction cost primarily depends on the size of the house, elevation design and quality of the raw materials being used in the construction. Apart from those crucial factors, a good portion of the total home construction budget will go towards the payment of labour charges.

All in all, calculating the cost of constructing a new house in India is not that simple and straightforward. Because, detailed home construction estimates include various cost heads, and variable factors with severe impact on construction costs. Therefore, if you want to calculate the tentative cost of constructing a new house today in India then you must consider these cost heads and factors.

Today in this post, I’ll give you a good overview of those cost heads and factors that must be considered to calculate tentative home construction cost for budgeting purposes.

So are you ready? Lets’ find out the average cost of constructing a house in India. We’ll also create a simple formula that you can use to calculate estimates costs for new home construction project.

How to calculate the cost of constructing a house in India

Constructing a house is a long term project which may take anywhere between 12 to 18 months to complete, if everything goes well. However, if the construction gets paused and halted for any reason, then it may take even longer and cost more to complete the construction. It requires a lot of patience, planning, estimation and involvement of several experts, professionals and contractors to build a house in a timely manner.

But, with proper construction planning and detailed estimation of cost heads, you should be able to manage a home construction project much efficiently and complete it on time.

However, if you start constructing a house without planning and budgeting, you can easily get caught up with issues that you thought are not important. For instance, if you did not get approval, or could not manage funding, the construction work may have to be halted which may result in higher construction costs and delays in completion. However, with proper construction planning, you can manage the expenses well and eventually reduce the home construction costs as well.

Lack of planning and inadequate budgeting can pose different challenges during the construction, which may result in delays, price rise and poor quality of construction. And that is the last thing anyone would like to experience while constructing a house.

We have been working with developers and architects and have managed many home construction projects and sites. I know what it costs to build a house today.

If you are building a house, then I can help you get a good understanding of how to calculate the tentative home construction cost in India that’ll help you to plan and build your home efficiently.

So, here’s what matters and what should be considered when calculating the estimate to build a new house in India.

Size of the plot and the house

The cost of constructing a new house primarily depends on the size of the house e.g. number of rooms, floors you want to construct. Depending on the size of the plot of land where you want to construct your house, you can figure out the size of the house and number of floors you can build.

While deciding the size of the house, you should consider a permissible FAR (Floor Area Ratio) in your city. Depending on the geography, you should check the local building guidelines from the municipal corporation, development authority or Gram Panchayat to figure out how much of open space has to be kept while constructing the house on your plot.

Moreover, it’s not just the permissible FAR, but you should also consider your immediate space requirements and future space requirements to decide the size of the house you should build.

Architectural design of the house

Once you get the idea of FAR and how much of space has to be left open as per the local building guidelines, the next step is to onboard a professional architect to get a customized house plan design and architectural drawings for your new home.

The very thing that you need is a proper house plan based on your plot size and layout. House plan consists of a set of detailed drawings that helps you visualize the entire layout of your upcoming house e.g. position and size of different rooms and areas like bedrooms, kitchen, living hall, bathroom, balcony, parking, passage etc. Depending on the number of floors you want to build, there’ll be a specific floor plan for every floor of the proposed house.

The architect and structural engineers are going to charge you a professional fee to help you design a customized house plan. House plan design charges in India vary depending on the expertise and experience of the architects you are working with and the level of detailing you want in your house plan.

Some of the architects in India charge a flat fee to design a house floor plan as per your plot and requirements. And some architectural firms charge based on the plot and total built up area.

Generally, to design a house plan for a 1000 sq ft plot size, the architect fees can range from Rs. 10000 to Rs. 15000 assuming you need a different set of drawings. But, please note that the architect’s fees for designing a house plan may increase in case of larger plot/house size. And if you want them to visit the site during construction, then they may charge separately for every site visit.

At Houseyog, we charge a flat fee of Rs. 4449.00 (plus GST @18%) to design a space optimized customized house plan for a 1000 sq ft single floor house. Our house plans are very detailed and contain furniture layout and column position marking. And the cherry on the cake is unlimited revision that we offer during the design. You may like to check out our ready to use house design catalogue to get some inspiration before you design your own house.

Quality of raw materials to be used

Once you have the set of architectural drawings passed and approved by the local building authority, the next major cost head in constructing a house is the cost of materials. Based on the set of drawings, a qualified architect or a building contractor can prepare a bill of quantities for you. BOQ for constructing a house is a vital document as it lists out all the materials with tentative cost that will be required to construct a new house.

However, you can think of materials in two different ways e.g. materials required for civil work and materials required for finishing.

You require different types of raw materials for construction e.g. sand, cement, steel, brick etc. And then you require materials for flooring e.g. tiles, marbles, fittings for doors, windows, etc

However, the price of the construction and finishing materials depends on the quality, brand and grade you prefer to use. Prices of raw materials may also vary from city to city and based on the supplier you are buying from.

The cost and quality of materials that you want to use can have a major impact on overall home construction cost, and that’s where the detailed BOQ document can help you prepare better estimates and stay on budget during the construction.

Moreover, if you want to get home construction loan to build your house, then the bank will ask for a Bill of Quantities with detailed cost estimates to assess your loan application. They’ll only approve a construction loan when they are satisfied with all the documents, especially the projected estimates of construction you submit with your loan application.

Labour charges to be paid

Apart from the cost of construction materials, labour charges are going to be another major cost head that you need to consider when estimating the construction cost. During the construction of a house, you will be working with different types of contractors and they charge differently. For instance, someone with expertise in brick work and plastering will charge differently than the flooring and waterproofing contractor.

And therefore it makes sense to work with one reliable home builder contractor who can execute the entire construction work from RC work to column, brick work to plastering, roofing to flooring and waterproofing etc.

However, you should take quotations from multiple home builder contractors to know the market rates. Moreover, home construction is a time taking project, and you are most likely going to work with your contractor for the next 12-18 months. And therefore, it is important that the construction contractor is truly reliable, transparent and has the expertise to pull it off on time and in your budget.

Also, it is easier to deal with one efficient contractor than coordinating and struggling with different independent contractors for different tasks, and hence it’s better to work with a full stack home builder. Here’s a detailed post on hiring a builder to build your home.

Calculating average home construction cost in India

Now that you know about the major costs and how it may affect the home construction cost, let me help you with tentative construction costs in India. The average home construction cost in India ranges from Rs. 1300 per sq ft to Rs. 2500 per sq ft. It includes standard quality materials and labor costs.

However, this cost does not include the architectural service fees and fees for getting necessary approval and sanctions from the local authorities. It also does not include the interior designing and decorating charges. Above cost estimate is from the home construction which includes civil work and basic finishing like doors, windows, flooring etc.

Calculate the home construction cost based on materials

As per the size of the house you are building, the architects or the builder should give you the detailed cost estimates. The estimates should not include the quantities, but also the current market price for different materials.

But, you can use a simple formula to calculate the home construction cost for your own estimation and budgeting purpose.

First off, let’s divide the quality of materials and finishes as standard, premium and luxury and based on that, you can easily calculate the home construction cost.

For the sake of calculating the construction cost of a small house in India, let’s assume you want to build a house on a 30 x 40 sq ft or 1200 sq ft plot size. We are also assuming the standard build up area of around 900 sq ft space (after leaving some open space). If we leave space for car parking, then the actual build up area will be around 775 sq ft.

Assuming you want to build a small one floor house with a car parking space of around 125 sq ft, let’s calculate the tentative construction cost using standard, premium and luxury quality of materials.

Standard home construction cost

Our actual build up area out of a 1200 sq ft plot size, after leaving all the open space and car parking comes around 775 sq ft. if we are to use the standard quality materials, the construction cost would go around Rs. 1300- Rs. 1500 per square feet.

To build a single floor house in India with RCC and red brick with plaster and wall tiles in bathrooms and kitchens, it may cost around Rs. 1007500 to Rs. 1162500.

The cost is only for civil construction work with finishing. Also this estimate includes the labour charges.

Here’re the tentative prices for main raw materials:

• Polished granite at the entrance @ Rs. 60 per sq ft
• Car parking flooring using paved tiles @ Rs. 35 per sq ft
• Tiles flooring (except stairs) with tiles @ Rs. 80 per sq ft
• Granite kitchen countertop @ Rs. 90 per sq ft
• Ceramic wall tiles @ Rs. 60 per sq ft
• Semi polished granite flooring at staircase with MS railing @90 per sq ft
• Bathroom fittings @ Rs. 20000 per bathroom
• Sump and overhead water tank of around 10000 liter capacity.
• Rooftop tiling @ Rs. 35 per sq ft
• Waterproofing in bathrooms and terrace.
• Electrical wiring, points and accessories of mid range like anchor by Panasonic

Home construction cost with premium and luxury materials

If you wish to build the same house but want to use a little premium quality of products like floor tiles, wall tiles etc then construction cost can range from Rs. 1800 – Rs. 2000 per sq ft.

Similarly, if you want to build a super luxurious home with the best available products, the construction cost could range from Rs. 2000 – Rs. 2100 per square feet.

But as you know, the cost of construction can increase or decrease based on the quality of materials you decide to use.

Instead of using polished granite of Rs. 60 per square range you can use the granite of Rs. 80 per square feet. Similarly, you can use higher range premium floor and wall tiles in the kitchen, washroom and other areas.

For instance, premium grade bath fittings could cost you around Rs. 50000 – Rs. 60000 per bathroom.

Similarly, you can use premium quality electrical wires, switches and accessories from Havells which costs nearly the double for other similar products.

For instance a normal fan regulator by Anchor costs around Rs. 150 per pc. But the same fan regulator from Havells or Crabtree is going to cost you around Rs. 275 per pc.

Hope it helps you understand how vital the brands and products could be and how it could affect the overall construction cost.

Conclusion

While, there are many benefits of living in a residential complex, some of us still prefer to build your own house as per our space requirements and preference. Although you get a lot of facilities when living in a well maintained residential complex and societies. Living in your own house with a small backyard can be a different feeling altogether.

The cost of home construction in India can range between Rs. 1300 per sq ft using standard quality materials, Rs. 1800 per sq ft if you wish to use premium quality materials and Rs. 2000 per sq ft using luxurious quality materials.

If you are wondering about how to calculate the tentative construction cost for budgeting purposes, you can use the cost heads as shared above.

Hope it’ll help you in budgeting for the upcoming home construction the right way.

And if you have any question or want to share some tips, then feel free to do so by commenting below.

Happy home construction!!

The post What’s the Average Home Construction Cost in India? appeared first on Houseyog.