To discover how much an architect costs, it’s essential to consider several factors. These include:
Experience
Newly qualified architects may be willing to offer their services for less money. The downside is that they are unlikely to have developed a speciality, meaning you will be taking more of a risk by employing them.
Of course, experience doesn’t necessarily mean years of activity. Experience can also be demonstrated through winning awards. Examples of architectural award bodies include:
- Now Planning Institute Australia
- Royal Australian Institute of Architects
View our list of awards here.
Area of expertise
Architects may have varying areas of expertise, including residential design, commercial architecture, industrial design, historic preservation and sustainable design.
Some of these will inevitably be more expensive than others. For example, complex and sustainable commercial architecture will be less pocket-friendly than residential design.
BY Projects Architecture specialises in a variety of architectural designs, spanning residential and commercial renovations to master planning of substantial residential developments.
Budget
Financially planning for an architect doesn’t have to be one-sided. A reputable architect should consider your budget and plan accordingly. In particular, an experienced architect will be able to avoid any disruptions that could bleed your budget.
Breaking Down the Cost of An Architect
There are two considerations when closely analysing an architect’s costs: whether to choose an experienced architect and the proportion of the construction project.
Why choosing an experienced architect is worth the money
One of the problems with architectural projects is that it’s easy for their budgets to overrun. Poor communication, underestimating costs, unrealistic timelines, etc., are issues produced mainly from the architect’s side. Ideally, you need an architect with decades, not years of experience.
The typical costs of a residential architect are proportional
For private residential projects, a typical architect’s fee for full architectural services ranges from 10 to 15 per cent of the construction cost. You may be able to negotiate this down if you use an architect for the initial design stage only. Some practices, such as ours, work on a fixed fee, meaning they are independent of construction costs.
However, hiring an architect only for the initial design stage may result in additional costs down the line. For example, you might need to hire a separate engineer or contractor to oversee the construction process, which could increase your overall expenses. It’s worth careful thinking about how you can make your construction budget stretch the furthest.
Want To Know More About Our Architects Fees? Get In Touch
BY Projects Architecture has a portfolio boasting over 30 years of experience. We’ve produced a variety of projects for satisfied clients, scoring ourselves a stellar reputation on the Australian architectural scene. But seeing is believing, so check out our testimonials. Clients describe our services as ‘efficient in dealing with our builder and surveyor’, and ‘forward-thinking’, with our work ‘doubling [the building] in profit’.
However, our success has never compromised our principles of putting our clients first and working closely to meet our clients’ budgets. The first step is meeting with us – we offer free consultations worth $1,000 –claim yours here.
I highly recommmend the team at BY Architecture.
Barbara, Howard and the team designed a wonderful extension to my late 1960s Melbourne home, ran the tender process to find me a builder, and superintended the build contract.
The design process that Barbara took me through was comprehensive, well-considered and highly collaborative, and the resulting extension and renovation was incredibly well-tailored to my specific needs and desires.
The tender process was similarly well-run, and we ended up choosing a builder that Barbara had worked with many times before and recommended. The recommendation was a great one and the entire build ran very smoothly, with the many quirks arising in a typical renovation being dealt with intelligently and with no fuss.
During the entire time I worked with them, Barbara and her team went over-and-above to keep me happy. As a result of their attention to detail and their focus on customer service, they ensured that what can often be a stressful time was actually a pleasure. I cannot thank them enough and would work with them again in a heartbeat.
Barbara, Howard and the team designed a wonderful extension to my late 1960s Melbourne home, ran the tender process to find me a builder, and superintended the build contract.
The design process that Barbara took me through was comprehensive, well-considered and highly collaborative, and the resulting extension and renovation was incredibly well-tailored to my specific needs and desires.
The tender process was similarly well-run, and we ended up choosing a builder that Barbara had worked with many times before and recommended. The recommendation was a great one and the entire build ran very smoothly, with the many quirks arising in a typical renovation being dealt with intelligently and with no fuss.
During the entire time I worked with them, Barbara and her team went over-and-above to keep me happy. As a result of their attention to detail and their focus on customer service, they ensured that what can often be a stressful time was actually a pleasure. I cannot thank them enough and would work with them again in a heartbeat.
Barbara is very friendly and easy to work with. Thank you for the great advices.
Response from the owner 23:14 17 Jun 24
thank you Arik. Happy to be helpful 
Barbara and the BY Projects team were fantastic to work with for our knockdown-rebuild. We had no idea what we were doing or getting ourselves in for, and through every stage of the process Barbara explained everything and was supportive and transparent.
She drew plans for a beautiful house for us which fulfilled everything we wanted while adding such flair and style that we never could have imagined ourselves.
I was so glad to have her and her team on my side throughout the build process, as we would have struggled to advocate for ourselves (or even notice) mistakes or defects by the builder.
Overall, we just couldn’t be happier with the final result.
She drew plans for a beautiful house for us which fulfilled everything we wanted while adding such flair and style that we never could have imagined ourselves.
I was so glad to have her and her team on my side throughout the build process, as we would have struggled to advocate for ourselves (or even notice) mistakes or defects by the builder.
Overall, we just couldn’t be happier with the final result.
Response from the owner 06:53 31 May 24
Thank you for your enthusiasm Emily. And thank you for trusting us with your dream Home. It's been a pleasure working with you and your family, and we trust you will enjoy your home for the years to come. 
We recently had the pleasure of carrying out a renovation for Barbara and BY Projects Architecture.
The project ran very smoothly from receiving the plans, to handover day.
Barbara pays very close attention to detail and takes great pride in her work.
We look forward to working with BY again on future projects.
The project ran very smoothly from receiving the plans, to handover day.
Barbara pays very close attention to detail and takes great pride in her work.
We look forward to working with BY again on future projects.
Response from the owner 22:11 30 Mar 21
Thank you Koray. It was a pleasure working with AMCON Homes, we look forward to working with you again in the future. 
Barbara provided excellent professional advice regarding Town planning and approval process by the Council. She went out of her way to find the right information and help me. Will surely use their services again when necessary.
I would highly recommend them.
I would highly recommend them.
Response from the owner 01:37 16 Feb 21
Thank you Jarardhan. We do hope you find a more suitable site soon to build your dream homeBarbara 
We were in a very difficult position after a VCAT rejection. Barbara came into our project and reimagined what was possible with our property. Going from a house with three shops with significantly reduced value to a development with two town houses, a cafe and all able to be subdivided into three separate properties. Barbara was positive, enthusiastic, charming at planning meeting and all in all kept us positive and hopeful. Barbara went through the whole process with us and I would say went above and beyond what would generally be expected. She worked well with our development team, working out strategies for planning challenges. We are very thankful for her time and energy.
We engaged Barbara and her team many times over many years for our Building Development Projects, including Multi Residential, Child Care and Mixed Use. Most recently for a couple of houses in Port Melbourne with complex Heritage Overlay requirements.
Barbara worked with us closely to ensure all design requirements were achieved to exceed market expectations. All permit requirements were managed in a professional and timely manner, and all processes were met on time and on budget.
The finished buildings were outstanding and the realized sales well above market expectations.
We highly recommend BY Projects Architecture for their Design sense and construction experience.
Barbara worked with us closely to ensure all design requirements were achieved to exceed market expectations. All permit requirements were managed in a professional and timely manner, and all processes were met on time and on budget.
The finished buildings were outstanding and the realized sales well above market expectations.
We highly recommend BY Projects Architecture for their Design sense and construction experience.
I have worked with Barbara and the team at BY Projects on a number of projects now. Its hard to think how you could get better value for money. They are great architects - that goes without saying. But its the extra mile they go to on your behalf in order to secure the very best for you that makes all the difference. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them for your next project.
Response from the owner 06:02 24 May 19
Thank you Virginia for your kind words. It is always a pleasure working with you. 
