Wondering how much to pay your architect in India?

Is your architect charging too much? Is he charging the right fee? How should you break up the fee in installments? Here are a few guidelines:

• The Architects Act does stipulate a minimum level of compensation, depending on the scope of work undertaken by an architect. However, for works costing up to Rs. 5,00,000, the professional fee is negotiable between the architect and the client.
• The terms and conditions of payment of fee are laid down as per the agreement between the two parties. However the general

guidelines are:

Stage 1
15 per cent of the fee on submission of conceptual drawings and preliminary cost estimates.

Stage 2
10 per cent of the fee on submission of detailed drawing, models and revised cost estimates.

Stage 3
10 per cent of the fee on submission of the drawings for obtaining approval from the statutory body.

Stage 4
20 per cent of the fee on preparation of detailed working drawings and cost estimates.

Stage 5
25 per cent of the fee on submission of complete set of drawings and details sufficient for the commencement of work on the site.

Stage 6
The rest is to be paid in installments during the course of construction on the site.

All the fee calculations are done on the basis of an estimated cost of the project at the preliminary stage and further on the actual costs, or otherwise, as agreed upon.

In order to provide you quality services, an architect may hire consultants for structural, electrical and plumbing works. The fee to be paid to these consultants is the architects' responsibility. Also, even though the architect may hire a consultant, he is responsible for all the work, i.e. if he hires a structural consultant, the responsibility does not shift to the latter, but remains with the architect, unless there exists a prior agreement between the architect and the consultant.

So, beware of paying more!