I don't know about the cost, but it seems like the whole roof structure would need to be reconfigured and the structural integrity re-evaluated. The plans would have to be redrawn and re-certified. All the material needs redone. So, after having written all that, it doesn't sound like overreaching. But, again, I am not an architect. It might also be a PIA fee....

JDS, I'm thinking it's your second scenario. The builder said he'd need to tell the architect to increase the width of the house by three feet to accommodate minimum square footage requirements, add a third garage and do the necessary roof tweaks. Seems pretty simple to me as far as a CAD drawing goes. In addition, the builder said he can't give us a final cost of the house until we've submitted this non-refundable $5,000 because it wouldn't be until he has the plans that he can bid out the work--work that's done daily on his other houses. I'm told this builder hates change, and I wonder if he's simply charging us for his perceived headaches.

If the drafter/designer is not licensed as an architect in your state, the builder is being intentionally deceptive. Get the person's name and look it up online. It might not mean anything to the builder but misrepresenting someone's professional capacity is not fair to you.

PIA fee. And now you want to dispute it! The builder's cost is irrelevant. You don't have to buy from him.

All else aside, if it is just $5k keeping you from a final decision (getting the house you like in the area you want), it seems reasonable. I would think the builder could give a pretty good idea of cost (just short of committing). The changes mentioned sound like they are fairly straight forward and you could easily "visualize" the new plan you would be building. The non-refundable part is probably due to a worry that you are still trying to make up your decision. The builder does not want to put effort into something and have you change your mind.

Are you stuck using this builder?

It all depends on what you will get for the fee and so far the builder hasn't told you enough for you to make a decision.

Have you considered hiring your own architect to design a home for you that won't look like it came off the assembly line?

Thanks for the responses. You all make good points. Cpartist, we're only stuck with this builder because the lot is ideal (a very natural setting with a view--a rarity in our Chicago suburban area) and the builder comes with it. Mark Bischak, we would consider hiring an architect to design our home if we could find a lot that matches this one in desirability--but we can't. That is why we are considering paying this "architect fee" that is somewhat of mystery in order to lessen the assembly line look of the house. Adkbml, you hit the nail on the head. We're uncomfortable with the thought of committing to a project without being given a firmer price, so the unrefundable fee would be a gamble. We'll see how this plays out. I did ask him if he would give us the tweaked blueprints since we'd be paying for them, and he looked at me like I have three heads. :-)

I don't understand. You have to use one of the builder's plans on his lot or can you build any house you want on his lot?

I personally wouldn't do it. It sounds like a racket to me. These are very reasonable prices for architect fees but you are not getting an architect or an architect's services, the builder is. For higher end spec homes, modifications are part of the day to day operations of the business and really are part of the sales pitch. I suspect he is just charging you the difficult customer fee and I would be very afraid that this is not the last difficult customer fee you will get.

Cpartist, if we want this lot, we have to use this builder. His cost to build anything other than one of his models or something very close to them would be outrageous. That's pretty typical of suburban developers. Bry911, his salesperson agrees with you and she told us today that she's going to argue our case that we need to be given a firmer price and we shouldn't pay for a tweaked design they'll most likely be marketing to future clients.

Is this a national tract builder? Sounds like this builder doesn't want to be bothered. I wonder how else he'll not be accommodating.

I am building on a lot where I have to use the builder with the lot. However I was given a choice of using one of his designs, tweaking one of his designs, or having his "designer" (really a glorified draftsman) work with me to design a house.

I knew the style of house I wanted and the layout (a U shape around a courtyard) and worked with his draftsman for 9 months. My only cost was to put a down payment of $5,000 for the design services to design my own. If I decided to pass on the lot, I owned the drawings and plans that were done.

Once we signed the contract, that $5,000 was absorbed into the price of the house. Meaning, we were given a contract price to build the house less the $5,000.

Have you taken the time to vet the builder? Check out his other customers and how they feel about him? Seen is work in all stages?

Our builder has no problems if we go to his different work sites to check on his other projects as long as we don't bother his subs and as long as we stay out of the way of any less than safe areas. He wants us to see the houses in all stages to reassure ourselves that he builds a quality product and he's told us to go to his projects and talk to his clients. We have, and everyone has had nothing but positive things to say. Even those who have had problems with their builds. They all felt he is honest, upstanding and takes their calls and corrects the problems.

Or as he said to me, "Trust me. Things will go wrong. However, they will all get fixed to your satisfaction."

We are building on one of the last desirable lots in our downtown area, yet if I had turned up negatives about the builder, I would have run. The stress and anxiety wouldn't have been worth it, no matter how "wonderful" the lot was.