It build was half the cost of yours and our design was $20k. I would fully get the architectural drawings from the same architect. I actually don’t even understand how that was not a part of the arrangement?

You want to spend good money on this so you get a good result.

Ours was between 50-60K for similar all in cost. Very happy and felt it was reasonable.

I personally know someone who spent 10X that much on an architect for a build in your price range. Then she fired the architect and hired someone new.

I believe it is important to have your architect (who you like, and who will be invested in following your project through) stick with you. Your architect has a relationship with you, and if it were me, I'd want to maintain that relationship instead of veering off in another direction.

"Name" architects in our area charge C$150K++++ for builds in that price range.

How an architect does your design, but not the construction drawings baffles me. (Unless, maybe it's a napkin sketch from Frank Gehry.)

Your costs are quite good. I would stick with them if you like the design and the work they have done thus far.

As construction documents get prepared and wall sections drawn and evaluated, etc.... There will invariably be issues that weren't anticipated in the design phase. The architect (often in conjunction with the builder) will be the best person (team) to creatively solve the issue and keep the fine details and style of the design intact.

Our designer, not architect, was not involved one we started the build, by our choice. But she still prepared the entire permit package and all required drawings etc.

If you’re happy with the concept, which is absurdly low priced, then why would you not move forward with the actual needed drawings? This makes zero sense.

"Should I get bids from new architect firms to take this design through to construction?"

No. There may be intellectual property issues.

"Does one need to be an architect to create construction docs?"

Your State may require your project to have sealed construction documents which means the architect of record has to oversee the production of the construction documents. Construction drawings are highly technical and are legal documents. Design and engineering often occurs during the process of producing construction documents.

"Can this be done at a lower rate than the design?"

Talk to your architect.

Some issues to consider:

1. If you like the architect, and like her/his design, why would you not continue? Have you talked with her/him about your concerns?

2. You need to read your Owner-Architect agreement to see if the drawings are "instruments of service" and whether or not you have any rights to them if you terminate the services of the original architect.

3. Construction documents (drawings and specifications) have a great value add. It's where all of the details and dimensions of construction are found. Do you really want to build the design you like so much? If so, it's in your best interest to have the design architect complete the work.

Good luck!

that's a REALLY LOW price for home design. REALLY LOW. Like less than 20% of what you should expect to pay for a real one off / custom design.

What would be the ballpark to get the construction docs and details drawn up (about - like another $20K?) if so - you are still seriously under what I would expect that you would pay.

If you have a lot of detail in your plan, or are expecting specific finishes or execution of products, etc - you would be penny wise and pound foolish to not get this level of detail from your Architect.

Without detailed plans, you will "get what you get" as things are executed in the field by the builder and his / her trades. You will not be there to catch things at the right time and by the time you catch the "error" (which isn't an error because there won't be documentation) it will be too late / too costly to fix.

the devil is in the details in a high end home. Leaving that to chance by either 1) not doing it or 2) trying to change to a cheaper horse midstream seems like a very bad idea.

You are under contract.

The lead architect is supervising getting their design into working docs. That's the best you can get. There are nuances another drafting service won't understand and don't expect the initial architect to participate.

Don't throw up the red flags now.

That seems unbelievably low for that level of house. Emphasis on unbelievable. Architects here charge approx 7-12%.

Many higher end architects, ours included, are full service only so all documents as well as overseeing construction are a package deal. They want to insure that their design is carried through to the end and not bastardized at some point in the process.

This statement worries me: "No idea if this is a lot or a little." Your ignorance is concerning, esp with the entire build to follow.

$25k architect expense would be low for custom one-off (assume complex) in that price range.

Agree with everyone else that the $25k fee is ridiculously low. I'd expect your drafter/BIM modeler's rate to be in the range of $100/hour, depending on where you live. (Unless your architect is padding that person's rate to make up for what are surely massive losses for his fee.)