SERVICES & FEES












ABOUT US

SERVICES & FEES

PROJECT

AWARDS

NEW CUSTOMER

CONTACT US

Design Solutions Services & Fees


Design Solutions provides design and drafting services for all types of building projects.  Established in 1996, with a staff of seven, we strive to provide fast, efficient, friendly services to homeowners and contractors.

This page has been composed to give you information about many of the factors that are involved in the process of designing a new home, residential addition, or commercial building project.

This information also explains our services and fees, and related costs that typically occur in the course of designing a new building, and securing approvals from City, County, or State building officials for your building permit.


--------------------------
- Typical Fees Included in our Proposal
- Typical Fees Not Included in our Proposa
l
- Other Fees Not Included in Contract
- Documents we will need from you
- Cost Estimate and Proposal
- Billing
- How much will my project cost?
- Building your project

Typical Fees Included in our Proposal

Our proposal estimates the work necessary to design and produce construction drawings and details necessary to meet building department requirements. However, design fees vary widely depending on the size, complexity, style, and location of your project and the time it takes to finalize an approved schematic design.  Orienting the project on the site, adhering to architectural covenants and special land use requirements are also variables that must be considered. 

In Santa Fe City and County, unique zoning or architectural restrictions may apply to your project. Depending on your project location, you could possibly be required to adhere to restrictions for either the Escarpment Ordinance, (Foothills & Ridgetop), the Mountain Special Review District, the Landmark District, Historical Review District, or Architectural Covenants that are specific to your development. 

Typically, we include the time it takes to conduct all necessary liaisons with Planning Department officials, and coordinate information with consultants such as Structural, and Civil engineers.

However, in some circumstances additional, unanticipated hours may be required to obtain regulatory approvals a and furnish them with the appropriate information.

All of our services are furnished at the following hourly rates:


  • Design Services: $100 per hour
  • Drafting Services: $65 per hour
  • Transbond Plotting: $10 per sheet (for reproducible printing)

GO TO PAGE TOP

Typical Fees Not Included in our Proposal

Permit for Santa Fe – City

Building Permit: based on construction valuation: Plan-check Fee and Permit Fee required for all building permits
  • Historic District Review 
  • Architectural Review Fee - for many sub-divisions such as Las Campanas, Cerros Colorados, Monte Sereno, and other Subdivisions.
  • Construction Deposit Fees- some subdivisions will require a deposit to commence construction.
  • Escarpment District Impact Fee
  • Toilet retrofitting fees

Permit for Santa Fe-County

Building Permit: Administrative fee (based on construction valuation + sq. footage x .275 %) - to be paid in full at time of issue

  • Fire Zone Impact Fee-this can be significant
  • Architectural Review Fee - for some sub-divisions such as Las Campanas, additional design and review fees are required

Permit for Sate of New Mexico

Projects in Santa FeCounty and several surrounding Counties will also be reviewed by the State.  The New Mexico State permit review fee will need to be paid in full at time of application
  • Septic Permit fees if applicable
  • Well permit fees

GO TO PAGE TOP

Other Fees Not Included in Contract

Services of a Structural Engineer

For the protection of all parties, we recommend that each project be reviewed and stamped by a licensed Structural Engineer. Typically we utilize the services of Hands Engineers in Santa Fe. Their fees vary according to the size and scope of the project, ranging from a few hundred dollars for a cursory review of the most basic project to $1500 for a full review of a new residence.

Services of a Civil Engineer

Some projects may require the services of a licensed Civil Engineer or Surveyor. For example, all projects in the Santa Fe City Escarpment District will require a topographical survey and a grading/drainage plan. In Santa FeCounty, all residences over 3500 sq. ft. will require a topographical survey and grading/drainage plan. It is recommended that the owner determine whether the building site is located in any special district that imposes restrictions or specific requirements to comply with any City or County requirements.

Printing


Other miscellaneous costs incurred in the permit to contracting phase of a project include printing of blue-line copies, typically done at Technigraph in Santa Fe

Water & Utility Hook-up fee

All Infrastructure & Utility Costs are to be paid by the Client.


GO TO PAGE TOP

Documents we will need from you

To efficiently complete your drawings and facilitate the process of application for building permit, some of the following documents will be needed:

  • Plat Survey (certified)
  • Topographical Survey, if available/applicable
  • Additions/remodels: any drawings of existingstructures
  • Copy of Warranty Deed
  • Copy of Sub-Division covenants, if applicable
  • Copy of shared-well agreement, well permit, septic permit, etc.
  • Improvement survey

GO TO PAGE TOP

Cost Estimate and Proposal

Design Solutions will generate an estimate of the costs to complete your project, based on the expected scope of work. This proposal is an estimate of the time we expect to spend on the development of the design and the completion of the construction drawings.  Please note that this is only an estimate and that your final cost may be more or less depending on the number of revisions, design changes, etc. Our fee schedule is hourly for design and drafting, and your cost will be adjusted according to the actual amount of work done.  A 1/3 deposit is required to begin work and final payment for all work is expected when the drawings are ready for submittal to the County. Should the original estimate our fees change dramatically in the course of a project, we will re-visit the initial proposal, update it and ask you to review and approve an expanded scope of work.

GO TO PAGE TOP

Billing

All Clients will be billed monthly for our ongoing work. These invoices must be paid within15 days of receipt in order for work on your project to continue without interruption.

GO TO PAGE TOP

How much will my project cost?

Designing a new home or major addition is an exciting, but complex endeavor. Foremost on most Client’s mind is cost. How much will it cost to design my new home or addition? The bottom line in that final cost will always depend on the size and scope of the particular project and on the needs and character of the individuals involved.

However, based on our experience with many varied projects and clients, our design to permit costs range from 3% to 10% of total construction value.


GO TO PAGE TOP

Building your project

Design Solutions is very experienced with the planning and building process. Many of us have been active in the trades and owner Tim Curry is a licensed Contractor in New Mexicoand an experienced designer and builder. As an integral part of our services, we offer clients our full support in the search for a suitable contractor or contractor’s bids for a project. We have an in-house list of some of the finest - and from personal experience - most trustworthy builders in Santa Fe. With all of our projects, we commit to follow through to the completion of your project by being available to field the many questions and potential quandaries that may arise in this final phase of your building project.


GO TO PAGE TOP

COPYRIGHT © 2006, DESIGN SOLUTIONS
574 WEST SAN FRANCISCO ST.
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO