Is Architects costly?

I often hear this comment from probable clients that hiring professional services for design and construction of a house will be very costly and it is better to avoid professional architects/engineers when you decide to go for construction of your house

Most of the people trying to build a house are generally not well informed on design and construction of a house. Nearly 90% of houses are not designed or built with professional guidance. Non professional contractors spread this word of mouth communication that Architects and Engineers are costly and obtaining their services will only make your house construction costlier.
Few days back an NRI lady living and working in an African country contacted me through one of my friends saying that house construction started by her without any professional service or guidance has now reached a situation where problems, contradictions and utter confusion prevail in the house under construction and she wanted me to visit her site and guide her for balance works.

My friend in fact had also told me that about a year back he advised her to seek my services from the beginning of construction. As usual local contractors came into the picture and advised her against such a “dangerous and costly” move.

She has seen a house somewhere on the way which she liked in its external appearance. She searched and found out the person who prepared drawings for that house. It was a not so qualified person willing to give drawings for a meager fee. She obtained drawings with similar appearance but in the process compromising on several essential aspects and features inside the house as both plots were naturally different in dimensions and orientation. Who bothers about all these? She simply wanted to have similar appearance and in the process let there be compromises on the design and facilities for the house. Elevation should look same. That is all.

Finally when I visited the house under construction I could understand the confusions and problems with each set of workers doing their work without any management control and costs going up like anything and she demanding changes, breaking of work and every worker involved really confused about confusing needs and demands of the owner. Luckily here owner of the house has no financial constraints and changes and breaking and modifying works already done can happily go on. Funniest part is that at this late stage she is willing to pay anything for my services. I have to save her from the mess created by each and every type of worker working without any clear cut directions or well thought out design and plans.

I got an email from a client few days back trying to modify his existing house. His first sentence is this: Will obtaining services of an Architect will be very costly for the modification and if so what he should do. I replied to him saying that not obtaining professional services for the construction work will be very costly. In fact money you save, by not hiring a professional will be lost several times more and you will have no other option but to live for the rest of your life with plethora of problems and inconveniences due to improper design and improper work in your supposed to be dream house. You cannot simply escape from the effects of your penny wise pound foolish decision of not obtaining professional services