Is it cheaper to build or buy a house in South Africa in 2025?
The short answer is that it is cheaper to buy an existing house in South Africa but every year less so.
Will you be needing a 3-bedroom house plan shortly and want to know how much it will cost you?
We have examined how much clients typically pay for a 3-bedroom house plan and gathered other necessary information to help you make the best possible decision.
Draftsperson — per hour fee
A draftsperson creates blueprints for designing new homes and additions to existing ones. He prepares architectural plans and technical drawings. A draftsperson can charge by the hour or by the square metre (see below). A set of plans for a typical 3-bedroom house takes at least 10 hours to complete. The size and the complexity of the project will also have an impact on the price. Hiring a draftsperson to do a simple house plan is still cheaper than having an architect do it—they can charge up to twice as much. Draftsperson costs range between R600/hour and R1100/hour with an average of R900/hour.
Get quotesArchitect fee — per hour
Most architects will work for either an hourly rate or for a fixed fee based on a percentage of the construction costs. Typical fees range from 5% to 15% of construction costs for new construction, and from 15% to 20% for remodelling. Often it is difficult to estimate the cost of construction. The alternative is to charge per hour. According to SACAP a Registered Professional Architect with more than ten years’ experience, can charge roughly R1 800 per hour. For an architect, expect to pay between R900/hour and R1900/hour.
Get quotes3-bedroom house plan
Even though we are witnessing a rapid increase in the proportion of two bedroom homes in SA, three-bedroom houses are still the most popular choice. A spacious 3-bedroom house can measure up to 200/sqm, but it usually measures between 120 and 150 square meters. The cost of a 3-bedroom house plan typically runs from R130,000 to R210,000, averaging at R150,000.
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