A building permit submitted with an incomplete thermal notice leads to an administrative backlash that delays the project by several weeks. On site, it is observed that most of the blockages in real estate projects do not stem from design, but from the technical framing upstream. Improving an architectural project first means ensuring the reliability of each step before the first concrete pour.
Compliance with RE2020 and duty of advice: what changes concretely in 2026
The 2025 threshold of RE2020, applicable to new housing, tightens carbon emission limits and energy performance requirements. We talk about successive thresholds (2022-2024, then 2025-2027, then 2028-2030), and each new level reduces the leeway on materials and heating systems.
At the same time, the decree of June 26, 2026, strengthened the code of ethics for architects. An architect can no longer claim a project if they have not directly established the plans and ensured real follow-up of the assigned missions. The duty of advice now covers the integration of thermal standards from the first sketches, including for individuals.
Concretely, this means that the professional assisting you must document their recommendations on RE2020 even before the permit is submitted. When looking to take advantage of Peps Immobilier’s architectural services, this structured advice requirement becomes a selection criterion, not a bonus.
Project management in new construction: friction points to anticipate
On an individual house construction site, delays rarely stem from a single issue. Instead, we observe a chain of micro-delays that accumulate. The quality of architectural management makes the difference between on-time delivery and a delay of several months.
Coordination of trades and site meetings
A poorly prepared site meeting means a week lost. The role of the project manager is to check the interfaces between trades (the plasterer is waiting for the electrician, who is waiting for the plumber) and to arbitrate deviations from the plans.
- Ensure that each participant has the updated plans before intervening on site, not the night before via SMS
- Document in writing the decisions made in the meeting, with a deadline for each action
- Check the compliance of delivered materials against the construction contract description (CCMI or works contract)
A rigorous site follow-up protects both the budget and the schedule. Feedback varies on this point depending on the size of the project, but the logic remains the same: without a formal report, disputes multiply.
Management of technical hazards during construction
An undetected clay soil in the soil study, an underground network poorly positioned on the cadastral plan: these surprises exist on the majority of construction sites. The architect or project manager who anticipates these risks incorporates margins into the schedule and budget.
Subcontracting in construction is also subject to a strengthening of the project owner’s duty of vigilance. One can no longer simply delegate without verifying that subcontracting companies meet their social and technical obligations.
Renovation and extension: adapting existing buildings to current standards
Renovating an old dwelling poses constraints that new construction does not face. The existing structure imposes its structural limits, and thermal standards apply as soon as certain surface or work thresholds are exceeded.
The RE2020 certificate of completion also concerns certain extensions and major renovations. Before starting the work, it must be verified whether the project falls within the scope of this obligation, under penalty of blockage during the completion declaration.
An architect who masters both design and thermal regulation avoids back-and-forth between design offices. For an extension in Brittany or Morbihan, for example, local climatic constraints (humidity, wind exposure) directly influence the choice of insulation materials and ventilation systems.
Budget and cost overruns: the architect’s responsibility clarified
Recent case law has clarified the architect’s responsibility in the event of cost overruns. The duty of advice includes the obligation to alert the project owner as soon as a significant deviation appears between the initial estimate and the actual cost of the work.
On the ground, this translates into a simple document: a budget tracking table updated at each work situation. Each expense item must be compared to the initial estimate, and any deviation must be subject to written notification to the client.
- Detailed initial estimate by lot, validated before the start of the project
- Monthly updates with a comparison of forecasted vs. actual costs
- Formal alert as soon as an item exceeds the agreed threshold, accompanied by quantified alternative solutions
Without this follow-up, the project owner discovers the overrun at delivery. With it, they can make decisions along the way: change a material, postpone a secondary layout, or approve the additional cost with full knowledge of the facts.
Choosing architectural support suitable for your real estate project
The quality of a project does not depend solely on the design of the facades. It relies on the professional’s ability to coordinate technical, regulatory, and financial dimensions in parallel. A builder of individual houses and a complete project management architect do not offer the same level of oversight.
The construction contract (CCMI) protects on price and deadlines, but limits customization. Architectural project management offers more flexibility, in exchange for a more active commitment from the project owner in the follow-up.
Whether the project involves new construction, renovation, or extension, the choice of support mode conditions the smoothness of the site. A well-framed project upstream, with plans compliant with RE2020 requirements and transparent budget tracking, reduces the risks of disputes and delivery delays. It is on this articulation between design, compliance, and management that the success of a real estate project hinges.