LIVE Q&A SESSION 12:
October 29th, 2020: 9am (Pacific Time – US & Canada)
Chat Transcript:
Where are you joining us from?
From Chris Abell
London
From Vincent Wang
berlin
From Craig Musgrave
Manchester UK
From Jennifer Jones
london
From Thomas Furse-Roberts
London
From Gordon Pape
Toronto, Canada
From Theeba Balakrishnan
Kent, UK
From sam warn
Bristol! UK
From Isabella Luger
London
From kathryn rackett
coulsdon close to croydon
From John Morris
Nottingham, UK
From Jaroslav Kukucka
Belfast
From Alex Zachopoulos
Hi, it’s Alex from NW England, UK
From Paul Dickson
London
From David Petherbridge
Dublin
From Mart Barrass
Cambridge UK
From Simone Demurtas
Italy
From Emma Breen
Wirral
From Paul Harding
Jersey, Channel Islands
From giuseppina trani
london
From Laurence Lowe
Oxford
From Louise Morris
London
From Alex Fenton
East Midlands
From Saumya Ganguli
London
From Luca Dalmasso
London
From steve hanc
Oxford, UK
From sarah perry
warwick
From Alexa Kasim
London
From Marco Ferri
Vancouver
From Malcolm Cook
Malcolm Cook London
From Pierre Mare
Hello from London
From Robert Phillips
Paige, TX outside of austrin
From James Kitson
London
From Guillermo Lavernia
London
From JOesph Duggan
Virginia
From MARIA ALVAREZ-SANTULLANO
London, UK
From Fay Ke Wang
London
From Eddie McCartney
Newry, Co. Down Ireland
From Sophie Hamer
Basel
From Adam Novogrodskis
Newcastle-upon Tyne
From Nicola Buckley
Warwick UK
From Ali Al-Said
London
From Simone Bloom
Shenley, Hertfordshire
From John Vout
Hampshire, UK
From Simon Innes
London
From Anna Wynne
Scotland
From Richard Asbury
Bath Uk
From Laura Ashworth
Dorset
From Laura Ashworth
Dorset
From Brian Simpson
Poole Dorset
From Richard Berry
Skipton, UK
From Neal Lewis
Norwich
From BEATRIZ JAIME
London, UK
From Richard Blandy
Richard Blandy London
From Richard Marfiak
london
From Christine Skaar
Farnham Surrey, UK.
From Alicia Garey
California
From juliet colman
northamptonshire
From David Petherbridge
Dublin
From Imran Kassim
Hi a Derbyshire village just outside of Manchester
From Joel Carico
Concord, CA (east of San Francisco)
From Petr Stefek
prague
From Matthew Saunders
London
From Todd Barnett
madison wisconsin
From JAMES H Ball
Orlando
From Katherine Bliss
Katherine Bliss Wales UK
From Vincent Wang
Why should fees be based on estimated construction costs? I know it’s the usual way, but there’s no relationship, really..
From Sunny Sanoff
could o spell name of construction costs book?
you
From Zoya Boozorginia
Hi. what are the best ways to deal with Domestic clients? how to charge clients dealing with single and double storey rear and side elevation in the UK. many thanks
From Sunny Sanoff
the US version please
From Gabi Feingold – West
not receiving live posts
From Alicia Garey
I add a clause that I will provide a new proposal for additional services.
From Blue Turtle Consulting
Hi Gabi, Many attendees choose to post messages to Ian and I only (Panelists only). That may be why you can’t see some of the live messages. We advise posting to Panelists & Attendees – like you did 🙂
From foti boulougaris
yes please take the course it is great!!!
From Robert Phillips
What recession?
I have never been busier in 16 years
From Simone Bloom
But plenty of people are extending rather than moving, so there’s still work around and I haven’t dropped my fees
From Simone Bloom
Have a brief introductory meeting, don’t do any drawings, and send a fee proposal next day. Don’t do any more before they agree to fee.
From Robert Phillips
Since I have taken the course, changed my proposals up I have sent 3 proposals out and signed two new clients. Awesome course folks. Well worth the investment. Thank you.
From Alan Crawford
Ian – you are invited to design a residential scheme of 10 identical houses. Do you work out a fee for designing only one house and then multiply this by 10, or do you look at reducing the fee for 10 related to repetition, although there will be other design factors other than just the design of the house (infrastructure, etc.)
From Jonathan Burns
Would you charge (time or capped) for providing an architect’s fee proposal with co-ordinated quotations from a design team?
From Anna Wynne
When traveling long distances to remote projects in scotland, I get roped into long discussions and design questions on the first visit, then find it hard to retrospectively charge for this early work! not sure how to avoid this? Cheers.
From Sally Tsoukaris
I understood RIBA fee scales were stopped by the Monopolies Commission (or equivalent body) – don’t think this was ever thought to be a good idea by architects!
From Irena Skoda
yes hate those free services
From Isabella Luger
In the case we are giving the client free advice how are we covered in regards to our liability ?
From Gabi Feingold – West
can’t see the poll
From Alan Crawford
I don’t want say it!
From Alex Zachopoulos
Would you be able to share number of participants, to better appreciate the poll results?
From James Kitson
I think I would prefer a minimum day rate set by a supporting union which seems as tho it would help with undercutting and allow for healthy and competitive fee proposals
From Marco Ferri
Who ever works for free at whatever stage, even for first meeting, should be reported to ARB.
From Alex Zachopoulos
LOL 🙂
From Simon Innes
Thank you very much for your seminar, very interesting. I will look up your workshop options.
From Sally Tsoukaris
Many thanks, good session
From Alicia Garey
thank you!
From Alex Zachopoulos
Thank you – very happy to have attended today 🙂
From Simone Bloom
Thank you! Excellent talk
From Todd Barnett
thank you!
From Alan Crawford
‘Haggling over a detailed hourly rate fee quotation can be a nightmare. Being able to point to line on a simple graph or chart gives clients comfort, and minimises haggling. [However] Any architect who doesn’t know the true cost of their quotations to his or her practice will neither be saved nor sunk by a graph.’
From Gabi Feingold – West
thank you
From Alan Crawford
Thank you Ian and Blue Turtle
From Blue Turtle Consulting
Fee Proposal Workshop (Mentoring Program) https://blueturtlemc.com/feeproposalworkshop/
From Robert Toy
114%
From steve hanc
Thank you.
From sam warn
Thankyou very much!
From BEATRIZ JAIME
Thank you
From Anna Wynne
Thank you
From Zoya Boozorginia
thank you everyone. I m so delighted to be in this webinar
From Emma Breen
Thanks
From Theeba Balakrishnan
Thank you very much
From Carolina Aivars
thank you!
From Malcolm Cook
Thank you very stimulating
From Alexa Kasim
Thank you
From Alex Zachopoulos
Bye, thanks!
From Keir Black
Very many thanks
From John Morris
Thank you
From Adesola Adeyemi
Thank you
From Chris Abell
Great session – thank you
From Laurence Lowe
Many thanks
From Richard Marfiak
thank you
From Mark Gage
thank you!
From Chris Abell
London
From Vincent Wang
berlin
From Craig Musgrave
Manchester UK
From Jennifer Jones
london
From Thomas Furse-Roberts
London
From Gordon Pape
Toronto, Canada
From Theeba Balakrishnan
Kent, UK
From sam warn
Bristol! UK
From Isabella Luger
London
From kathryn rackett
coulsdon close to croydon
From John Morris
Nottingham, UK
From Jaroslav Kukucka
Belfast
From Alex Zachopoulos
Hi, it’s Alex from NW England, UK
From Paul Dickson
London
From David Petherbridge
Dublin
From Mart Barrass
Cambridge UK
From Simone Demurtas
Italy
From Emma Breen
Wirral
From Paul Harding
Jersey, Channel Islands
From giuseppina trani
london
From Laurence Lowe
Oxford
From Louise Morris
London
From Alex Fenton
East Midlands
From Saumya Ganguli
London
From Luca Dalmasso
London
From steve hanc
Oxford, UK
From sarah perry
warwick
From Alexa Kasim
London
From Marco Ferri
Vancouver
From Malcolm Cook
Malcolm Cook London
From Pierre Mare
Hello from London
From Robert Phillips
Paige, TX outside of austrin
From James Kitson
London
From Guillermo Lavernia
London
From JOesph Duggan
Virginia
From MARIA ALVAREZ-SANTULLANO
London, UK
From Fay Ke Wang
London
From Eddie McCartney
Newry, Co. Down Ireland
From Sophie Hamer
Basel
From Adam Novogrodskis
Newcastle-upon Tyne
From Nicola Buckley
Warwick UK
From Ali Al-Said
London
From Simone Bloom
Shenley, Hertfordshire
From John Vout
Hampshire, UK
From Simon Innes
London
From Anna Wynne
Scotland
From Richard Asbury
Bath Uk
From Laura Ashworth
Dorset
From Laura Ashworth
Dorset
From Brian Simpson
Poole Dorset
From Richard Berry
Skipton, UK
From Neal Lewis
Norwich
From BEATRIZ JAIME
London, UK
From Richard Blandy
Richard Blandy London
From Richard Marfiak
london
From Christine Skaar
Farnham Surrey, UK.
From Alicia Garey
California
From juliet colman
northamptonshire
From David Petherbridge
Dublin
From Imran Kassim
Hi a Derbyshire village just outside of Manchester
From Joel Carico
Concord, CA (east of San Francisco)
From Petr Stefek
prague
From Matthew Saunders
London
From Todd Barnett
madison wisconsin
From JAMES H Ball
Orlando
From Katherine Bliss
Katherine Bliss Wales UK
From Vincent Wang
Why should fees be based on estimated construction costs? I know it’s the usual way, but there’s no relationship, really..
From Sunny Sanoff
could o spell name of construction costs book?
you
From Zoya Boozorginia
Hi. what are the best ways to deal with Domestic clients? how to charge clients dealing with single and double storey rear and side elevation in the UK. many thanks
From Sunny Sanoff
the US version please
From Gabi Feingold – West
not receiving live posts
From Alicia Garey
I add a clause that I will provide a new proposal for additional services.
From Blue Turtle Consulting
Hi Gabi, Many attendees choose to post messages to Ian and I only (Panelists only). That may be why you can’t see some of the live messages. We advise posting to Panelists & Attendees – like you did 🙂
From foti boulougaris
yes please take the course it is great!!!
From Robert Phillips
What recession?
I have never been busier in 16 years
From Simone Bloom
But plenty of people are extending rather than moving, so there’s still work around and I haven’t dropped my fees
From Simone Bloom
Have a brief introductory meeting, don’t do any drawings, and send a fee proposal next day. Don’t do any more before they agree to fee.
From Robert Phillips
Since I have taken the course, changed my proposals up I have sent 3 proposals out and signed two new clients. Awesome course folks. Well worth the investment. Thank you.
From Alan Crawford
Ian – you are invited to design a residential scheme of 10 identical houses. Do you work out a fee for designing only one house and then multiply this by 10, or do you look at reducing the fee for 10 related to repetition, although there will be other design factors other than just the design of the house (infrastructure, etc.)
From Jonathan Burns
Would you charge (time or capped) for providing an architect’s fee proposal with co-ordinated quotations from a design team?
From Anna Wynne
When traveling long distances to remote projects in scotland, I get roped into long discussions and design questions on the first visit, then find it hard to retrospectively charge for this early work! not sure how to avoid this? Cheers.
From Sally Tsoukaris
I understood RIBA fee scales were stopped by the Monopolies Commission (or equivalent body) – don’t think this was ever thought to be a good idea by architects!
From Irena Skoda
yes hate those free services
From Isabella Luger
In the case we are giving the client free advice how are we covered in regards to our liability ?
From Gabi Feingold – West
can’t see the poll
From Alan Crawford
I don’t want say it!
From Alex Zachopoulos
Would you be able to share number of participants, to better appreciate the poll results?
From James Kitson
I think I would prefer a minimum day rate set by a supporting union which seems as tho it would help with undercutting and allow for healthy and competitive fee proposals
From Marco Ferri
Who ever works for free at whatever stage, even for first meeting, should be reported to ARB.
From Alex Zachopoulos
LOL 🙂
From Simon Innes
Thank you very much for your seminar, very interesting. I will look up your workshop options.
From Sally Tsoukaris
Many thanks, good session
From Alicia Garey
thank you!
From Alex Zachopoulos
Thank you – very happy to have attended today 🙂
From Simone Bloom
Thank you! Excellent talk
From Todd Barnett
thank you!
From Alan Crawford
‘Haggling over a detailed hourly rate fee quotation can be a nightmare. Being able to point to line on a simple graph or chart gives clients comfort, and minimises haggling. [However] Any architect who doesn’t know the true cost of their quotations to his or her practice will neither be saved nor sunk by a graph.’
From Gabi Feingold – West
thank you
From Alan Crawford
Thank you Ian and Blue Turtle
From Blue Turtle Consulting
Fee Proposal Workshop (Mentoring Program) https://blueturtlemc.com/feeproposalworkshop/
From Robert Toy
114%
From steve hanc
Thank you.
From sam warn
Thankyou very much!
From BEATRIZ JAIME
Thank you
From Anna Wynne
Thank you
From Zoya Boozorginia
thank you everyone. I m so delighted to be in this webinar
From Emma Breen
Thanks
From Theeba Balakrishnan
Thank you very much
From Carolina Aivars
thank you!
From Malcolm Cook
Thank you very stimulating
From Alexa Kasim
Thank you
From Alex Zachopoulos
Bye, thanks!
From Keir Black
Very many thanks
From John Morris
Thank you
From Adesola Adeyemi
Thank you
From Chris Abell
Great session – thank you
From Laurence Lowe
Many thanks
From Richard Marfiak
thank you
From Mark Gage
thank you!
Questions answered:
Shenley:
I usually cap my fee proposal at a fixed sum for the design development stage (for small domestic projects). How many designs should I be prepared to submit before I request an additional fee?
Julie:
What is a good rule of thumb in the UK for construction costs per sqm (for the purposes of calculating a % fee)?
George:
Is the A J fee calculator a useful tool for sole practitioners and small practices?
Elliott:
Have you found it is better to use a “lump sum-fixed fee” versus “percentage of project cost fee”?
Warren:
As a sole operator from home, should I exclude my overheads from my fees to undercut other fees or should I include my overheads to not undersell myself?
Jason:
When would you recommend including a NTE on an hourly rate vs a lump sum?
Paul Dickson
“Many of our commercial (office fit-outs) and private residential clients are apointing us up to stage 3+ only but continue to contact us beyond stage 4 with queries. What is the risk of part appointment in terms of fees versus completion of our role? i.e. we wish to draw a line and give no further input beyond our appointed stage, to avoid un necessary liability. The client wants more inut but is not willing to appoint or pay us for it! Emma and Paul Dickson”
Irena Skoda
what is the link to this calculator
Answered via text: Hi Irena, we have publihed the link below. However, we will also include a link when we send out the recording.
Alan Crawford
The AJ fees calcultor is a reference but its not very accurate and its outdated. http://aj100.architectsjournal.co.uk/FeesCalculator.aspx
Ansered via text: Thank you Alan. I will share with the group.
Anonymous Attendee
Scenario: Architect who has never been involved in fee proposal within current office, sets up a new business. Could you recommend where to start to get the basics with little or no previous experience – websites, literature etc. Many thanks for sharing your knowledge.
John Vout
“Sometimes within a fee bid it can be looked on favourably to offer a ‘discount’ or to ‘waive fees’ on smaller and affordable fee items such as stage 0 and stage 1. Are there any suggestions/rule of thumb or reasons to avoid including these in bids?”
Eddie McCartney
With a recession pending, are fees going to take a hammering?
Alan Crawford
75% of practices in the UK are under 10 employees. I believe that many small practices still use the RIBA % fee scales as a starting point. Its better than the AJ fees calculator, but is still just a guide. I think the RIBA Fees guide should be updated and should incorporate (added value brought to a project) All fees were becoming diluted due to delays caused by red tape and bureacrasy but are now watered down even more by delays at all stages of a project brought about by COVID
Ali Al-Said
“I am an emplyed architect within a large corporation. Our fees are set using preset hourly rates and a list of tasks to deliver the project depending on the design stage it is at. In the past I have used the RIBA sliding fee scales, which were easy way to link fees to cost of constrction. How best to set fees these days to achieve a resonable return on private projects and make profit?”
Anonymous Attendee
Have you any creative ideas of how to rid the profession of free (no charge) feasibility design assessments, in order to “buy” work?
Todd Barnett
“thoughts about marking up the fees from consultants.. historically I have not. thank you!”
Anna Wynne
In a fee proposal, on an hourly rate fee, would you recommend having two different rates for different types of architectural project work, such as admin, calls or design.
I usually cap my fee proposal at a fixed sum for the design development stage (for small domestic projects). How many designs should I be prepared to submit before I request an additional fee?
Julie:
What is a good rule of thumb in the UK for construction costs per sqm (for the purposes of calculating a % fee)?
George:
Is the A J fee calculator a useful tool for sole practitioners and small practices?
Elliott:
Have you found it is better to use a “lump sum-fixed fee” versus “percentage of project cost fee”?
Warren:
As a sole operator from home, should I exclude my overheads from my fees to undercut other fees or should I include my overheads to not undersell myself?
Jason:
When would you recommend including a NTE on an hourly rate vs a lump sum?
Paul Dickson
“Many of our commercial (office fit-outs) and private residential clients are apointing us up to stage 3+ only but continue to contact us beyond stage 4 with queries. What is the risk of part appointment in terms of fees versus completion of our role? i.e. we wish to draw a line and give no further input beyond our appointed stage, to avoid un necessary liability. The client wants more inut but is not willing to appoint or pay us for it! Emma and Paul Dickson”
Irena Skoda
what is the link to this calculator
Answered via text: Hi Irena, we have publihed the link below. However, we will also include a link when we send out the recording.
Alan Crawford
The AJ fees calcultor is a reference but its not very accurate and its outdated. http://aj100.architectsjournal.co.uk/FeesCalculator.aspx
Ansered via text: Thank you Alan. I will share with the group.
Anonymous Attendee
Scenario: Architect who has never been involved in fee proposal within current office, sets up a new business. Could you recommend where to start to get the basics with little or no previous experience – websites, literature etc. Many thanks for sharing your knowledge.
John Vout
“Sometimes within a fee bid it can be looked on favourably to offer a ‘discount’ or to ‘waive fees’ on smaller and affordable fee items such as stage 0 and stage 1. Are there any suggestions/rule of thumb or reasons to avoid including these in bids?”
Eddie McCartney
With a recession pending, are fees going to take a hammering?
Alan Crawford
75% of practices in the UK are under 10 employees. I believe that many small practices still use the RIBA % fee scales as a starting point. Its better than the AJ fees calculator, but is still just a guide. I think the RIBA Fees guide should be updated and should incorporate (added value brought to a project) All fees were becoming diluted due to delays caused by red tape and bureacrasy but are now watered down even more by delays at all stages of a project brought about by COVID
Ali Al-Said
“I am an emplyed architect within a large corporation. Our fees are set using preset hourly rates and a list of tasks to deliver the project depending on the design stage it is at. In the past I have used the RIBA sliding fee scales, which were easy way to link fees to cost of constrction. How best to set fees these days to achieve a resonable return on private projects and make profit?”
Anonymous Attendee
Have you any creative ideas of how to rid the profession of free (no charge) feasibility design assessments, in order to “buy” work?
Todd Barnett
“thoughts about marking up the fees from consultants.. historically I have not. thank you!”
Anna Wynne
In a fee proposal, on an hourly rate fee, would you recommend having two different rates for different types of architectural project work, such as admin, calls or design.
References:
1. Fee Proposal Workshop
Click for details
2. Fee Proposal Fundamentals
Click for details
3. AJ Fee Calculator
Click to view
4. “The Best Method For Calculating Design Fees (Inc. Fee Benchmarking List)” Blog Post
Click to view
5. “Which Fee Structure Is Best For Architects?” Blog Post
Click to view
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