LIVE Q&A SESSION 13:
November 12th, 2020: 4pm (Pacific Time – US & Canada)
Chat Transcript:
Where are you joining us from?
From marco ferri
Vancouver, BC
From Sarah Wortman
Seattle
From Patricia McQuaid
Perth
From Jefferson Schierbeek
Los Angeles
From Chamois Holschuh
Vermont (USA)
From Ronald Skoog
Scottsdale, Arizona
From Michelle Thomas
Austin, TX
From foti boulougaris
montreal
From CINDY RENDELY
TORONTO CANADA
From David Davis
Joshua Tree, CA
From Sally Woods
Wellington
From Rico Feeney
Durango, Colorado
From Anthony Okoluko
London
From JOesph Duggan
Virginia
From Katey Baniewicz
Los Angeles
From Joe Welker
NYC
From Kyle Barker
boston!
From Cynthia Townsend
Tampa, FL
From David
toronto
From Stephanie Calhoun
San Diego
From Stephanie Wills
Boulder, CO
From Kevin Holland
Los Angeles
From Kyle Rottet
Houston
From William Driml
Brisbane Australia
From Henrik Folkar
Saigon
From David Fridlund
Los Angeles
From Jeff Abrams
Boulder CO
From Nick Tayler
Sydney
From Gabriel Chavarria
miami
From ADRIAN TAYLOR
New Zealand
From Walter Perry
L.A.
From Julie Ockerby
Sydney
From Mark Shapiro
sydney
From LYNN WITTICK
california
From Sunny Tam
San Fran
From Carey Press
miami
From Karl Fenning
Auckland NZ
From Diane Swenson
Scottsdale, AZ
From Susan Tusick
Pittsburgh pa
From Michael Tchouaffé
atlanta
From Kyle Rottet
Houston
From Peter McCombe
New Zealand
From Sal Perry
North Adams, Mass
From Leanna Boers
Colorado
From Robert Silarski
NYC
From Rod Brown
Sydney Australia
From Blue Turtle Consulting
How to Avoid Giving Away Free Design Services:
https://blueturtlemc.com/blog/how-to-avoid-giving-away-free-design-services/
Which Fee Structure is Best?:
https://blueturtlemc.com/blog/which-fee-structure-is-best-for-architects/
From Susan Tusick
Also your own history
They are shopping your fees
No tell them of your value
From marco ferri
Thanks!
From Susan Tusick
YES
may the retainer apply to your last invoice
Retainers should be apply to the last invoice. That should be stated in your proposal
From CINDY RENDELY
HOW MUCH SHOULD RETAINER FEES BE/ BASED ON A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEE PERHAPS?? OR A STANDARD FIXED AMOUNT NO MATTER THE SCALE OF THE PROJECT
From Walter Perry
depending on size of job what is a reasonable retainer % of total fee?
From Katey Baniewicz
Though our firm tries not to, we often commence work before a fee is agreed upon. How do you continue fee negotiations once work has already been complete or is in the process of being complete?
From Susan Tusick
Select the clients thqt expect quality and will pay more. You work as hard for an small project as a larger project
From Janet Wehby
The wine example is brilliant!
From Kathy Chan
retainers are very important. we usually ask for a retainer and apply it to the last invoice.
From Susan Tusick
It depends on the client. The government will not allow a deposit
From Janet Wehby
If time, can Ian explain the first comments about no fee to ‘meet’ with via computer, then fees if going to property.
From Susan Tusick
Be respect you more when you charge more
From Blue Turtle Consulting
Best Method for Calculating Design Fees: https://blueturtlemc.com/blog/the-best-method-for-calculating-design-fees/
From Nami Amso
Yes, admin fees such as disbursements are additional costs clients to pay in extra to the service fee.
From Susan Tusick
Does this mean you do not get paid if the approval is not achieved. yOU EAT IT>?
From Cynthia Townsend
WELL services are new for me so it’s difficult to make up numbers for the first time. I do believe experience on a project or two will help in being competitive without underestimating the fees. Thank you for the perspective!
From zeon wong
any replay for this session?
From Blue Turtle Consulting
Hi Zeon, Yes, we will send a recording of the session to all registrants on Monday.
Schedule a Call: https://blueturtlemc.com/schedule-your-appointment/
From Nami Amso
Thank you very much for your time to organize this Q&A session.
From Kathy Chan
thank you! very helpful!
From Kyle Barker
Thanks! This was excellent 🙂
From gail diehl
Thank you!
From Susan Tusick
tHANK YOU
THANK YOU
From marco ferri
cheers. I was at F+P 2003-2009 …
From CINDY RENDELY
THANK-YOU!!
From Ronald Skoog
thank you
From Patricia McQuaid
Thanks very much
From Cynthia Townsend
Thank you!!
From Diane Swenson
thanks
From Elizabeth Camargo
thank you
From marco ferri
Vancouver, BC
From Sarah Wortman
Seattle
From Patricia McQuaid
Perth
From Jefferson Schierbeek
Los Angeles
From Chamois Holschuh
Vermont (USA)
From Ronald Skoog
Scottsdale, Arizona
From Michelle Thomas
Austin, TX
From foti boulougaris
montreal
From CINDY RENDELY
TORONTO CANADA
From David Davis
Joshua Tree, CA
From Sally Woods
Wellington
From Rico Feeney
Durango, Colorado
From Anthony Okoluko
London
From JOesph Duggan
Virginia
From Katey Baniewicz
Los Angeles
From Joe Welker
NYC
From Kyle Barker
boston!
From Cynthia Townsend
Tampa, FL
From David
toronto
From Stephanie Calhoun
San Diego
From Stephanie Wills
Boulder, CO
From Kevin Holland
Los Angeles
From Kyle Rottet
Houston
From William Driml
Brisbane Australia
From Henrik Folkar
Saigon
From David Fridlund
Los Angeles
From Jeff Abrams
Boulder CO
From Nick Tayler
Sydney
From Gabriel Chavarria
miami
From ADRIAN TAYLOR
New Zealand
From Walter Perry
L.A.
From Julie Ockerby
Sydney
From Mark Shapiro
sydney
From LYNN WITTICK
california
From Sunny Tam
San Fran
From Carey Press
miami
From Karl Fenning
Auckland NZ
From Diane Swenson
Scottsdale, AZ
From Susan Tusick
Pittsburgh pa
From Michael Tchouaffé
atlanta
From Kyle Rottet
Houston
From Peter McCombe
New Zealand
From Sal Perry
North Adams, Mass
From Leanna Boers
Colorado
From Robert Silarski
NYC
From Rod Brown
Sydney Australia
From Blue Turtle Consulting
How to Avoid Giving Away Free Design Services:
https://blueturtlemc.com/blog/how-to-avoid-giving-away-free-design-services/
Which Fee Structure is Best?:
https://blueturtlemc.com/blog/which-fee-structure-is-best-for-architects/
From Susan Tusick
Also your own history
They are shopping your fees
No tell them of your value
From marco ferri
Thanks!
From Susan Tusick
YES
may the retainer apply to your last invoice
Retainers should be apply to the last invoice. That should be stated in your proposal
From CINDY RENDELY
HOW MUCH SHOULD RETAINER FEES BE/ BASED ON A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEE PERHAPS?? OR A STANDARD FIXED AMOUNT NO MATTER THE SCALE OF THE PROJECT
From Walter Perry
depending on size of job what is a reasonable retainer % of total fee?
From Katey Baniewicz
Though our firm tries not to, we often commence work before a fee is agreed upon. How do you continue fee negotiations once work has already been complete or is in the process of being complete?
From Susan Tusick
Select the clients thqt expect quality and will pay more. You work as hard for an small project as a larger project
From Janet Wehby
The wine example is brilliant!
From Kathy Chan
retainers are very important. we usually ask for a retainer and apply it to the last invoice.
From Susan Tusick
It depends on the client. The government will not allow a deposit
From Janet Wehby
If time, can Ian explain the first comments about no fee to ‘meet’ with via computer, then fees if going to property.
From Susan Tusick
Be respect you more when you charge more
From Blue Turtle Consulting
Best Method for Calculating Design Fees: https://blueturtlemc.com/blog/the-best-method-for-calculating-design-fees/
From Nami Amso
Yes, admin fees such as disbursements are additional costs clients to pay in extra to the service fee.
From Susan Tusick
Does this mean you do not get paid if the approval is not achieved. yOU EAT IT>?
From Cynthia Townsend
WELL services are new for me so it’s difficult to make up numbers for the first time. I do believe experience on a project or two will help in being competitive without underestimating the fees. Thank you for the perspective!
From zeon wong
any replay for this session?
From Blue Turtle Consulting
Hi Zeon, Yes, we will send a recording of the session to all registrants on Monday.
Schedule a Call: https://blueturtlemc.com/schedule-your-appointment/
From Nami Amso
Thank you very much for your time to organize this Q&A session.
From Kathy Chan
thank you! very helpful!
From Kyle Barker
Thanks! This was excellent 🙂
From gail diehl
Thank you!
From Susan Tusick
tHANK YOU
THANK YOU
From marco ferri
cheers. I was at F+P 2003-2009 …
From CINDY RENDELY
THANK-YOU!!
From Ronald Skoog
thank you
From Patricia McQuaid
Thanks very much
From Cynthia Townsend
Thank you!!
From Diane Swenson
thanks
From Elizabeth Camargo
thank you
Questions answered:
Shandra:
1. When should an initial consultation fee be charged?
2. Is an hourly charge better than a flat rate?
3. If clients want a flat rate, what’s the best way to estimate to ensure profitability?
Paul:
What reliable, public sources would you use to determine the fair and reasonable “going rate” for Architect’s fees locally?
Surendra:
There is always a struggle to price the same job based on a client who seems to be a small paymaster (AKA: frugal client) and a client who seems to be a reasonable paymaster (AKA: not so frugal).
Cynthia:
I attended the Fee Proposal Workshop in Orlando a couple of years ago and it was great!
I’m writing to ask if your team (or perhaps another attendee in the session) have any experience will WELL proposals? I’m currently developing our WELL service offerings, and am trying to determine the most appropriate fee structure. Per square foot? Fixed fee? A combination of the two? This is such a new service for the Tampa Bay / Orlando area, that I don’t have an option to “phone a friend” on this one.
Questions:
1. What is the going rate (or range) for WELL administration services?
2. How many hours should be planned for WELL administration services?
Marco:
For the first time ever, in 12 years since leaving Foster + Partners, in the space of a week two different clients are ‘taking their time’ following my fee proposal.
My Question: After proposing my fees and not hearing from my client, I sent a follow-up email after a few days. He replied that he’s still “extremely Interested” in me, but he’s shopping around and he’d get back to me. Now, a week passed. Do I make the approach via phone this time? Should I tell him I am willing to match teh competitor’s price? How do I approach him without looking like a beggar.
Kyle:
I know that the initial letter shouldn’t be to legalese-y, but do you include the following?
– retainer?
– payment terms?
– add service rates?
Anthony:
How do you manage a negotiation were the client isn’t looking at your itemised fee (broken to basic, mid level and premium), with out giving a way too much from the different options?
Kathy:
How do you know you are not charging too much or too little?
Kyle:
Can you give a few examples of how you recommend handling expenses? I know we want to provide options, but how can you simply give them choice, while still giving them an overall budget target?
Kathy:
Is there a source that lists exclusions to include in agreements?
Sarah:
What are some of the most creative pricing strategies you’ve come across?
Questions answered via text:
Daniel:
could you repeat the fee scale you referred to?
Hi Daniel, If you go this blog post you’ll see a list of different fee benchmarking sources: https://blueturtlemc.com/blog/the-best-method-for-calculating-design-fees/
1. When should an initial consultation fee be charged?
2. Is an hourly charge better than a flat rate?
3. If clients want a flat rate, what’s the best way to estimate to ensure profitability?
Paul:
What reliable, public sources would you use to determine the fair and reasonable “going rate” for Architect’s fees locally?
Surendra:
There is always a struggle to price the same job based on a client who seems to be a small paymaster (AKA: frugal client) and a client who seems to be a reasonable paymaster (AKA: not so frugal).
Cynthia:
I attended the Fee Proposal Workshop in Orlando a couple of years ago and it was great!
I’m writing to ask if your team (or perhaps another attendee in the session) have any experience will WELL proposals? I’m currently developing our WELL service offerings, and am trying to determine the most appropriate fee structure. Per square foot? Fixed fee? A combination of the two? This is such a new service for the Tampa Bay / Orlando area, that I don’t have an option to “phone a friend” on this one.
Questions:
1. What is the going rate (or range) for WELL administration services?
2. How many hours should be planned for WELL administration services?
Marco:
For the first time ever, in 12 years since leaving Foster + Partners, in the space of a week two different clients are ‘taking their time’ following my fee proposal.
My Question: After proposing my fees and not hearing from my client, I sent a follow-up email after a few days. He replied that he’s still “extremely Interested” in me, but he’s shopping around and he’d get back to me. Now, a week passed. Do I make the approach via phone this time? Should I tell him I am willing to match teh competitor’s price? How do I approach him without looking like a beggar.
Kyle:
I know that the initial letter shouldn’t be to legalese-y, but do you include the following?
– retainer?
– payment terms?
– add service rates?
Anthony:
How do you manage a negotiation were the client isn’t looking at your itemised fee (broken to basic, mid level and premium), with out giving a way too much from the different options?
Kathy:
How do you know you are not charging too much or too little?
Kyle:
Can you give a few examples of how you recommend handling expenses? I know we want to provide options, but how can you simply give them choice, while still giving them an overall budget target?
Kathy:
Is there a source that lists exclusions to include in agreements?
Sarah:
What are some of the most creative pricing strategies you’ve come across?
Questions answered via text:
Daniel:
could you repeat the fee scale you referred to?
Hi Daniel, If you go this blog post you’ll see a list of different fee benchmarking sources: https://blueturtlemc.com/blog/the-best-method-for-calculating-design-fees/
References:
1. Fee Proposal Workshop
Click for details
2. “How to Avoid Giving Away Free Design Services” Blog Post:
Click to view
3. “Which Fee Structure is Best?” Blog Post
Click to view
4. “The Best Method for Calculating Design Fees” Blog Post
Click to view
5. “The Number 1 Mistake Architects Make with their Design Fees” Blog Post
Click to view
Click for details
2. “How to Avoid Giving Away Free Design Services” Blog Post:
Click to view
3. “Which Fee Structure is Best?” Blog Post
Click to view
4. “The Best Method for Calculating Design Fees” Blog Post
Click to view
5. “The Number 1 Mistake Architects Make with their Design Fees” Blog Post
Click to view
To Register for a future session Click here
