LIVE Q&A SESSION 36:
October 21st, 2021: 11am (Eastern Time)
Chat Transcript:
Blue Turtle Consulting:
Blue Turtle Consulting:
Victoria:
PS… your options fee proposal works like a charm.
Blue Turtle Consulting:
Victoria:
I always try to explain to my clients that flat fee will save them more money and they go for it.
Franco:
You could have a % fee for the quoted amount from the contractor and increase if the construction goes up but not if more expensive kitchen etc are chosen.
Franco:
Apologies for going back to my questions again. What I meant on a % fee, your fee goes up if the construction cost goes up which always do, but not on a more expensive kitchen because an architect does not have to do extra work.
Victoria:
Well, as long as we are still during permits stage we still hold lots of power over the outcome. And yes, I do retainer.
John:
The % fee is worked out and then set as a ‘capped’ lump sum.
Franco:
It depends who the client is. If they are a professional company you can get away with a % fee otherwise a flat fee.
Franco:
That is what I have done also .
Victoria:
Oops, here you go. I always try to explain to my clients that flat fee will save them money and they go for it. Its easier to add to extras or “change orders” to a flat fee with an agreed upon scope
Blue Turtle Consulting:
Michelle:
Thank you!
Blue Turtle Consulting:
Victoria:
PS… your options fee proposal works like a charm.
Blue Turtle Consulting:
Victoria:
I always try to explain to my clients that flat fee will save them more money and they go for it.
Franco:
You could have a % fee for the quoted amount from the contractor and increase if the construction goes up but not if more expensive kitchen etc are chosen.
Franco:
Apologies for going back to my questions again. What I meant on a % fee, your fee goes up if the construction cost goes up which always do, but not on a more expensive kitchen because an architect does not have to do extra work.
Victoria:
Well, as long as we are still during permits stage we still hold lots of power over the outcome. And yes, I do retainer.
John:
The % fee is worked out and then set as a ‘capped’ lump sum.
Franco:
It depends who the client is. If they are a professional company you can get away with a % fee otherwise a flat fee.
Franco:
That is what I have done also .
Victoria:
Oops, here you go. I always try to explain to my clients that flat fee will save them money and they go for it. Its easier to add to extras or “change orders” to a flat fee with an agreed upon scope
Blue Turtle Consulting:
Michelle:
Thank you!
Questions answered:
Holger:
Would it beneficial to give alternative costs per stage?
Rachel:
I am an owner of a small architect firm. I have been requested for fee proposals by contractors, real estate agents and other designers, who want to lead the projects but are not qualified to do so. Some may simply want to use my credentials or want to learn skills from me. What should I do?
Peter:
I have been recommended to a potential client by a surveyor whom she trusts. My difficulty is that the scope of the work is undefined as it includes alterations but also a problem of subsidence which in my view needs investigating first. How do I quote a fee when the scope of my service cannot yet be defined?
Rebecca:
Hello, sadly can’t make the meeting but I have two questions for consideration. Firstly how to come up with a reasonable hourly rate, and secondly if doing a percentage based fee based on an estimated % of the construction cost how do you manage this if the cost ends up more or less than estimated? It feels like someone (architect or client) is always going to loose out with this method? Navigating the fee process as a startup / sole practitioner
Lorna:
How do I avoid scope creep?
Theo:
How do I avoid price negotiation?
Luis:
How do I generate qualified leads?
Jerry:
Which is better, a percentage of the construction cost which can vary or a flat fee which stays the same?
Victoria:
Invoice timing for last payment… too agressive to send it before releasing CDs?
Would it beneficial to give alternative costs per stage?
Rachel:
I am an owner of a small architect firm. I have been requested for fee proposals by contractors, real estate agents and other designers, who want to lead the projects but are not qualified to do so. Some may simply want to use my credentials or want to learn skills from me. What should I do?
Peter:
I have been recommended to a potential client by a surveyor whom she trusts. My difficulty is that the scope of the work is undefined as it includes alterations but also a problem of subsidence which in my view needs investigating first. How do I quote a fee when the scope of my service cannot yet be defined?
Rebecca:
Hello, sadly can’t make the meeting but I have two questions for consideration. Firstly how to come up with a reasonable hourly rate, and secondly if doing a percentage based fee based on an estimated % of the construction cost how do you manage this if the cost ends up more or less than estimated? It feels like someone (architect or client) is always going to loose out with this method? Navigating the fee process as a startup / sole practitioner
Lorna:
How do I avoid scope creep?
Theo:
How do I avoid price negotiation?
Luis:
How do I generate qualified leads?
Jerry:
Which is better, a percentage of the construction cost which can vary or a flat fee which stays the same?
Victoria:
Invoice timing for last payment… too agressive to send it before releasing CDs?
References:
1. The Right (And Wrong) Way To Calculate Hourly Rates For Architects:
Click for details
2. Marketing for Architects: The Most Important Rule!:
Click to View
3. 3 Biggest Fee Proposal Problems… and How to Fix Them!:
Click to View
4. Mastermind Group (2 places available in the UK):
Click to View
Click for details
2. Marketing for Architects: The Most Important Rule!:
Click to View
3. 3 Biggest Fee Proposal Problems… and How to Fix Them!:
Click to View
4. Mastermind Group (2 places available in the UK):
Click to View
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