31 replies to this topic

[Allen McDonnell]

$2.00 a foot for living space above ground.  $0.50 a foot for basements/bonus rooms/decks.  I don't charge for garage space or covered porches.

 So a 2,000 sft foot home.  flat lot.  2 car garage.  "L" shaped.  6:12 pitch.  Basic of basic.  You would invoice me $4,000

[David Zawadzki]

So a 2,000 sft foot home. flat lot. 2 car garage. "L" shaped. 6:12 pitch. Basic of basic. You would invoice me $4,000

Looks like you forgot to include 50 cents per sq.foot for the basement area, etc...

[Henry Buckner]

"flat lot"

[PAUL LADNER]

Sam,  what does that $2/ft include? Design development?, construction docs? what does the client get for that?

I'm trying to wrap my head around that price - it seems so low.

Where I work in the SF Bay Area to go from design concept to permit drawings it's at least ten times that.

[Jason Bishop]

Sam, what does that $2/ft include? Design development?, construction docs? what does the client get for that?
I'm trying to wrap my head around that price - it seems so low.
Where I work in the SF Bay Area to go from design concept to permit drawings it's at least ten times that.

Let me know if you need help producing permit drawings. I would like to see a typical set of Final Plans to see what is included. Feel free to email me:
Jason@JLBDesignsLLC.com

[Gary McKeon]

Sam,  what does that $2/ft include? Design development?, construction docs? what does the client get for that?

I'm trying to wrap my head around that price - it seems so low.

Where I work in the SF Bay Area to go from design concept to permit drawings it's at least ten times that.

The Bay area is it's own little world. The stuff you have to go through is, in my opinion, beyond ridiculous. While on the surface it would appear that you are making an astronomical fee the amount of work, meetings, reviews, etc. ad nauseum, just isn't worth it! I do a fair amount of things for California and there is always more and more the contracted plans examiners want. And now there are all of the growing wildfire construction requirements. Compare what you have to do Paul to most of the rest of the country and it is, literally night and day. I doubt I would be in this business if I had to work where you do!

[Sam Morgan]

 So a 2,000 sft foot home.  flat lot.  2 car garage.  "L" shaped.  6:12 pitch.  Basic of basic.  You would invoice me $4,000

Exactly.  

[Mark Petri]

I find that some owners drive costs way up due to their indecision or lack of response on things. So, we tell customers we will give them a budget, but charge by the hour. If they are decisive and do not flip flop (especially after prelims) they will reap the benefits. If not, the cost of their plans may be much more than the decisive owner's would for the same project. If they are adding extra time we discuss the budget and try to direct them back on track, but tell them it is ultimately up to them if they have us spend way more time with constant changes or long overdue decisions that have ripple affects. It works out to be mutually beneficial in most cases.

[Jeffrey Elliott]

I agree with Sam.  If you don't ask you won't receive.  I just keep raising and raising my prices and have more customers than ever.  I also do Lumion renders but ...they have to pay for them.  You don't get gasoline free just for smiling at the cashier so why give anything for free.  The customer may think its free...but its built into the cost.  I like to draw...but I like to have nice things too.  Never be afraid to ask for what your worth.  Besides you have money in your software, computers, printers, and your knowledge from your experience.

 

Jeff

[Sam Morgan]

I agree with Sam.  If you don't ask you won't receive.  I just keep raising and raising my prices and have more customers than ever.  I also do Lumion renders but ...they have to pay for them.  You don't get gasoline free just for smiling at the cashier so why give anything for free.  The customer may think its free...but its built into the cost.  I like to draw...but I like to have nice things too.  Never be afraid to ask for what your worth.  Besides you have money in your software, computers, printers, and your knowledge from your experience.

 

Jeff

My prices are triple what they were 10 years ago.  I try to raise things once a year.  I'm not interested in working for pennies just to get by.  I offer much more than most of the competitors in my area which is why I can get top dollar for my work.  

[Tom Rogers]

My prices are triple what they were 10 years ago.  I try to raise things once a year.  I'm not interested in working for pennies just to get by.  I offer much more than most of the competitors in my area which is why I can get top dollar for my work.  

I need to learn from Sam.  I offer more than anyone else around however I believe my prices are probably fair but low.  I say that as I don't get as much back step from my prices as I used to.  I do have separate pricing for my builder clients and one for general homeowners (builders know [mostly] what they want so there is not much back and forth).  While my sq. ft. price is about $1.50 it still usually comes out around 4% of construction cost,  This would be for metro Atlanta. .  

[Sam Morgan]

I need to learn from Sam.  I offer more than anyone else around however I believe my prices are probably fair but low.  I say that as I don't get as much back step from my prices as I used to.  I do have separate pricing for my builder clients and one for general homeowners (builders know [mostly] what they want so there is not much back and forth).  While my sq. ft. price is about $1.50 it still usually comes out around 4% of construction cost,  This would be for metro Atlanta. .  

Tom,

 

Your prices are about dead on with what John Honea just told me he was at...also working in Atlanta area.  I've also seen what he is required to have as a permit set and its nothing like what I have to supply here.  My drawings start at 15-18 sheets and end up between 25-30 once the structural engineer is done.