How do you price out the job for a client? By the square foot, hour, project, complexity, something else?
A. i never charge by the sq foot or hour > anymore, i did when i first started doing projects first out
of architectural school mainly because i didn't know how long a project would take.
after many projects and lot's of years, i had files on all different kinds of projects
and had a good idea how long it took me to draw a particular project and all the meetings
with clients, contractors, building dept, planning dept, and community design meetings.
btw, these first projects were on "the BOARD" (drafting board)
after i got into cad and learned it and felt comfortable with it,
i started charging a "FLAT FEE" and clients all loved doing it this way because they
knew what the final design fee with documents would cost.
i guess in certain parts of the country a lot of fees are determined by the sq. foot.
i've never done this way.
one problem with an hourly fee is 2 very good designers may draw at very different speeds.
they both might give you a top notch design but one might take 10 times as long for
the same hourly rate, i'm kidding about the 10 times as long but you get the idea.
a lot also has to do with how others in your area charge for design and con docs.
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Do you break the project fee(s) into phases ie., 1. preliminary design 2. working drawings?
yes,
i break the total fee into 4 parts and get the same amount for each part.
1. preliminary / conceptual design
note: i get 25% before i draw one line on the paper.
and another 25% about 1/2 thru the total design phase
and another 25% at the end of the design phase
and right before i start on the construction documents.
this way i get 75% before i start construction documents.
this is really what their paying me for > the design
.
if they want to hire someone who can do the construction documents
for less money. than so be it. at least i got 75%
sure, they could say i'm not paying you the 3rd - 25% and i could
say "i'm not giving you or your draftsman, the construction documents"
i have that clear in the contract.
i also state "CLEARLY" in the contract what i do and what i don't do.
this is really important.
i usually email the client progress prints so they can print them up.
btw, i've never been screwed by a client "Except" for one who
owed me $ 400 at end of project. i said to spend it and be happy.
btw, my flat fee also is in line with a 3-5 % fee of the total construction cost.
btw, i also includes the complexity of the project and the slope of the lot.
architects around here generally charge 10% and sometimes more.
we have to hire structural engineers, sometimes a civil engineer
and usually a soils engineer.