[David Businelli]

I get that constantly – I’m also in NYC (Staten Island). I price the Needs and Options Analysis usually below $ i1k for small residential properties. The actual zoning, code and DOB research doesn’t take a lot of time (after over 20 years I built up some speed), but since I don;t have an assistant to actually write it an format it takes some time. It’s not the price per se, but the fact that you are actually daring to charge for your services. There is a mentality out there that this information should be given away. And when there are tons of other architects that will do just that, its hard to land an LCC.  I recently did one for a small mixed use building. $750 (way too low, as I spent about 5 hours on the zoning alone) and produced a value based proposal, giving 3 service levels for 3 different fees, and never heard from the guy again. I ran my fee by a local trusted colleague and one in Manhattan who has a 30 person firm, and both said that the $65,0000 mid range fee was more than fair. Just gotta keep on plugging away in what is still a weal market for small projects.

[David Businelli]

This is so typical of residential “clients”. They seem to think that one can glean that magic construction number from thin air. You gave them correct answers – they were probably just beginning that long process of thinking, then deciding, to go down the design and construction road. You were being of service – and that is a very good thing. They might very well contact you when the time is right.

 

[David Businelli]

My experience has been (for over 20 years) that most people in my area (Staten Island, NY) are tire kickers. The minute I tell them that there is a fee involved to provide them the information that they need via the LCC, they either hang up, or say that they will get back to me. I have begun to give them a choice: 20 minutes of my time and the maximum that can be built based on a readily available tax map or the LCC. The last person that I spoke to last week never got back to me with either choice. I loose projects to others that I know are working cheaper and NOT providing an LCC for a fee, but are doing a hell of a lot of work up front.  I can’t compete with that, no matter what technique I use.

[David Businelli]

If your gut is telling to to pass this one up then do it – I have ignored my gut in the past on projects like this and I’ve kicked myself for it. Run away – it will make room for the next one.

 

[David Businelli]

The less sophisticated client will trust the builder more than the architect because “the builder builds it”. It sounds like you practice in a place that does not require an architect for residential projects under a certain threshold – I would make sure that the potential client understands that the plans that any contractor might draw up will certainly be less than the minimum standard of care to which any architect is held (without using those boring words) and that in your years of experience any project built wihtout an architect who designs the building and stays involved with the construction process is of lesser quality, and may even cost more, than with a highly trained professional at the helm. Its about bang for the buck. If the statement is made that the builder is protecting the owner from an architect designing something wrong, ask for specifics (bet you won’t get any). Ultimately, you are better of wihtout those clients. I know that I am.

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