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Thanks Wayne, pretty much what I was thinking too, but I like your “give up 25% to save 33%”. I didn’t get this project – client changed their mind about the whole thing, but starting to bid out many more large projects, which is a new ballgame for me. Just did a proposal for an assisted living, my fee was 5.35% excluding engineers, and the project is just an addition to an existing facility, so relatively simple building. I can probably tweak it down to 4%, if I reduce scope, no idea if they’ll bite on the negotiation or not. Doing another small project for the owners right now which is a bit of a monkey’s fist to get them to sign on for the larger one.
Yikes . I was a bit exhausted when I posted. Mixed use-multi family and commercial. 4 story. Wood frame. Private client. Parking beneath. Luxury.
I’m just like Sony, but CA is usually hourly-because quality of the contractor has such a big impact on CA time. Variances, etc also hourly. Some small work, open ended work or studies also hourly.
I will post mine once the rough draft is ready.
I’m working up my “Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum” levels of service and discovering it’s a difficult thing to 1) coherently describe each task we do in each phase in a way that the layperson will understand, 2) actually list all of the tasks, but edit out the boring parts 3) come up with new and innovative services that I can add on, especially services that are cheap for me to provide but I can sell for big $. I’d love to see what others are showing their clients, and I’ll also post mine ASAP. One example idea I’m going to provide – for the Gold and Platinum levels – is to provide the owner professional architectural photos of the completed project. I figure for top end projects I’m going to shoot them anyway, and pay a photographer anyway – this allows me to bill the client for this! I’ll throw in a beautiful framed print for the Platinum level 🙂
I haven’t done site signs. I figure they are also a cost-to buy, install and remove. Probably cheaper to just leave them, so you need to factor in their cost to each job. I do something like 30-40 projects a year, half of which would not get a sign for various reasons. 15-20 signs would cost me something like $100-200 each = $1500-$4000, so need an actual return on them.
I’d also like to know what people are using for the levels-example-level one is design and construction docs. Level two is design, CDs & basic construction admin, level 3 is design, CDs and full bidding , contract negotiation and full construction admin.
I think the trick is:
-the price for level 1 will make you money for level 1 service.
– the price for levels 2&3 are the same – the price you REALLY want for the project.
– level 2 only exists to get them to go for the higher price and full service.
Level 1 = $1000
Level 2 = $9,500
Level 3 = $10,500
You are making money whichever way they go.
My niche-so far no biz-is private k-12 educational . I’ve been informed it’s going to be an uphill climb for me. I may be looking elsewhere, but not yet.
It took me a long time to come up w/a niche. Subsequently I’m second guessing the choice-mainly based on info about how hard it is to break in to & also additional thinking about what I want out of life. Yes, it needs to be interesting to you.
Tried this once but no result because the client didn’t like any of the prices. But it’s a great idea-will be using it again.
Just like any client you need to walk if the project or client looks bad. Perhaps tell them that you don’t take on projects that small, or consulting fees $300/hour. Make sure to establish power dynamic and get paid. He’s probably looking for a freebie. I generally shy away from projects that are for friends and family.
Juintow-I’m working on what these tools are. Really-this is project and resource management, which results in setting deadlines and giving your employees the information (quality level, financial info and expectations) then letting them do it. For me, this means building a solid business and marketing plan that links to office systems (like e-myth) . This takes a lot of decisions out of the hands of the employee, allows them to focus on production and quality instead of drudgery and reinvention of the wheel. A process I’m working on, and one that is specific to each firm, so I can’t share yet.
I’ve tried out “open networking” events and don’t find them to be too useful. I go sometimes still just for fun – an evening out of drinks on the company dime – but I don’t expect to meet anyone who will bring me work. I believe you do meet 4 types of people though: 1) people with “legitimate businesses”. electricians, plumbers, etc. 2) “financial weenies” – these include real estate agents, financial planners, CPAs…3) “massage therapists” – these are attractive women with really dubious business plans. Met one once who was a “life coach who could solve all your problems of health or business using massage therapy and salsa dance”. 4) the “electricity people” – either pyramid schemes or someone else who is trying to sell you something right then and there.
So…you probably are attracting massage therapists and electricity people because that’s the only type of people who are there.
I often take a set of drawings to an initial meeting . Somehow seeing the product shows them some expertise .
Not sure but possibly new haven. I’d appreciate a referral . Juan – I’d love to see them. !!
