Dealing With Clients - An Architect"s Perspective
I am an architect and this article is a derivative of the blunders I have made.
Hopefully, this write up makes you a wiser client.
Even more, hope this helps an architect who is just starting out.
So, my blunders - 1.
Trying to work with a client who had an incredibly low budget, just because I wanted the job and experience.
I regret making lots of decisions to reduce costs.
End result - unhappy client.
2.
NOT being absolutely TRANSPARENT with what I can offer.
Clients with small budgets can tend to have unrealistic expectations.
It is a challenging situation to manage, while trying to deliver good quality work.
3.
Starting work on site without a complete set of drawings and without approval from the client on all matters.
Even if you are pressured to start work as soon as possible because the client is losing money.
Redoing, redesigning on site takes up much more time and much more money.
4.
Do not work without a contract.
State exactly what work is expected and what work will be delivered.
Always keep a buffer on the time.
5.
Sort out the money.
Transparent budgets, transparent fees, transparent timelines.
Set a number + 20% and be comfortable with that.
You will definitely exceed your estimated costs and make sure your client knows it is an estimate.
6.
Be absolutely clear on what your fees are and at what durations you expect to be paid.
Similarly, draw up a rough estimate immediately of the project, amount of time it will require from you, and figure out if it is worth it.
I once spend three weeks coordinating with a client on making a layout for their office.
I didn't hear back from them after I gave them a rough cost estimate.
7.
I hired a contractor who quoted the lowest fees, sourced materials from the cheapest vendors and tried to complete the project at lightning speed.
All to be within the budget and timeline.
Looking back, I wish I had told the clients that the budget was too low and timelines too tight and not taken up the work.
The cheapest options might be the worst way to spend your money - mostly, with finishes.
Low quality materials will make you wish you hadn't renovated at all.
On the flip side, branded finishes may be overpriced because of the "brand" and might not necessarily be better quality.
Hopefully, this write up makes you a wiser client.
Even more, hope this helps an architect who is just starting out.
So, my blunders - 1.
Trying to work with a client who had an incredibly low budget, just because I wanted the job and experience.
I regret making lots of decisions to reduce costs.
End result - unhappy client.
2.
NOT being absolutely TRANSPARENT with what I can offer.
Clients with small budgets can tend to have unrealistic expectations.
It is a challenging situation to manage, while trying to deliver good quality work.
3.
Starting work on site without a complete set of drawings and without approval from the client on all matters.
Even if you are pressured to start work as soon as possible because the client is losing money.
Redoing, redesigning on site takes up much more time and much more money.
4.
Do not work without a contract.
State exactly what work is expected and what work will be delivered.
Always keep a buffer on the time.
5.
Sort out the money.
Transparent budgets, transparent fees, transparent timelines.
Set a number + 20% and be comfortable with that.
You will definitely exceed your estimated costs and make sure your client knows it is an estimate.
6.
Be absolutely clear on what your fees are and at what durations you expect to be paid.
Similarly, draw up a rough estimate immediately of the project, amount of time it will require from you, and figure out if it is worth it.
I once spend three weeks coordinating with a client on making a layout for their office.
I didn't hear back from them after I gave them a rough cost estimate.
7.
I hired a contractor who quoted the lowest fees, sourced materials from the cheapest vendors and tried to complete the project at lightning speed.
All to be within the budget and timeline.
Looking back, I wish I had told the clients that the budget was too low and timelines too tight and not taken up the work.
The cheapest options might be the worst way to spend your money - mostly, with finishes.
Low quality materials will make you wish you hadn't renovated at all.
On the flip side, branded finishes may be overpriced because of the "brand" and might not necessarily be better quality.
