Small Project Design

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Small Project Practitioners and Practice Management Member Conversations .
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Has anyone ever sold their old construction drawings rather than retain the rights, and if so, how did you value them?  This is to a second or third time owner of the building.

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Robert Collins AIA
VP Real Estate Services
Wise Way Foods
Merrillville IN
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The only time I encountered an actual sale of the drawings/tracings was about 10 years ago. Our client had purchased a custom home built by another local architect; the home was built in the 1960s. Rather than allowing us to copy the sheets that we needed (for a fee), the architect would only sell us the complete CD tracing set...for $20,000. My client declined the offer. Determine a value, and see if it flys. Doug ------------------------------------------- W. Douglas Gilpin, Jr. FAIA - Architect, PLC Charlottesville VA -------------------------------------------
Original Message: Sent: 11-23-2012 16:20 From: Robert Collins Subject: Selling old construction drawings This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Small Project Practitioners and Practice Management Member Conversations . ------------------------------------------- Has anyone ever sold their old construction drawings rather than retain the rights, and if so, how did you value them? This is to a second or third time owner of the building. ------------------------------------------- Robert Collins AIA VP Real Estate Services Wise Way Foods Merrillville IN -------------------------------------------

Some people have an overinflated idea of the value of certain things. If I was paid for the plans initially, and the plans are only to be used for the original project, I have given drawings for the cost of reproduction. If the drawings are to be used for a new project or if I did not get paid for the original work, it is another story.

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Mitchel Abramowitz AIA
Mitchel Abramowitz, AIA
Roslyn PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-26-2012 07:38
From: W. Gilpin
Subject: Selling old construction drawings

The only time I encountered an actual sale of the drawings/tracings was about 10 years ago. Our client had purchased a custom home built by another local architect; the home was built in the 1960s. Rather than allowing us to copy the sheets that we needed (for a fee), the architect would only sell us the complete CD tracing set...for $20,000. My client declined the offer.

Determine a value, and see if it flys.

Doug
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W. Douglas Gilpin, Jr. FAIA - Architect, PLC
Charlottesville VA
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Mitchel-

What would be your "other story"?

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Robert Collins AIA
VP Real Estate Services
Wise Way Foods
Merrillville IN
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-27-2012 19:41
From: Mitchel Abramowitz
Subject: Selling old construction drawings

Some people have an overinflated idea of the value of certain things. If I was paid for the plans initially, and the plans are only to be used for the original project, I have given drawings for the cost of reproduction. If the drawings are to be used for a new project or if I did not get paid for the original work, it is another story.

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Mitchel Abramowitz AIA
Mitchel Abramowitz, AIA
Roslyn PA
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Great question, Robert.
I have all but closed my office and have drawers of past small projects and a lot of residential designs that I am sure some of the current owners would like to have.
I hate to just dump them in the recycling bin, but I am most concerned about stirring up a possible liability issue.

As I understand -
Some years back the Ohio legislature determined that an architect's liability only went back 7 years.
That was later overturned by the State Supreme Court saying that liability could not be limited.



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D. Cook AIA
Tipp City OH
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