This is a re-post of a message edited to remove fee related information. In no way was the original post to encourage any type of price fixing or suggestions of what fees should be. Below is the edited post:
Put down 99.9%. If it weren't for my sole proprietorship, I'd be unemployed and quite buggered. I'm in one of the worst foreclosed areas of the country and I've managed to find enough residential renovation work to keep my practice afloat. I've explained my formula before, but I'll say it again. There is a wealth of regular people renovation work because there are very few who feel comfortable about selling and upgrading, but everyone is still getting pregnant and needing more space. Regular people don't need 20 sheets of drawings with door knob details, spec books, and all the extras. Sometimes they just need a good idea and a permit. If you price yourself out of this work by expecting to soak them for every service known to man, then you obviously missed the boat on what this market of people needs. Let the contractor help them pick paint, water proofing, shingles, and all the other products we've never used, but make ourselves liable for picking. Give them a good canvas to work from and get out before you spend all your time fussing over Cracker Barrel aesthetics and watching your time/ fee go out of control. I make better money per hour on this type of work than I do off my larger commercial jobs. Recently I spent 4 hours on a bathroom renovation within the same space. I was in and out in a single day and I got paid right away cha-ching! How often do you see a check a couple days after the introduction phone call? Architects are missing the boat by ignoring the sector with the most numerous jobs by far and it's perfect work for the 99.9% of sole proprietors who can't see all the opportunity around them because their focused on 10% of the population. Learn how to market your services to all demographics and you will find yourself valuable again! -------------------------------------------
Eric Rawlings AIA
Owner
Rawlings Design, Inc.
Decatur GA
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