Small Firm Exchange

Hi members, 

 I would like to get some advice or stories how you structure contracts for single-family home projects, specifically regarding structural, civil and MEP engineering consultants. In my practice, I typically include architectural, structural and MEP engineering for single residential in my proposal as part of a bundled fee, but exclude civil and landscape. I've noticed some firms separate engineering contracts entirely, similar to what I've seen in large commercial building or TI projects.  

How do you typically handle this? Do you bundle engineers into your proposal, or have clients contract them separately? Are there specific factors-like project complexity, budget constraints, client preferences, or liability risks-that drive your decision? For example, do you separate services to mitigate risks in high-value or complex homes, or stick with bundling for simplicity? 

Thank you in advice, 

Alan

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Hongwoo Joen AIA
Alan Architecture, Inc.
Los Angeles CA
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Thank you, based on your and Lawrence's advice, I've realized it's better to keep the contracts separate 100% but coordination only even for a single family projects. Further more this question raised by a potential hillside project. It also saves me from having to manage invoices and payments to engineers. I found that many engineers actually prefer direct contracts because they often experience delays when working through architecture firms. 

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Hongwoo Joen AIA
Alan Architecture, Inc.
Los Angeles CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-30-2025 05:32 PM
From: James W. Zack FAIA
Subject: Single house project proposal - consultant services

We do a mix of residential and small commercial.  We typically have the consultants contract direct to the owner.  We manage them, the owner pays them.  Unlike commercial/institutional projects our fees cover our work, we do not rely on consultant mark up to supplement our fees.

Thank you,



Jim Zack, FAIA | principal


AIA San Francisco 

2025 Firm Leadership Award 

w. 415.495.7889, ext. 201
c. 415.797.2282

1672 15th Street
San Francisco, CA • 94103

www.zackdevito.com

Original Message:
Sent: 7/30/2025 5:33:00 PM
From: James W. Zack FAIA
Subject: RE: Single house project proposal - consultant services

We do a mix of residential and small commercial.  We typically have the consultants contract direct to the owner.  We manage them, the owner pays them.  Unlike commercial/institutional projects our fees cover our work, we do not rely on consultant mark up to supplement our fees.

Thank you,



Jim Zack, FAIA | principal


AIA San Francisco 

2025 Firm Leadership Award 

w. 415.495.7889, ext. 201
c. 415.797.2282

1672 15th Street
San Francisco, CA • 94103

www.zackdevito.com

I would speak with your insurance carrier. My current as well as past insurers prefer we do not have the MEP or other outside services as part of our contract. Like James, we keep those contracted directly to the owner and then just coordinate. Additionally, if the client decides to stiff you on fee, you're not on the hook for the engineering/consultant fees.

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Lawrence Paschall AIA
Spotted Dog Architecture
Dallas TX
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It's always interesting checking into these things and seeing the diversity of responses and the various ways we all do this.

Regardless, the consultants for us are largely under our wing. That's why they are our consultants. That relationship transcends any one project or fee. Of course, consultants fees are approved by the client, but they work for (and with) us. (Landscape might vary more than most). But keep em close.

Good luck.

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Mark Asher AIA
Asher Slaunwhite Architects
Jenkintown PA
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