You may have built your brand, perfected your marketing, developed a strong reputation, executed a flawless sales process, and have received your prospective client’s eager authorization to proceed with a new project. You've done everything right up to this point, but to make this new relationship official, you need to complete one final important step. You need a signed legal document. You need an Owner/Architect Agreement. It may be the most important step in the entire process of … [Read more...]
Contract Documents
Our Architectural Services Proposal
Several years ago, I attended a local AIA seminar presented by a fellow architect and the Chapter Council. The topic was "alternative agreements". What I learned during that interactive meeting was that for some projects, selecting one of the many legal documents available from our national professional organizations an appropriate way to protect both the architect and the owner when entering an agreement for architectural services. There are other times though, when a simpler, "friendlier" … [Read more...]
Do you use AIA Contract Documents? Let’s talk agreements…
Several years ago, we constructed a new Proposal document that doubles as our Owner / Architect Agreement. It's 5 pages long and, together with a separate 2 page "Standard Terms and Conditions" document, it includes all the protections of the AIA document... but looks and reads much friendlier. Fivecat Studio specializes in large residential additions and alterations, so we're dealing with homeowners. Back when we used AIA Documents, we spent way too much time negotiating contracts (or waiting … [Read more...]
Partnering Architects
At this month's meeting of the AIA Westchester / Mid-Huson Practice Management Committe we were discussing the subject of partnering (two architects working with a joint venture agreement). Among many interesting comments, the question of legal agreements was raised and I wondered if the AIA offered a document for architects looking to partner. As assumed, they do. C801™-1993, Joint Venture Agreement for Professional Services can be used for just such an arrangement. "C801™-1993 is intended … [Read more...]