Project Fee Budgeting for Architects Sadly, there’s no way for an architect to guarantee their projects will be profitable, let alone earn a minimum 20% Net Profit at the completion of any project. There are however ‘best practices’ to apply to ensure that a project is profitable and to even successfully earn a minimum Net Profit of 20%. In my professional opinion, one of the best practices to apply in advance of providing a client with a proposed fee is to always invest the time and expense … [Read more...]
Behind The Design 003:
Canal House
by The Ranch Mine
Project Name Canal House Project Location Phoenix, AZ Firm Name The Ranch Mine Architect’s Name Cavin Costello Project Design Team Cavin and Claire Costello Consultants MPE Engineer, Structural Engineer, and Civil Engineer Firm Address 4340 E Indian School Rd. Suite 21552, Pheonix, AZ Website URL www.theranchmine.com Instagram Account @theranchmineofficial Photography Credit Roehner + Ryan Photographer Instagram Account @roehnerryan What was the marketing … [Read more...]
What Was I Thinking?
Four Lessons in Telling the Truth
My First Assignment Many years ago, before Annmarie and I started our residential architecture firm, I was a project manager with Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson Architects in Mt. Kisco, New York. I worked very closely with the senior partner at the time, Dick Kaeyer. My first assignment as Project Manager was a major addition and renovation project for a church and facilities in Yorktown Heights. Dick designed the project and I developed it through construction drawings. Then, in order to … [Read more...]
How Project Accounting Will Transform Your Architecture Firm
Take the Time to Examine Project Financials—You Won’t Regret It Your projects have many moving parts, and sometimes tracking their financials might seem overwhelming. You might not get all the information you want or maybe, you don’t even bother to determine the profitability of each project because it would involve too much time. It’s completely understandable, but if you want to get serious about boosting your firm’s efficiency and profitability, you need to start monitoring your project … [Read more...]
Every Architecture Project
Has Four Corners
Begin with Intention Effective project execution is associated with successful achievement of design intent, high-quality construction, profitability and efficiency. Effective management indeed rests in part with a project manager’s ability to deliver a quality project on time and within the approved fee. But profitability and efficiency of design and production are not the only markers of successful project completion. Successful project delivery relies on the manager’s understanding of the … [Read more...]
Limit Their Stress By Limiting Their Choices
When performing our Design Development phase with clients, we typically assist them in selecting all their finishes, plumbing fixtures and lighting. It's an Additional Service, but one that most clients are happy to have us complete. The process of selecting is completed most efficiently when we discover and learn, through questionnaires and images, what our clients like and what they dislike. Then, with a thorough knowledge of their taste and personal style, we offer a limited number of … [Read more...]
8 Reasons Why You Should Provide Construction Administration On Every Project
One of the most popular topics discussed throughout the EntreArchitect Community is the role of the architect during the construction phase. I am often surprised by the number of firms providing architectural design services and forfeiting the final phase of the process, Construction Administration. Here is a recent comment from the group; “I need to get better at selling my clients on construction administration. Most think they do not need it and refuse it when offered. I had a recent … [Read more...]
Better Project Management for Small Firm Architects
11 Steps To Better Project Management Systems for Architects One of the most important of all the tasks we perform as architects is Project Management. The success of each project sits squarely in our hands. If managed poorly, a single project may set our progress back years. If managed well, it can take us to great heights. I’ve been continuously improving my firm’s project management systems since we launched in 1999. With each new project, I learn more and modify the systems we … [Read more...]
White Windows
Originally posted on February 22, 2007, this was the seventh entry on the site and was the first full length article I shared. The lessons presented then are just as relevant today. Be honest, have integrity and any error, omission or mistake you may experience will always work out. My First Assignment Many years ago, before Annmarie and I started our residential architecture firm, I was a project manager with Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson Architects in Mt. Kisco, New York. I worked very … [Read more...]
5 Cost Estimating Mistakes You’re Probably Already Making
(This is a guest post by Eric Halsey.) There’s an irony in the fact that everything else can go right on a construction project, but if your cost estimates are off, it can still wind up costing your firm time, money and reputation. Accurate construction estimating is essential for your firm to prosper. All too often, the problems in your construction cost estimating aren’t immediately obvious. You see the consequences, but not the causes. Finding those problems, particularly when they’re … [Read more...]
Managing Your Client’s Happiness
One of the keys to success for small firm architects is client satisfaction. Keep the client happy throughout the project and that happy client will lead you to more happy clients. Our clients don’t like surprises. They want to be fully informed and up-to-date throughout the process. Expectation Management is an important practice that must be included in the overall management of every project. Our clients want to know what to expect, when to expect it and what it may cost them when the … [Read more...]
How To Manage Your Architecture Projects Using Evernote
Every morning, as I prepare for my day, I sit down at my iMac and launch my most critical apps. I use the native Mac Mail for email. Nozbe for managing my tasks. Fantastical 2.0 is my current calendar of choice and all my AutoCAD drawing files are safely backed up and accessible on Dropbox. Each app helps me stay productive whether I am in the studio or on the road. And then there's Evernote. I've been using Evernote for a few years now and it has slowly become my most useful tool. … [Read more...]