Design Services

[u/EggWaffle_03]

Hello po architects!! 🫶🏻 Need your advice and tips on this. How do you handle the scope and limitations of your design services to your clients?? (in terms sa contract agreement)

Ano manner of payment niyo sa project? Naka Honorarium based ba kayo for ocular visit fee niyo sa project? Or included na sa 15% PF niyo if percentage based fee ang payment? (Pre-design stage)

In terms of scope of services, as the AOR of the project, do you still manage to go through your scope yung sa nego/bidding phase ni client w/ contractor..? wherein being mediator between client and contractor, involved pa ba kayo??

or after completion all of the contract docs and archt'l services, final billing na kayo??

Hanggang ilang revisions ina allow niyo sa clients niyo per project?

Thank you so much sa makakapag bigay insights nila dito. 😇

[u/Sea-Eggplant-9588]

I'd start with the AIA contracts as a basis. Manner of payment is up to you but I wouldnt conduct site visits unless youre being paid, clients always expect too much of your time. If youre making site visits during construtction and being a mediator between the client and contractor, I would add Construction Administration to your scope and contract and charge accordingly, price per visit, once a month/week/etc. Also indicate on your scope/contract how many revisions youre willing to make, and articulate a revision vs a redesign. You can also choose to provide only design services and be hands off sa construction. This is usually my chouse because construction can get crazy pero CA is a good way to get experience and make a bit more.

[u/SockeyCram]

Huh?

[u/da_drifter0912 → u/SockeyCram]

The OP’s speaking in a mix of Tagalog and English. Also Ocular visit and Honorarium are not typical terminology (at least to me working in the US)

I’m guessing the OP means:

Hi, architects! 🫶🏻 I’d appreciate some advice on how you typically define the scope and limitations of your architectural services in your client agreements.

How do you structure your fees for a project? For example, during the pre-design phase, do you charge a separate site visit/site assessment fee, or is that included in your overall architectural fee? If you use a percentage-based fee, such as 15% of construction cost, would the initial site visit typically be included in that fee?

Regarding the scope of services, if you are serving as the Architect of Record (AOR), do your services typically extend into the contractor procurement, negotiation, or bidding phase? Do you continue assisting the owner by coordinating with the contractor, reviewing bids or proposals, and helping facilitate communication between the owner and contractor?

Or do your services generally end once the Construction Documents and other agreed-upon architectural services have been completed, at which point you issue your final invoice?

Also, how many rounds of design revisions do you typically include in your fee before additional services or additional fees apply?

Thank you so much to anyone willing to share how you handle this in your practice. 😇

My questions then to the OP:

Are you already a licensed architect or an unlicensed individual?

Are you aware of the laws regulating the architecture profession in your jurisdiction?

Are you aware of the resources available to you by professional organizations such as American Institute of Architects?

Are you asking because you’re trying to get your own work, in which the questions above are really important?