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design/build wackiness

gruen

OK, so I've been in business for about a year - sole prop - residential. Along the way, I've bumped into a couple of projects where the owners shopped my drawings (without me knowing) to design/build firms before I was done with schematic design. This inevitably ends up with me losing the project to the design/build firm, because they need to produce the construction drawings as part of their process. Luckily in both instances I was getting paid hourly - so I didn't lose money - but I did lose future work and control of the project because of this. 

Has anyone successfully avoided - or harnessed - this process? I'm sure not going to start a design/build firm myself, just not interested in it right now. 

In one case, the clients & project completely disappeared. In the other, the client is keeping me involved in a project management sense and I'll have some control over the final product, but won't be getting the work of producing the contract docs. This D/B company is more of a prefab company, so I'm almost wondering if I can manage it right, that it'd be a great option for some clients in the future. 

In both cases, I didn't have a contract up front except for hourly work for design. I'm not upset about either project, but am wondering how to manage it in the future. 

 
Oct 31, 14 12:45 pm
mightyaa

Not a lot you can do.  Some of it is vetting your clients upfront; Over the years, you'll sort develop a sixth sense for the low ballers based on where they seem to focus.  Some of it is relationship building; goes with that sixth sense because if they see you as a friend, they are more likely to be upfront with you. 

I also have a list of GC's I can partner with... it's a good network thing too since they can send stuff my way as well.  So one of the first conversations is getting them to think about various delivery methods; Traditional, DB, fast track, etc.  and the pro's and con's including impact to fees.  Essentially, I can be competitive with DB and have arrangements with GC's where I'm paid through them if need be. 

Oct 31, 14 12:59 pm  · 
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^ What mightya said. Offer competitive services with an independent contractor.

Oct 31, 14 1:28 pm  · 
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gwharton

It's the wave of the future.

Oct 31, 14 3:04 pm  · 
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