A little background on me first, I have a B. Arch and have passed all of my NCARB ARE registration exams, but am not yet licensed because I have not taken the California Supplemental Exam.
A not-so-close-friend wants to hire me as a designer for a remodel of a their existing wood framed construction single family home.
Given that you do not need a license to perform this scope of work, can anyone recommend how to set up a contract/agreement to define the work and provide protection for both parties? I am not sure of the risks involved given I am not acting as an architect, and instead, just a designer.
Thanks in advance!
x-jla
Mar 31, 17 12:03 pm
Makes no difference. If you do the work you will be held to the standard of others who do similar work regardless of licemse. Talketo a lawyer
Non Sequitur
Mar 31, 17 12:17 pm
You can't contract out liability that easily. Get a lawyer involved and purchase professional liability insurance.
proto
Mar 31, 17 4:38 pm
i didn't sleep at a holiday inn express last night, but it can be done without a lawyer, but you should understand what constitutes basic services & liability (which you should since you're thru the ARE).
Your proposal can be your agreement. Keep it positive, simple, self-written, and parallel to the AIA short form small projects architect/owner agreement. Don't try to scare the client with overly elaborate legalese. Be clear and be yourself; this letter is your first sales job. You'll probably end up with about 2 pages max + whatever it takes to identify scope. Have the client sign the proposal and send it back to you.
Identify
the project address, scope & what you will deliver (services & deliverables & exclusions)
identify your timelines (or critical path of decisions)
method & rate of payment (including retainer, deliverables, and add'l services, if they're ever needed)
termination process
limit extent of financial liability to cost of services (not necessarily cuz it will hold up in court so much as to just get it out there that you aren't a fountain of cash to sue...and, with signature at least, you have some buy-in on that point). [You can also buy project-by-project E/O & include it in the proposal, but the cost is likely to squash the project]
Hi all :
I am hoping to get some help/advice...
A little background on me first, I have a B. Arch and have passed all of my NCARB ARE registration exams, but am not yet licensed because I have not taken the California Supplemental Exam.
A not-so-close-friend wants to hire me as a designer for a remodel of a their existing wood framed construction single family home.
Given that you do not need a license to perform this scope of work, can anyone recommend how to set up a contract/agreement to define the work and provide protection for both parties? I am not sure of the risks involved given I am not acting as an architect, and instead, just a designer.
Thanks in advance!
Makes no difference. If you do the work you will be held to the standard of others who do similar work regardless of licemse. Talketo a lawyer
You can't contract out liability that easily. Get a lawyer involved and purchase professional liability insurance.
i didn't sleep at a holiday inn express last night, but it can be done without a lawyer, but you should understand what constitutes basic services & liability (which you should since you're thru the ARE).
Your proposal can be your agreement. Keep it positive, simple, self-written, and parallel to the AIA short form small projects architect/owner agreement. Don't try to scare the client with overly elaborate legalese. Be clear and be yourself; this letter is your first sales job. You'll probably end up with about 2 pages max + whatever it takes to identify scope. Have the client sign the proposal and send it back to you.
Identify
http://archinect.com/forum/thread/149896875/owner-architect-contract-agreements
That was a fun thread. I miss Miles' perspective around here.