Jenny Slingerland

Thanks for the great input Brianna!

Such a good question!

When a client is still in that early phase, but want us involved in the architectural plans, etc., we will take a retainer of $3,500, $5,000 or whatever we think is an appropriate amount for the timeframe and then we bill those hours used here and there with the architect, builder, etc. against the retainer. They get a monthly breakdown of our time billing. Then when the plans are finalized we can figure out what we want to charge.

I think the option#2 will work if the secondary spaces you are referring to don’t include lighting, built-ins, trim detail, tile, etc. Our spec book only includes the rooms and spaces that have those items listed above. For example, my build book won’t have a guest bedrooms unless there is a wall feature, hanging fixture or something that a trade would need to know about. If you can do that, I cannot imagine any builder getting upset.

For site visits, consider what I talked about in the first week. In your contract specify that that once you turn the spec book over, there is xx amount of hours that they can use for site walks, calls from builders, trades, etc. Depending on the size of the home the hours can range from 10-25 hours (or whatever you want it to be). Then tell them any additional work or site visits will be billed at your hourly rate of xx. I always make it clear that we’re happy to help them past those initial 20 hours, but that it will be billed hourly time once you reach those 20 hours (for example). Then I would take another retainer of $3,500, $5,000, or whatever is best for you and bill against it, just like you did in the architectural phase.

Hope that helps!

Ask the builder what he prefers, he’ll let you know. Most often they have you contract directly with the client. Good luck!

Hi Trudi,

I feel like having a file in .dwg is imperative so they can share it with their designer or hired cad specialist to elevate, unless they are using SketchUp.

Trudi: Great question. We are only using the plans to elevate the bathrooms and kitchens for clarification for tile installers, placement of niches for the framers, placement of plumbing for the plumber, etc. We are not structurally changing anything from the plans, so need for concern about liabilities.

Gary: I think your wife will love you! 😉

Katherine: With remodels, in some cases you will have floor plans available from the GC or homeowner. With new builds, you will get the plans from the architect. If it is a remodel without plans, depending on your scope of work you may need to hire a draftsman to measure the space for you. If it’s a job that requires a GC, they may have a draftsman they like to use. Just ask. I
If you need a draftsman, you will need to find one in your area. They will come out, measure the home and then provide you with a cad file (.dwg file) to work from. You can then send that file to whomever you’re working with to create your elevations, furniture placement, etc.
If it’s a small job, one or two rooms, I will usually take measurements at my consultation and then give my sketched layout to one my designers to put in cad.

Samantha: Did this help? Gary had some links for you as well. Also, I added further clarification in a new forum post this morning.

I don’t have higher design fees because I don’t purchase. Just my square footage price that is based on my experience, our customer service and time spent to complete the project.
Because our market is nuts here, I am saying that in order to take on a new build or remodel there has to be a furniture package involved for me to take the job. On furnishing jobs I charge for my design time and I have a hefty mark up. 🙂
Hope that helps!