Realizing How Much We Are Giving Away For Free.
Now that I’ve gone through the licensure process and spent more time really studying the AIA contracts, I’ve started to look at my day-to-day project work very differently.
Has anyone else had the realization that we often give away a lot of time for free.. particularly when it comes to what should clearly fall under Additional Services?
Before diving deeper into the contracts, I don’t think I fully appreciated how many “small” client requests technically fall outside Basic Services. Things like extra iterations, expanded coordination, scope creep disguised as minor clarifications, or additional meetings can quietly add up.
I’m curious if you’ve started pushing back on identifying add services more clearly, how has your firm responded? Has anyone successfully helped shift their office culture around pausing work and formally notifying clients above additional services?
I’m especially interested in how individuals (not just firm owners) have navigated this internally. It feels like something we should be doing to protect the value of our services, but culturally it can be difficult to be the one raising the flag.
Would love to hear others experiences.
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It is always tough to tell the client that with that change there will be an extra fee. I've seen practice questions specifically say to not do any work until the owner has accepted the agreement in writing orb contract change for the additional services. I have learned this recently it's just a way you have to phrase it to them. First of all your original scope has to be clearly defined in the proposal even if it's just simple the amount of square footage only and scope of work once you deviate from that that should be add service/change order and since you have it in the proposal you can go back to it. For example I had a project recently where the original scope was an addition extension and remodel around 500 square feet and the owner decided he wanted to do it as a true story audition on top of his garage. As we know this is very much different so I have to explain that it was not in the original stop but we can add that for +xxx I invite against it because it would stick out like a short thumb but they agreed but couldn't visualize it and pushed for me to show them an idea for 3D view and so I did and didn't spend too much time on it but it was enough to convince them to not go forward. Also the timing is important when they have the idea and when you respond and communicate that over to them.
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