It's after midnight and I can't sleep - argh!
I am very nearly finished with the history display for a local hotel, and as I was working on it another client called.
The building I designed for him is a fire station, and the firefighters want the tile in the bathroom extended. He was asking me if I would pay for it out of my errors and omissions insurance! Huh? I asked what the error or omission was, and he said they don't have any more money in the project to pay for the tile. So I asked again what I did wrong... apparently I "left out" the additional tile that they now want. (He did understand that it was not something they asked for during design). And, "we don't have any more money for the project; who is going to pay for the tile?"
I've never had an errors and omissions claim, and even though this is additional and not an error or omission, I will end up paying for the tile rather than have it go to a claim.
I think that's why I can't sleep.
But the history window will be finished tomorrow, which is what I promised. Maybe the money I made on that project will pay for the tile?
It sort of makes me sick to think of it.
Also - just venting here - I think sometimes my clients, because I am female, think that I can't possibly be the primary earner in my family, and that what I make is extra and therefore expendable (which I gather from comments they make, that are meant to be funny, but seem like kidding on the sly: "why don't you have your husband buy you a new [car/clothes/whatever].
This same client was very complimentary about the extra work I put into the project during construction (with a difficult contractor) - with no extra compensation, though. I asked for some of the contractor's liquidated damage money, so maybe we can just trade that out for their tile.
(You know, they even asked me why there were no paintings or posters as part of my plans, and were suspicious when I explained that architects don't provide things like that...)
OK, I'm done ranting; I'm going to go to bed now!!
Hard Day at Work, Stupid Tile, Confused Clients
July 19th, 2013 at 07:39 am
July 19th, 2013 at 07:44 am 1374216271
July 19th, 2013 at 02:15 pm 1374239736
July 19th, 2013 at 02:40 pm 1374241230
And as for posters, maybe they've been watching too much HGTV where the designer handles everything. That isn't reality!
July 19th, 2013 at 02:50 pm 1374241834
Speaking of gender differences, consider if you were a man. A man would just say no, so stand your ground. That's really taking advantage of you.
July 19th, 2013 at 02:59 pm 1374242389
July 19th, 2013 at 03:18 pm 1374243490
Heck, a client once told me it was a shame I had a huge mortgage and had to work and send my kids to daycare. (For reference, my spouse stays home with the kids, and has since before they were born). Assumptions MUCH!?!
I would be very clear (maybe even in writing) about how the tile thing is their error and that you will be covering it as a courtesy. But, I don't think a flat out "no" is the best way to do business either. It's sometimes better to appease a difficult client. IF a client is going to sue you, bad mouth your business, etc., it's easier just to play the nice guy and send them on their way. As long as that is a small percentage of business doings, it is bound to happen.
July 19th, 2013 at 03:43 pm 1374245025
Is it practical to change wording in future contracts to indicate that changes/additions in materials will incur additional costs?
July 19th, 2013 at 04:04 pm 1374246296
July 19th, 2013 at 04:55 pm 1374249345
And regarding contracts... I have to sign the city's contract (it's not a terrible contract and does have language about additional services) - if I won't sign, they can always go to another architect. It's not a terrible job, though - I get to use my creativity/talent.
*note that creative people are sometimes really bad at valuing their work and negotiating in situations like these!!
July 19th, 2013 at 06:25 pm 1374254700
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July 19th, 2013 at 11:54 pm 1374274454