How to stop working in vane?

[archkre]

A friend of a relative gave me a call and told me he needed his house renovated.

Since I don´t have an office and it would be a freelance work, we always had appointments

in the client´s house , more than 50 miles away.

After he told me the scope of the renovation I went back home and with the based on the

plans the client gave me started working on a proposal.

After having worked for more than a week on it, we have a showdown and he loved the

proposal.

I kept on working on that, but the next contacts were thru the phone.

Unexpectedly in the last occation he told me he really loved the proposal, but he wanted to

wait until the economy recovers from this recession to go on!

I didn´t receive a single buck after more of 2 months of work!

How to avoid this in the day to day professional practice?

How should I proceed to avoid this kind of stupid results in the profession?

Thank you

Edited June 9, 2008 by archkre

[neko]

why can't you still bill him for the work ? has he said he won't pay ?

 

the word is 'vain', by the way (i'm a bit of a spelling fanatic, sorry)

[Nic H]

I reckon some stern words and if that doesnt work send the boys around for some blunt trauma.

 

...anyway that really sucks, as a freelancer there isnt much you can do, even as a company its time intensive and expensive to chase this kind of thing.

 

I would have asked for 1/3 rd up front, and the other 2/3 rds at completion of 'sketch design' phase (where you are at now?).

 

Then the planning / construction is another phase that works the same way. This ensures you get paid at least some, and he has teh ability to hold work for a while between teh design and going ahead with documentation/build

[Devin Johnston]

You should never do work without a written contract that specifically spells out what the scope of work will be and what your compensation is and when it will be paid. If you don't do this then your just asking to be taken advantage of and the worse part is you have no recourse if someone takes advantage of you. If the guy ever does come back tell him he's going to have to pay all of your previous expenses in full as well as 50% of your total contract fees up front before you'll do any more work or give him access to you materials. You can't let people screw you like that.

[litleboy]

just send him a letter+invoice, saying he needs to cover for the time you spent, and when the time comes you will deduct the payments from the final job. (on current marker if its after a few years). I recommend you to let him know it's just a small amount to cover the minimum expenses, make him understand that normally he should be paying way more than that but that's just to help him.

[BrianKitts]

just send him a letter+invoice, saying he needs to cover for the time you spent......

 

The client has no legal obligation to make restitution for the work you did if there was no preset contract. Maxer's dead on about setting forth the contract before doing any work. Otherwise you are just setting yourself up to get burnt. Some clients are generous enough to make compensation if a project doesn't continue.... but for the most part with the developers that I've delt with, project on hold means all payments are on hold as well.

[litleboy]

the client gave me started working on a proposal.

After having worked for more than a week on it, we have a showdown and he loved the proposal.I kept on working on that,

 

 

If he gave him a verbal aproval to do a proposal of the design. as far I undesrtand, he was requesting some work.

 

BrianKitts I undestand your point and you are rigth, but I have had the same situation, and 80% of the clients pays something.

 

but, 2 months of work with nothing on writing, you owned this lesson.

[mbowers]

The distinction has been made. Our office writes a lot of proposals for work that we may or may not get. Do we get paid for it? NOPE. If the proposal succeeds then a contract is written for services.

 

We've always included a "kill fee". This fee covers any work that we have done to the date when the client calls and says to hold on or to terminate the work. It's usually a percentage of the total project, or based on the number of hours worked..it all depends on the agreement.

 

Working for relatives or friends of relatives is a sticky situation. Hope this helps.

[archkre]

I realize I need some tutorials on this kind of Architect-Client commercial relationship!

I was not taught that in the Architecture School.

Do you people know any material: books,e-book, tutorial or videos to learn how to face that kind of professional situations?

I suppose I went through too many 3dsMax or Vray tutorials and very few "how to make $$$ as an Architect"!

Thank you

Edited June 9, 2008 by archkre

[neko]

I suppose I went through too many 3dsMax or Vray tutorials and very few "how to make $$$ as an Architect"!

Thank you

 

not many tutorials like that exist in architecture.

 

if you are motivated by making lots of money, you're likely in the wrong business (unfortunately)

 

best of luck !

[Devin Johnston]

I don't know of any tutorials because there more than likely aren't any but you should look into the ASAI (American Society of Architectural Illustrators), if you are a member of their organization you will have access to some legal contracts. These are forms that the organization has put together that you can edit for your own uses and are legally binding. I use them all the time and have changed them to suit my needs and so far I've always been paid.

[Tommy L]

I'd ask the relative to have a word with the client. They might listen to a friend.

[Sawyer]

I don't know if you need a contract. That just spells out the details of payment schedules and amounts. You did work for a client, they should assume that you don't work for free. Now your conversation SHOULD have been like this:

 

Client: "I think I cannot complete this project in this current financial environment."

You: "I understand, no worries, let me get your invoice together."

 

But the fact that it wasn't doesn't change anything. Call them up let them know you have an invoice together, apologize that it took so long.

 

Doing work for someone creates a contract. The amount/rate is what they can argue not that they owe you money.

[WAcky]

http://www.cgarchitect.com/upclose/DW/default.asp

 

Some good reading above. Try taking a look there.

[Ky Lane]

Im in a bike club of about 500 members, and the small group of lads I ride with are mostly ex Aussie SAS/Air Guard etc. They make fantastic cheque collectors