New to architectural work, how to work out pricing.

[paulr]

Hi All

 

I`ve just started doing some work for a local architect and i`m trying to gauge how to charge.

Can anyone with experience of this give us some ideas, for example do you charge just by the hour regardless of the job or do you charge depending on the job. For example would you charge differently for a house with interior design compared to a shopping complex.

Also, if you had to do animation would you charge for rendering time?

 

The problem is that this architect normally pays by the job or render but my argument is that it doesnt work like that as its alot quicker to do a simple exterior render than a detail interior job for example. But I dont want to price them out for my work, although they said my work was substantially better than the normal renders they get back.

 

Thanks in advance

 

Paul

[Jonathan Sanchez]

one of among an endless amount of threads in this forum's past regarding pricing: LINK

 

Bottom line is estimate your prices based on your circumstances and hourly costs.

Edited March 8, 2012 by sancheuz

[frog_a_lot]

Since im in a good mood.. the simple answer is, flat fee per rendering. If it is a big complex model then add a bit extra, or if it is a simple interior with model provided make it a little cheaper. A lot of people dont like paying by the hour, unless you can tell them precisely how long it will take. so try and stick to a flat fee.

[RichBenson]

Hi Paul,

 

We would generally start by creating a cost for the modelling and texturing then provide a "bolt on" cost for each image or animation created once the model is complete. So £200 for creating the house model then £200 for creating the image. Each subsequent image is then also £200 if they want to add any more on.

 

Some people will cost per image regardless of the extra time involved or saved on not having to create any extra geometry. All depends on how your workflow works and what you are used to.

 

As you gather more experience you will start to develop some standard figures for different types of jobs, like houses and shopping complexes etc.

 

Once you have agreed a set figure for the work, charge extras and amends at an hourly rate.

 

Also worth remembering that images and animations are only worth what someone will pay for them so try to find out the going rate for the job you are pitching for.

 

Rich

 

http://pikcells.com

Edited March 12, 2012 by RichBenson
forgot to put web address on!

[paulr]

Thanks Rich (and Jonathan/Cameron). Thats helpful and kind of what I had in mind. I`ve completed my first job so that has straight away given me an idea of timescales involved. I`m now just trying to build up my library of items (models,textures,etc) so i`m a bit more prepared for things in future.

 

btw Rich, I checked your site. I was impressed with the bed models in the renders for starplan. Any idea how they were created?

 

Thanks again

 

Paul

[CJI]

Im going to agree with the guys, this is how i do it. I work out my hourly rate that i am happy working too, guesstimate how long based on experience i think a project will take and that will give me my flat rate. If i screw up and it takes far longer then that is my fault, if it takes longer due to changes etc then this cost can be passed to your client.

 

I like Richs method, where you bill for modelling and images seperate (billed in the way above). Clients know exactly what they are getting and what the money is paying for. Like cameron said, you can make adjustments based on the info you are given and the budgets allocated to you.

 

Im going to put money on the beds being draped using cloth physics, the bed linens are then exported to mudbox/zbrush for displacement painting etc??? Was i right, or maybe even close? I hope so as i have been considering injecting a bit of zbrush in to my workflow...haha.

[paulr]

Thanks Curtis.

 

Yes I basically gave them a flat rate per job and then anything more I`ll charge them for it. I just hope I havent shot myself in the foot with this architect by doing 3 designs in one day. They were desperate for a quick nextday job and their usual freelance artist was too busy so they asked me. They now think my work is much better and i`m alot faster so want to use me in future. But doing 3 in a day almost killed me. Just hope they dont think theyre going to get that from me for every job.

[CJI]

I hope you charged them accordingly, or at least let them know that more time is preferable. Im not sure if others will agree but i think its best never to accept a job without knowing the clients ultimate deadline. If its tight you let them know and would maybe even consider upping you're fee a bit to take in to account the rush job and the fact that you are busting your balls to get it done for them while perhaps cutting some corners that, given more time, you wouldn't need to do. This way they know in future that more time for you, is more cost effective, with the potential for an even higher quality product at the end. I personally find honesty and transparency goes a long way with these things.

 

Im not suggesting that work done quickly is in any way inferior, we do what we need to do to hit the deadline (we have all been there). But alotting a reasonable amount of time, is better for everyone involved. Especially your stress levels, which as we all know are high enough in this line of work sometimes lol.

[paulr]

Sure, I told them this was a one off and its a rush job although as it was my first job with them I didnt overcharge for it, I wanted to give a good impression. Anyway they seemed very happy with the results and are going to come back soon with some more plans for me to convert.

I think this was an exception as the client only met with them 3 days before and they spent the weekend drawing up plans and they needed 3d renders to visualise what they would look like. I made sure to tell them when I handed them over that they were rush so werent great but they`ll do the job.

[CJI]

Yeah, i find that hard too. The balance between charging too little and too much is hard. Like you i would much rather avoid overcharging, and probably do far more than is likely profitible to keep that good impression haha. Im glad it went well for you, hopefully a wonderful reguler you're buliding up there.

[Fooch]

Hi paul.

 

You know the saying goes --> cheap, fast, good, pick 2 out of the 3.

We try not to do anything bad here so if its a quick turn around its going to be much much higher than the usual rate.

[alfienoakes]

I have an hourly rate that I know works. We then look at each job and work out the modelling time, the texturing time, the P'shop time and then add it up. Its as basic as that for us.

 

Then after a while, you will have repeat type jobs, so you know that each similar one will cost a similar amount.

 

Once you get a feel for certain clients, you will then start to see how each of those guys work, ie easy to deal with, minimal changes, or awkward and constant changes. Then you adapt your costs to suit. Different clients will also have different prices in mind that they are happy to pay. You will get a feel for this sort of thing.

 

I always try to tell clients that "this is the base cost, but there are always options to reduce / increase certain elements" That way you hopefully dont frighten anyone off.

 

And if you tell someone a price that is rock bottom, and they still baulk at it, stick with it. Generally these are the guys that if you work for them, they will try and ring you dry, and you will hate every minute of working for them..

 

In my experience the best people to work for are developers, the hardest are architects.

Edited March 23, 2012 by alfienoakes

[RyderSK]

 

In my experience the best people to work for are developers, the hardest are architects.

 

Hehe, from bussiness point I think I agree :- ).

 

On other hand, I enjoy (even though often turbulent!) closer relationship with architects and I enjoy working on something that can be called "architecture", which developers, can't provide.