http://architectscomeback.wordpress.com/2008/02/22/protect-yourself-from-bad-clients/ the love for design, being in a men-dominated world, construction and beyond Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:17:03 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 http://architectscomeback.wordpress.com/2008/02/22/protect-yourself-from-bad-clients/#comment-16 INO Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:34:25 +0000 http://architectscomeback.wordpress.com/?p=28#comment-16 WHILE IT MAY BE TRUE THAT THERE EXIST A NOT SO DESIRABLE CLIENT, THERE SIMPLY IS A DIPLOMATIC AND PROFESSIONAL WAY TO DEAL WITH THEM. DOING BUSINESS NOW A DAYS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE PRACTICE OF THE PAST. WHILE SOME IN YOUR LIST MAY WORK, SOME MAY NOT. ARCHITECTS, TOO, HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS OF BILLING CLIENTS LIKE BILLS BASE ON COMPLETE SERVICE AND BASE ON CONSULTANCY WORK. SOME FIND HOURLY RATE MORE FAVORABLE TO THE ARCHITECT RATHER THAN THE PERCENTAGE. CLIENTS TOO TODAY ARE MORE DEMANDING AND DISCERNING. SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR A CLEAR AND CONCISE AGREEMENT AND SMOOTH FLOW OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PARTIES. BEAR IN MIND THAT THERE ARE FEW WAYS T O GET A COMMISSION AND ONE OF THIS IS THRU THE WORD OF THE MOUTH. IF YOU ARE NOT THAT FLEXIBLE AND IS THAT HARD WITH A CLIENT, BELIEVE YOU ME THAT NO MATTER HOW GOOD THE OUTCOME IS, THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU WILL GIVE WILL LEAVE WILL BE A LASTING ONE AND MAY HURT YOUR PRACTICE. REMEMBER, ITS YOUR WORD AGAINST THEM. THERE ARE BASICALLY 5 THINGS AN ARCHITECTS WOULD NEED TO REMEMBER. THE WORLD IS CHANGING AND GLOBALIZATION HAVE RESULTED IN NEW WAYS OF DOING TRADE AND BUSINESS AND THIS HAVE ITS ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGES. WITH THE ADVENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TOO, A WHOLE LOT OF INFORMATION ARE AVAILABLE THAT EMPOWERED CLIENTS. SO REALLY THE PRACTICE OF ARCHITECTURE NOW FACE A MORE CHALLENGING TIME. WHILE IT MAY BE TRUE THAT THERE EXIST A NOT SO DESIRABLE CLIENT, THERE SIMPLY IS A DIPLOMATIC AND PROFESSIONAL WAY TO DEAL WITH THEM. DOING BUSINESS NOW A DAYS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE PRACTICE OF THE PAST. WHILE SOME IN YOUR LIST MAY WORK, SOME MAY NOT. ARCHITECTS, TOO, HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS OF BILLING CLIENTS LIKE BILLS BASE ON COMPLETE SERVICE AND BASE ON CONSULTANCY WORK. SOME FIND HOURLY RATE MORE FAVORABLE TO THE ARCHITECT RATHER THAN THE PERCENTAGE. CLIENTS TOO TODAY ARE MORE DEMANDING AND DISCERNING. SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR A CLEAR AND CONCISE AGREEMENT AND SMOOTH FLOW OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PARTIES. BEAR IN MIND THAT THERE ARE FEW WAYS T O GET A COMMISSION AND ONE OF THIS IS THRU THE WORD OF THE MOUTH. IF YOU ARE NOT THAT FLEXIBLE
AND IS THAT HARD WITH A CLIENT, BELIEVE YOU ME THAT NO MATTER HOW GOOD THE OUTCOME IS, THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU WILL GIVE WILL LEAVE WILL BE A LASTING ONE AND MAY HURT YOUR PRACTICE. REMEMBER, ITS YOUR WORD AGAINST THEM. THERE ARE BASICALLY 5 THINGS AN ARCHITECTS WOULD NEED TO REMEMBER. THE WORLD IS CHANGING AND GLOBALIZATION HAVE RESULTED IN NEW WAYS OF DOING TRADE AND BUSINESS AND THIS HAVE ITS ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGES. WITH THE ADVENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TOO, A WHOLE LOT OF INFORMATION ARE AVAILABLE THAT EMPOWERED CLIENTS. SO REALLY THE PRACTICE OF ARCHITECTURE NOW FACE A MORE CHALLENGING
TIME.

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