Contractor keeping the architect busy.

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Author Message David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 588 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Thursday, December 01, 2005 - 07:44 pm:    I get the sense on my project that the contractor is purposely trying to keep me busy. I guess the strategy is that I will not have time to thoroughly review items and will let them slip by. Am I being paranoid or is this a common strategy? Nathan Woods, CCCA Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 51 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Thursday, December 01, 2005 - 07:59 pm:    It's *probably* not a strategy, nor is it likely to be "on purpose". The contractor is on the project full time, and is compensated accordingly. They tend to think we are also on the project full time, though they readily acknowledge we are not compensated accordingly. I usually explain it to my contractors as simply as this: "I have X amount of hours on this project, use them wisely. If you use up all my time now, I won't be around when you really need me, such as to work out an installed problem near the finish line." While this is not neccessary true (a large subject to be discussed another time), the GC usually get's the point, after 10 or 12 forceful reminders :-) Too be sure, it's a tough challenge to balance "being a facilitor" of the work instead of an "obstacle to progress", with respect to our fees. If the contractor is abusive of my time, and hopefully my drawings are not the cause, then I let my owner be aware of the burn rate and have the owner help monitor how I'm being used. By bringing the owner into it, I can successfully negotiate for additional service fees. Practical experience has taught my firm to bill CA hourly, with a not to exceed limit, without written authorization and the establishment of a new limit. David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 589 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Thursday, December 01, 2005 - 08:16 pm:    As a note, every project in my office is overbudget for the CA phase and we are negotiating with the owner's to get more fee. Nathan Woods, CCCA Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 52 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Thursday, December 01, 2005 - 08:41 pm:    what percentage do you allocate? What kind of work is it? standard percentages (percentage of total architects fee): - Healthcare: 30% - TI's: 25-30% or more if real high end - commerical: 15% - Multifamily (3rd party GC): 20-25% - Multifamily (owner/builder): 15-20% - Institutional: 15-20% (LA Unfied is 23%, interestingly) I add percentages when there is a CM onboard, I add percentages for phased delivery (work starts before drawings are complete), and I add percentages based on certain client expectations/needs. Have fun.