Q & A required to understand our services.
Our fee is variable and depends on what you're trying to achieve. Project fee follows construction costs as a small percentage around [ ± 10%* ] but cost sensitive jobs can be tasked for ultimate efficiency which doesn't mean we have a low fee it means our fee is used to lower the big numbers of construction. Our fee is a productive one - it doesn't just buy a set of plans. Think of this fee as your power to identify your most valuable project possible. We think of our fee as a kind of leverage tasking us to think creatively and responsibly about how to find advantages over a difficult and expensive construction process and a difficult legal environment of zoning and code obstacles. You need a pro to cut through the nonsense and stay on top of all these conditions so your dream project doesn't die in planning or execution.
[ *full service fee percentage.- includes construction administration, assisting with/ contracts and contractors and other design professionals as required. It can also include interior design services and other special detailing packages. ]
Experience. judgement, coupled with our ability to design is power for you to realize an exciting new built reality catered precisely for you! We propose a planning solution - an architectural and legal solution but we also participate in an integrative effort to manage all building systems you need including even the construction system. We identify preferred systems and installations and influence all designers and constructors on your project because we see the whole building working as a total system. Everyone you hire in this process often has very myopic goals - to do their tasked portion of the work. No one else sees or cares as much for the entire project and the finished result as we do.
I often have clients who know what they want and say something, in effect, "just the blueprints please!" Initially, clients often believe they have the right solution already. The reality is they have a possible solution but usually can't see it from the comprehensive perspective of an architect. If you're going to spend a lot of money and time, why not make sure your effort is as productive as possible? Why not establish proof that the path you're on is the right one? If you readily pay a financial advisor to help you make wise decisions about your investments you should see this in a similar way. You risk way too much not spending enough effort on planning. Contractors can only build what's on the blueprints. Competence from the contractor is absolutely necessary but the project is only as good as you're planning process.
We really don't think about the project result as an end in itself. It really is working with a client who gets excited about their project no matter how mundane actually. Sometimes clients needs are simple but critical for them. Yes, we like sometimes to go for more modern projects -- richly textured spaces but we also work with where you are.... We want to get you to your promised land...if we can take you there we're pretty happy and happy for you. The process is the thing and we want you to understand and buy into our value proposition. We want to participate from beginning to end not in some maniacally obsessive way but at the points that make a critical difference in your project outcome. We know what parts we can zoom through and which parts we need to pay careful attention to. We have an in depth interview that really gets at the details of your project scope and interests. Our initial interview with you will aim to prove if we fit well with you and your project goals.
Contact Us
davidharmonarchitecture@gmail.com
Boston - Portland, ME