Awkward!

Here is an awkward situation I could use help with…We hired a designer (not an architect, but her husband is) to do our renovation. One of the reasons we chose this designer was that her fee was capped at 13% of the budget, which seemed reasonable since she is just one woman working out of her home, not a full office. Plus, she is not licensed. We scaled back our budget along the way by about 15% when it became clear that the economy was continuing to wreak havoc on our plans. (Adios, big bonus!) We arrived at a budget with our contractor but the designer continues to bill us as if the job were bigger. From the beginning, I told her I would be handling all the buying of fixtures for the job. When I told her I thought her billing was not aligned with the job scope, she said her perecentage should be based on everything I buy and she was going off the original budget we had hoped to work with. When I have tried to save money by meeting with subcontractors without her present, she gets pretty irritated. I am confused but also, truthfully, a little appalled. My last architect did not expect a percentage of faucets I picked out and bought myself. Opinions?

Cobblekrill

in Brownstoner Renovation 13 years and 6 months ago

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needmtg | 13 years and 6 months ago

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I don’t care what Talia says, this is unconscionable. Buy cheap plastic fixtures and replace them later if you fear the contractual obligations.

bparc | 13 years and 6 months ago

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Just to give a designer’s perspective here… as an architectural firm we charge a percentage of the final cost of construction including all fixtures, finishes, appliances etc, regardless of who they are purchased by.  Typically this is different from your situation in that even if the client purchases directly we have worked with them to select everything and by purchasing directly they save the GC mark-up but still pay our fee for all the work to select, specify and coordinate the materials.  I have found on many occasions that when clients purchase directly it lands up being significantly more work for us.  In lieu of just handing over a plumbing schedule to a plumber, I need to walk through it with a client who has no experience purchasing fixtures and I often land up talking to suppliers myself, negotiating pricing, meeting clients at showrooms, dealing with faulty fixtures, scratched fixtures, etc. If you selected and purchased everything yourself I can see how you feel that your designer is not entitled to a percentage, but perhaps they did draw the fixtures, specify, discuss with the GC on site, coordinate installation, etc.  Without knowing how involved they were or the specifics its hard to say but its certainly not unreasonable in most cases for them to be paid for associated work. All that said: 13% of the cost for an unlicenced designer seems pretty high, we typically charge less than that and we’re a fully acredited, full service firm. Talia

northofditmas | 13 years and 6 months ago

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Write up your own receipt for the faucets at a fraction of what they’re worth and have your spouse stamp it.  Then give the designer 13%.

schmalla | 13 years and 6 months ago

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Nintkz got it exactly right when he said you need to look closely at the language of the contract. Hopefully, from your perspective, it specified that her compensation was capped at a % of actual costs paid to your contractors. If it says otherwise, you owe her what is specified. If it’s silent, I’d pay her what you believe she is entitled to under a fair reading of the contract and let her sue you for the difference if she believes she entitled to more. It likely won’t be worth the effort for her to bring suit since that’s requires her to expend a lot of time and money.

allans | 13 years and 6 months ago

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I concur with augustiner, you should part was as amicably as possible.  Cut your losses now.  Seems like you do not need her help anymore.

Cobblekrill | 13 years and 6 months ago

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Original poster here. I think I may have been unclear. She’s not licensed but she did the architectural plans. Her husband stamped them.

jockdeboeraia | 13 years and 6 months ago

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Wow!

nintzk | 13 years and 6 months ago

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Sound like your designer is on a power trip.  I’m currently renovating two apartments, and it is precisely because of that reason that I decided not to use a designer.  They want a % of your costs so that if I decide to put in a nicer floor or fixtures of my own chosing, somehow they think they should get more money too.  Its ridiculous.  I would take a close look at your contract.  What does it say about % of overall cost effecting the designer’s bill.  Does it say anything about the designer getting a percentage of the costs for fixtures?  Also how much “extra” does the designer think he/she is entitled to?  Enough for the designer to hire a lawyer?

Augustiner | 13 years and 6 months ago

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13% for an unlicensed design advisor? And she still can´t get enough?
I guess she is done designing anyway at this point, just say good bye and that´s it.