Tips
We want you to find the best projects for your practice.
Making the decision on whether or not to respond to a project can be difficult. It is worth taking time to search for postings that are of genuine interest, but even the most attractive assignments have potential pitfalls.
The following tips are intended to help you secure the schemes for which you are most suited and, having done so, to avoid any problems.
Allocate a budget for responding to project leads as it is much more economical and targeted than advertising.
Top Tips
TIP #01
Budget for leads:
Allocate a budget for responding to project leads as it is much more economical and targeted than advertising.
Maintain existing client relationships and develop new connections - even when you are busy.
Top Tips
TIP #02
Network efficiently:
Maintain existing client relationships and develop new connections - even when you are busy.
Try not to think of clients as one group of people with a standard understanding of architecture and construction. Adapt your approaches to project leads and development as appropriate.
Top Tips
TIP #03
Develop a perfect pitch:
Try not to think of clients as one group of people with a standard understanding of architecture and construction. Adapt your approaches to project leads and development as appropriate.
Listen carefully as clients relate their aspirations and requirements but always strive to exceed expectations.
Top Tips
TIP #04
Aim to exceed expectations:
Listen carefully as clients relate their aspirations and requirements but always strive to exceed expectations.
Be clear about the fees you charge and the cost implications of any additional services or works beyond the original remit of each project.
Top Tips
TIP #05
Ensure that your fees are transparent and understood:
Be clear about the fees you charge and the cost implications of any additional services or works beyond the original remit of each project.
With the possible exception of using your skills on a voluntary basis for charity, never work for free. Accepting unpaid work creates a negative impression, damages the architectural profession and usually fails to be appreciated by clients.
Top Tips
TIP #06
Avoid working for free!:
With the possible exception of using your skills on a voluntary basis for charity, never work for free. Accepting unpaid work creates a negative impression, damages the architectural profession and usually fails to be appreciated by clients.
Ensure that you have the experience and resources to undertake each project in a professional manner and avoid misrepresenting your capabilities.
Top Tips
TIP #07
Know your limits:
Ensure that you have the experience and resources to undertake each project in a professional manner and avoid misrepresenting your capabilities.
Check that you have adequate, valid insurance cover for all the projects you embark upon. Be especially careful when working abroad to confirm that you are protected against claims in the relevant region.
Top Tips
TIP #08
Keep adequately covered:
Check that you have adequate, valid insurance cover for all the projects you embark upon. Be especially careful when working abroad to confirm that you are protected against claims in the relevant region.
Establish some form of written contract with every client, before you begin to produce any work for them.
Top Tips
TIP #09
Form a written agreement:
Establish some form of written contract with every client, before you begin to produce any work for them.
Become actively client focused. Besides creating successful relationships, this should also free up more time for projects.
Top Tips
TIP #10
Enhance the client experience:
Become actively client focused. Besides creating successful relationships, this should also free up more time for projects.
Do not assume that existing drawings or the measurements of previous surveys are accurate. Verify the dimensions on every project that you undertake or employ a suitably qualified surveyor to do this.
Top Tips
TIP #11
Never take anything for granted:
Do not assume that existing drawings or the measurements of previous surveys are accurate. Verify the dimensions on every project that you undertake or employ a suitably qualified surveyor to do this.
When presenting projects, the information should be tailored for your audience. Try to keep things simple and structure proposals clearly.
Top Tips
TIP #12
Tailor your approach:
When presenting projects, the information should be tailored for your audience. Try to keep things simple and structure proposals clearly.
Behave selflessly and provide clients with honest advice, even when it might be considered detrimental to your own interests. The long term benefits of a trustworthy reputation cannot be quantified.
Top Tips
TIP #13
When in doubt, tell the truth:
Behave selflessly and provide clients with honest advice, even when it might be considered detrimental to your own interests. The long term benefits of a trustworthy reputation cannot be quantified.
If asked for advice regarding suitable contractors, only suggest those that you can genuinely recommend from experience.
Top Tips
TIP #14
Take care when recommending others:
If asked for advice regarding suitable contractors, only suggest those that you can genuinely recommend from experience.
Clients are central to the architectural profession and it is important to give their needs priority. Architectural professionals are not to be servile, but projects are more likely to be successful when adopting a positive attitude to the role of clients.
Top Tips
TIP #15
Maintain a positive attitude towards clients:
Clients are central to the architectural profession and it is important to give their needs priority. Architectural professionals are not to be servile, but projects are more likely to be successful when adopting a positive attitude to the role of clients.
Competent building designs are expected by clients as a given, since that is what architectural professionals are known for. An exceptional level of service is what sets some firms and individuals apart.
Top Tips
TIP #16
Set yourself apart through service:
Competent building designs are expected by clients as a given, since that is what architectural professionals are known for. An exceptional level of service is what sets some firms and individuals apart.
An enviable reputation can be established if you listen carefully to clients, develop creative project solutions and provide a proficient service.
Top Tips
TIP #17
Maintain a holistic approach:
An enviable reputation can be established if you listen carefully to clients, develop creative project solutions and provide a proficient service.
So long as they are kept informed, clients will accept many things. Make every effort to determine in advance what the key challenges in each project will be and make sure that your clients are updated throughout.
Top Tips
TIP #18
Keep your clients in the picture:
So long as they are kept informed, clients will accept many things. Make every effort to determine in advance what the key challenges in each project will be and make sure that your clients are updated throughout.
Deal with any client complaints or disputes as promptly as possible. It is normally best to do this in writing.
Top Tips
TIP #19
Manage any complaints swiftly:
Deal with any client complaints or disputes as promptly as possible. It is normally best to do this in writing.
Respect the confidentiality of your clients. Project contracts may grant you photographic publication rights, but it is still polite to ask for permission. Use your discretion when discussing projects with third parties.
Top Tips
TIP #20
Maintain the confidence of clients:
Respect the confidentiality of your clients. Project contracts may grant you photographic publication rights, but it is still polite to ask for permission. Use your discretion when discussing projects with third parties.
Ask clients for feedback when you complete a project. Also investigate the client reasoning if unsuccessful in securing a project.
Top Tips
TIP #21
Request feedback:
Ask clients for feedback when you complete a project. Also investigate the client reasoning if unsuccessful in securing a project.