Ten Common Problems...and Our Solution
Introduction
■ There are some pitfalls you should be aware of when selecting your architect. David R. Carter provides solutions that are advantageous to you.
■ If you have experienced other problems and want to avoid them, Mr. Carter will gladly discuss his solution with you.
| Problem | Symptom of Problem | Our Solution |
| Architect markets and wins job, but assigns daily management to lower echelon personnel. | You do not receive the value of experience and decision-making you pay for. | David R. Carter is involved in all aspects of service from start to finish. |
| Architect promises fast completion or low fee, then does not fully detail plans or carefully write specifications. | Construction costs are higher due to confusing and incomplete instructions resulting in change orders. | We provide thorough, quality-checked construction documents. |
| Architect does not respond to questions from owner, contractor or others promptly. | Confusion, delay and disrespect. | We are available by phone to answer questions immediately or within hours if possible. |
| Architect takes on all work possible and overburdens existing personnel. | Personnel suffers from information overload and cannot keep track of the multitude of details or respond in a timely manner. | We select clients to keep workload balanced and quality high. We respond to you with timely decisions. |
| Architect provides low fee by doing engineering work himself. (This may even be illegal.) | Critical engineering systems designed by rule-of-thumb which then require changes or replacement. | We hire professional engineers to custom design systems and avoid problems through their expertise. |
| Architect provides low fee by eliminating bidding/negotiation services. | Contractor has to increase bid amount due to unresolved questions. Vague contract wording leads to disputes. | We provide services to answer bidder's questions and to review your construction contract. |
| Architect provides low fee by eliminating construction administration services. (This may even be illegal) | Contractor may take advantage of opportunity to substitute cheap materials and poor workmanship. | We provide shop-drawing review and on-site observation of construction to help avoid problems. |
| Architect copies prototypical drawings prepared by others. | Plans and specifications may not be suitable for your project conditions, resulting in increased costs or unwanted products. | We use information from prototypes when necessary, but never assume that a design has been sufficiently thought through by others. |
| Architectural company focused on bottom-line. | Personnel is rewarded for providing less service and attention, resulting in unnecessary problems for you. | We focus on avoiding problems and resolving issues during consistent service-oriented management. |
| Architect does not maintain professional liability insurance. | Should legal issue arise, personnel can become distracted or company go out of business. | We maintain professional liability insurance coverage. |