Help Clients Refer your Practice by Informing & Empowering Them
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One of the biggest hurdles for architects and designers creating a positive experience during built is an unexpected increase in build budget. See 5 non-design tips to inform and empower clients – who then refer….
If you want to build referrals, here are 5 non-design tips you can use to reduce nasty cost surprises for clients – keeping them on board throughout the entire process.
- At the Very Beginning: Ask them what their budget is and map out the process ahead
In that first meeting, the client brief is incomplete without a budget indicator and a roadmap. Just as you gather their requirements in regards to lifestyle, aesthetic and function; you also need a budget in order to do your job and let the client know the path forward
Use ProCalc to inform clients’ budget expectations – Free, 4-Week Trial
- Include Client Budget Checks Throughout Your Process to Eliminate Surprises
Be overt with clients about the timing and methods you will use to outline likely build costs. For example:
- Pre-concept – run the concepts through ProCalc (free trial) so you can advise clients of the approximate budget early on. This will help the client adjust (if required) or re-visit their brief to better align it with their budget. It’s better for the client to get a budget shock in this early stage of the project so they can provide clear direction about what they want you to do. This then dramatically increases your chances of progressing to build.
- More final concepts – budget your concepts again. Be sure to understand the clients’ expectations around fit out quality and the impact that has on pricing.
- Final concept – use ProCalc, then engage a quantity surveyor for working drawings.
Before Going to Tender – Check the client hasn’t unintentionally made selections that blow out costs. If they have, advise them before you go to tender that the choices will push the budget upwards. Set their expectations clearly.
Free webinar: Stop Losing Sleep Over Client Budgets
- Engaging a quantity surveyor
Whilst ProCalc’s accuracy is extremely is helpful, you should also engage a quantity surveyor is an independent and professional reference point that you can use to support clients’ decision making.
- Use a genuinely competitive tendering system
A competitive tender requires at least three suitable builders who want the project.
For the most competitive tender response, promote the tender widely to good builders who operate in the area. While negotiated tenders are often required, they’re less likely to deliver competitive pricing for your clients.
- Review the builders’ responses – ask for exclusions and assumptions
Sit your documentation side by side with the builders’ responses and meticulously check they’ve accurately captured your requirements.
If they haven’t already done so, ask them to nominate all ‘exclusions and assumptions’ so you can be confident you have a complete and robust response to the tender.
This eliminates misunderstandings and avoids surprises throughout the build.
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