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Selling plans

  • 1.  Selling plans

    Posted 02-22-2018 09:44 AM
    HAs anyone faced a situation we're a person who purchased a home you designed for a client 10 years ago requested a "copy" of the construction documents.
    Should I give him a pdf copy and charge him or not?

    Thanks

    Robert Marrapodi
    Marrapodi Architecture
    21 E. Market St.
    Third Floor
    Rhinebeck NY 12572
    T. 845-876-0733
    M. 845-849-4540


  • 2.  RE: Selling plans

    Posted 02-23-2018 05:30 PM
    I have had several requests over the years. I started charging for the plans as I typically spend some time getting them out of the archive and often have to update the files so all of the library parts come thru , etc. 

    I will only send them the PDF files.

    They may not be happy about the fee but it is a lot less than paying someone else to recreate them and I think you should be compensated for your time spent.

    I typically charge $500 and have not had any problems to date.


    Scott Wilson
    Chief Manager
    Scott Wilson Architect, LLC
    615.377-9131 office
    615.973-3810 mobile


          






    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Selling plans

    Posted 02-23-2018 05:43 PM
    I have been in the "other side" of that situation, in which a client hired me to design an addition/alterations to a house, so I asked if they had the original plans for my reference.  Obviously having those as a starting point makes the process much quicker and saves the client money.  In that case, the client had recently bought the house but did not receive the original prints.   The design/builder who had built the home some years ago said he could sell a copy to us, and he wanted to charge, as I recall, a few hundred dollars- I don't remember exactly.   I can see both sides of this argument-  I suppose there is some danger in letting your work out of your control where someone could build the design again, or easily copy it....  but in the specific situation where a homeowner wants the prints to refer to for an addition the danger seems small to me.  That said, it seems reasonable to charge at least a nominal amount for copies.

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    Bruce Ward AIA
    Proprietor
    Bruce Ward Architect
    Hamilton NY
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Selling plans

    Posted 02-23-2018 06:23 PM
    First of all I would want to know what they want the plans for - ie for routine maintenance or to do a major remodeling project?
    If they are doing a remodeling / addition project perhaps you could use this as an opportunity to suggest they hire you for the job since you have intimate knowledge of the house. 
    If they have already hired another architect, I'm usually pretty lenient in these situations - chances are they aren't going to go out and build a duplicate house from your drawings.   I've remodeled many houses where I ( thank God! ) had access to a set of the original plans which allowed me to move right into schematics without having to measure the whole house.  I have also had situations where previous architects have graciously given me a set of prints or PDFs for my use.  You might consider the good will you would generate by simply adopting a helpful attitude.  If you are worried about your liability or someone stealing your design you could cover that by having your lawyer write up a letter for them to sign agreeing to honor your copyright.  I have never charged anyone, either home owner or architect, for a copy of my basic floor plans, elevations and sections for their use in a remodeling project they were embarking upon.  I think sometimes we architects get a bit too caught up in worrying about our liability and copyrights and forget simple basic kindness to others.  Now if it were a developer wanting a copy of a multi-family project I had designed, that would be a whole different kettle of fish!

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    Robert Larsen AIA
    Principal
    Robert R. Larsen, A.I.A.
    Denver CO
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Selling plans

    Posted 02-23-2018 06:59 PM
    I always give owners a copy, or only charge for the printing. Always leads to good feeling and more work. If I charged them they will never come back, and talk badly of you to others. Now..be sure they know these are still your copyright. Now, if they want your originals or cad files...and hire someone else..that is a no-no. They would have to re draw with an as built. Or use you. If I am given sone else plans to remodel, I alsways call the Prior Architect to discuss whey they aren't doing it. Most always a very good reason to run, not walk away...;)


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    David Christensen AIA
    Principal
    Christensen Design Management
    Bellingham WA
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Selling plans

    Posted 02-24-2018 08:32 AM
    We typically offer electronic copies, PDFs, at no charge. Paper copies we advise the reproduction costs. We feel this is good PR.

    If we were not involved with the construction administration we advise them that there may have been changes during construction the we are not aware.

    John A. Feick, AIA, CSI, LEED AP
    224 East Water Street
    Sandusky, Ohio 44870
    419-625-2554 (w)
    419-656-3017 (c)
     



    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Selling plans

    Posted 02-24-2018 01:35 PM
    Charge them for you time at least.,,a minimum.


    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Selling plans

    Posted 02-25-2018 05:52 PM
    I do not see how it is at all beneficial to you to forward plans to someone who you had no contractural relationship with. It doesn't matter whether you give the plans gratis or for a fee, or as a pdf or in any other format. Since the homeowner is requesting construction documents, from where I sit, that puts you in an even worse position. Besides, you have no idea what they want them for. Perhaps establishing a formal relationship with the homeowner will lead to a commission. But from the information available in your post, providing construction documents will only lead to a headache for you.

    Daniel Alter, AIA
    DANIEL ALTER ARCHITECT PLLC






    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Selling plans

    Posted 02-26-2018 05:47 PM
    Interesting variety of responses.  I never "sell" plans because here in CA that would put me in the position of selling a product and not a service.  Product liability is much less forgiving---basically any mistake and it's your fault.  A service is judged by the standard of negligence and here in CA that comes down to a concept called "Standard of Care" which ends up being the average quality level provided by professionals in the same general area doing similar work.  Perfection is not to be expected.

    But if someone needs plans I've done, and obviously they have selected who they want to work with, I will help them out if I can, but I do have conditions for providing that assistance.  First, I require a release of liability signed by whomever I send the plans to.  It says that if there is anything in the proposed project that requires particular dimensions, or a drawn condition has any critical aspects, it becomes their responsibility to verify and confirm the actual conditions, and make whatever adjustments they need to make if actual conditions do not exactly match the conditions shown on the drawing.  Second, I require agreement that the plans may not be sold to any other party.  When I have this in writing and signed, I will provide pdf's of all drawings and CAD files of plan drawings (not details).  I also alert people that my CAD standards may not match theirs and if that is a problem it is their problem.

    I'm not asking anyone to do anything I would not be willing to do if the roles were reversed.  I have on occasion or two signed waivers to allow me to incorporate something like a floor plan or a site plan into my work.  When all is said and done, it looks like my drawing, not theirs, and I  take responsibility for the content.


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    Donald Wardlaw AIA
    More Than Construction, Inc.
    Oakland CA
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    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Selling plans

    Posted 02-27-2018 10:17 AM
    As several have stated, the request for a copy of the plans can go both ways. We tried to be accommodating and would usually send a PDF. However, it would have a large grey watermark across each page stating "Property of <g class="gr_ gr_15 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="15" data-gr-id="15">xyz</g> architects. For reference only, not to be used for construction.", and it would be password locked for anything but printing. Easy to do and stops the easy reuse for building another house. A nominal charge isn't unreasonable.
     
    As an aside, we found that sub-contractors and realtors were the major sources of plans being passed around for unauthorized reuse. Keep in mind that we are in a state which does not require plans for one and two family dwellings to carry a seal.


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    Jeffrey Messick AIA
    Lawrence KS
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    Original Message