Scope of services, fee proposal, negotiation and contract

Defining the Scope

After the Selection of your Architect in Spain

The success of a project will depend directly upon the proper identification of the scope of work. After successfully completing the selection of your architect, he and you will have to jointly review and define the scope of work and overall parameters of the project, including the terms and conditions of the contract. Once an agreement has been reached on these matters, your architect will develop and submit a detailed work plan. You and your architect will have to review this work plan and jointly determine the scope of services for the project.

Fee Proposal and Negotiation

Once an agreement on the scope of services and work plan has been reached, your architect will prepare and submit a fee proposal for review. The use a work breakdown structure and detailed task list can facilitate the development of the scope of services and fees. In addition to better defining and customizing the services and fees for a particular project, the use of the work breakdown structure will ensure that all personnel involved in the preparation of the proposal are following the same parameters. The work breakdown structure and detailed task list will form the basis of the final scope of services and fee proposal.

If the fee proposal is accepted, both parties will enter into an agreement by signing the contract. If an agreement is not reached, both parties can return to the negotiation of the scope of services and fee. If for any reason an agreement cannot be reached, negotiations will be terminated.

Signing the Contract

Normally, the contract will include the services provided, the fee for those services, the client responsibilities, and the terms and conditions which govern the contract. In addition to identifying the value and contribution of both parties, the contract should be a balanced document, treating both parties fairly, and must be designed to avoid conflict later on when it is discovered that the expectations of the parties to the contract may differ. One of the best investments of time is a careful, item-by-item discussion between you and your architect to define the scope of services and other terms and conditions of the contract.

Architect Daniel Trujillano
http://www.arquitectotrujillano.com/home.html
Architectural Services for Building Projects