It was gratifying to be quoted in the Architects’ Journal recently (22.10.09) regarding the RIBA’s decision to stop publishing fee scale graphs. Unfortunately, as only part of our comment was printed, it gave the impression we were in favour of dropping the graphs, which is not quite the case. What we actually said was:
"Many architects seem prepared to quote on uneconomic fees; some to the extent that they cannot possibly resource a project properly, which raises serious issues. Wide band graphs which are derived from fee surveys that include such quotations help legitimise this type of behaviour.
On the other hand, we have found that if one calculates fees on an hourly rate and resource basis, the figures generally come out in line with the upper section of most of the fee graphs that have appeared in earlier Client’s Guides. We find clients like the ‘comfort’ that this gives, seeing that our quotations fall within a ‘typical’ or ‘recommended’ band.
Few clients genuinely understand what architects do, and fewer still appreciate the time involved. Haggling over a detailed hourly rate fee quotation can be a nightmare. Being able to point to line on a simple graph or chart gives clients comfort, and minimises haggling. Any architect who doesn’t know the true cost to his or her practice of their fee quotations will neither be saved nor sunk by a graph."
Only the last sentence appeared in the AJ piece.
http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/
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