DC7Designs

Hello everyone! I've been gone for quite a while, but I'm back again and ready to get drawing! I've got my x12 reloaded and have found my former templates thanks to saving them when I was a student with Chief Experts. Their templates saved me loads of time! I've posted some drawings here and on FB under a new name: Deb Amyx Designs (a result of a big life change and move to the countryside outside of Nashville). My expertise is in space planning and I have about 4-5 years of experience with x10, x11 and x12. I can't wait to get the latest x16 and rejoin the Chief Experts classroom. I would appreciate opportunity to help with any tasks you might not have time for to help me get going again. Can't wait! The photos are of a project I did in 2018 and went to see in 2020 after completion. They did change a few things but structurally, they followed the plans I drew.

DC 7 Designs has been in the business of creating drawings & construction documents from Chief Architect Premiere for over 8 years. The previous 5 years we used AutoCAD, working part time. Drawings are the bread & butter of my work, though I do love seeing a remodel from start to finish, including procurement of the interior furnishings and styling. We're a day's drive to High Point Market and i share my discount with my clients. We are a full service interior design firm that depends heavily on Chief Architect to share the potential that a house & property may have. If you know anyone in the greater Nashville area, let them know we are available. We do a thorough discovery process, do a "trade day," create as-build's, complete the design, get quotes and pricing and offer a complete presentation including samples of finishes & furnishings with the construction documents. The process takes a minimum of 6-8 weeks depending on the size of the project, so trades can schedule the work in advance. We team up with local contractors for the building process and work in tandem with the GC. All plans are examined by a structural engineer on my end or the contractor's own Engineer. In the house below, the colonial front porch was completely removed and the upper floor was removed to make a wall of glass to enjoy the view of the valley below.

I came across this on Instagram and though I would share it with you. Surely there is someone in Canada who can help this designer out.

Very true. I haven't got an official bid from the structural engineer. He needs answers to questions to make a quote. If I don't get this one, it's really no loss as I am trying to grow another direction. I just want to avoid dozens and dozens of free hours on fill-in jobs.

Thanks, another reason to bring in my structural guy.

I added in $10,000 for the structural engineer (his highest amount to date) to get him covered in my bid. Also, since she is acting as the owner-builder (her own General Contractor), I thought he could help act as a consultant. Hence the highest cost estimate. I also added in costs ($5k) for a "Trade Day" which I use for remodels. I pay my trades their hourly rate in the beginning stages of a remodel to consult with them before I go past conceptual design. With a re-build, I will do so virtually: sending each trade a copy of my conceptual design and get their input before I spend a lot of her money designing something that may have to change. I pay these Trades for their time. She is on a budget, so I'm not sure she wants to do either of those best practices that I follow. I recommended an "owner-builder" book for her to read. She seems undaunted by the responsibility and Tennessee does allow this. Anyway, I gave her a bid of $22,000 of which I expect to receive just over $7k. This is a lot of money out of her budget, but since she doesn't have a GC, I felt it necessary to add these fees in just to have an allowance if we need it to consult my structural engineer or the trades. I'm only asking for $1,000 retainer and I will bill my hourly rate right away, monthly. I'll hold the retainer for end of project work and if paid for all of my time, I return any unused retainer to the client. I did see the house today. It is ok in the basement. My structural engineer couldn't make it but said that to demo it this week, just be sure the demo crew know what they are doing. As you can see in the pics, the fire did not get down to the basement, but she does want to change the footprint of the house. That's why I wanted to design it first before they demo it so we could base it off the current foundation. Any comments on measuring this house? I can measure the exterior fairly well, but I'm not sure what else I will need to gather other than foundation size. Thoughts? We shall see if I get the gig. I may not want it if she can't agree to bring in my structural engineer at least for an occasional consultation and a review of plans. That I really need.

There is a Contractor's Waiver of Lien that has a payment line to be noted and must match the bid. If I put in the number for my bid plus my engineer's fees and the cost goes over, then I do not have the recourse to use the legal method of a lien to collect payment over that number. I have not been in business long enough to encounter such a problem, so I'm inclined to trust that my bid is high enough to not need more and that if I did, it would be such an amount that the loss would be minimal - not worth such a legal action. Thoughts?

I am qualified to design the house and have a structural engineer with whom I consult with on all projects that involve the structure. I've trained in AutoCAD, but switched to Chief Architect because it is so easy to do. Interior Design school requires drafting and modeling experience and I've been drawing additions and remodels for two years now. I've done a couple of full house plans, again with my structural engineer making comments about that portion of the work. As an interior designer, my qualifications are sound, but I do not build the house. I could hire contractors to do the work (as I do with remodels) in order to act as the owner-representative, but if I understand what she has said, she wants to do this herself. She has a guy chomping at the bit to do demo this week. I feel she needs to wait until the design is complete. Anyway, I am selling design services and homeowner assistance, not design-build projects. That is what I am bidding on. Here is what I've estimated (with really no clue how many hours it will take): Estimated time for Lawson project (Phases 1 & 2 Only): The estimated time below is just an estimate; You will be billed at the hourly rate for hours worked. The final total could be more or less than quoted, depending on a number of factors including thorough planning, number of changes in the plans, etc. Be sure you think through all the details possible and communicate them at any time via email so they are in writing. List all desired changes in bullet points at your earliest convenience. 30 Hours for Principal & 3D Modeling @ $115.00 per hour $3.450.00 20 Hours for Senior Account Manager @ $95.00 per hour $1,900.00 10 Hours for Measuring/Construction Documents @ $115.00 per hour $1,150.00 10 Hours for Administration @ $75.00 per hour $ 750.00 2 Visits @ 54.5 cents for every mile of business travel driven: (49.4 miles one way .55 X 49.4 X 2 = $54.34 per visit) x 2 $ 108.68 Estimated Designer Fees: $ 7,358.68 See attached Structural Engineer fees $_______.____ I think this covers my work pretty well. The hourly rate reflects my perceived value. Thanks for the feedback!

Yes, she does, but the bank requires paperwork before disbursing funds. That is the bid and some other docs to sign. I just don't know how to bid with so little information and a graph paper plan drawn by the owner-builder.

Has anyone had to bid a projected cost for a bank to approve the rebuild of a new house (owner designed)? I will be drawing the plans for the new build and making the owner design more accurate for the purpose of getting a permit. She has a contractor to build the project, so I'm only bidding the design. Will I be held to this bid strictly? My prospect cannot pay me anything at all until the bank issues the check. What step does this happen? How can I avoid doing work for free? She wants the burned remains to be demolished this coming Thursday, Nov. 29th. She may want to use part of the existing foundation if it is structurally sound. I know I need to go on site to take photos and measurements where possible. Any thoughts?

Viszonlatasra! I lived there back in the 90's for four years while at the American Embassy. I may have forgotten how to spell "hello."

I use Studio Designer which does it all. I was hoping to find a way to see my time at a glance in order to enter into SD in less time. I'll just have to set aside time for this. Thanks!

I work on many projects, going back and forth from one to another throughout the day or week. Is there a way to see my time spent on all projects or do I have to go into each plan to find my time individually?