nVisionTEKBIM

Thanks, but I'm not concerned about any of this because this project was designed entirely by the homeowner and provided to me as a HD pro file to complete in premier as a permit/construction set.

When I first started my business, I would sometimes offer discounted flat-rates for clients providing me with a Revit file or a Chief Architect plan file, but started to realize that it took me more time to fix things than if I just referenced it and started from scratch. Just too many hidden issues.This is why I changed to be all hourly rate for any project started by someone else.

I totally agree. This client is a homeowner and started to tell me how the guts of the home should be, so much that I had to take my name completely off of the drawings. I already learned from project (which is over a year old), to never take over a project started by a homeowner. Honestly, I don't even like to take over anyone's project unless it's at my hourly rate providing "labor drafting" with zero liability.

I did make a firm no, but just curious if anyone else had such a ridiculous request from a customer.

I really appreciate you sharing this! This homeowner is the one project of mine which I realized a lot of things that I need to consider for future customers. It has been such a long project with tons of issues (stretching back to early 2019). This client has also told me how the house should be built (such as footings, framing, ect.) and it was so much I had to take my name off of the permit drawings.

Well, an agreement is always an obvious thing to have.

Yeah, that's like a friend, co-worker, or some stranger asking to drive your vehicle and acting like you are mean for saying no. I've had that happen many years ago and I get really annoyed by people that pressure you to do something that puts you at great risk.

I think that's correct, although I can understand because of lack of work with this whole COVID thing. This customer is a homeowner that is trying to save money.

He's already done that before, so I honestly don't understand why I was asked for my software key. I've been so done with this project months ago, and just want it to end.

Yes, I already know that and have done that multiple times for this customer. He is wanting to save money by doing some tweaks himself, and is making this way more complicated that I've ever had to deal with before. I knew no one else would ever release their software key. It sounded like a ridiculous request, but I can't believe a CA support rep would suggest such a thing! I believe my customer telling the truth that CA told him that, though.

I have a customer that uses Home Designer Pro and wants to modify a CA x12 file that I've worked on for him. He said the CA support rep told him I should give him temporary access to my Chief Architect Premier software key as a way to modify the drawings. I said I would never release my software key to anyone outside of my business, but he was pressuring me. Has anyone else done such a thing for a customer?

I'd like to be that picky, but I've had many projects with builders that work with Chief and either provide me the file that is started, or want the file when I'm done. Although their name/logo is on the drawings so I'm more like outsourced labor which I'm fine with. Something I've learned though is, if anyone gives me a file to work on I charge an hourly rate. If I can do it from scratch than I may be able to do a flat-rate. Many times customers have given me files partially started and expected a discount. Even after my discount I discovered it didn't save me any time since I had to fix many issues in the file.

Yeah! It's like if we took our vehicle to a mechanic to have the transmission or engine worked on, then walk into their shop and tell them how to do their job. As drafters, all we need is the requirements (wither look or performance) of the finished home, and we do it. Now if I'm working for a builder or architect and they specify construction details, then it's their call, obviously.

Yep, I know. On a recent project I had a homeowner give me a file that they worked on in Home Designer, and wanted me to create permit & construction sets for them to build from. Not only was there issues in the design meeting code, but there were software glitches that made it a nightmare to work on in Chief. Then, the homeowner demanded the file at certain intervals so he could do some work on the design and give it back to me. He caused so many issues for me that I had to take my name off of the drawings so I'm not having subcontractors call/email me during construction with questions that waste my time. He would do research online and tell me how do do the framing, footings, ect.....all the stuff that is for professionals like us to manage.

Not really.