Mai's Friend: Mai, this is my Tita Potential Client and her husband, they're thinking of having a house made in Tagaytay and need a designer, so I thought of you.

Mai: Hi Mrs. PC

Potential Client: Hello.

Chika chika all around. Then down to business.

PC: So I am thinking of having a house in Tagaytay made, 3 stories, about 400 square meters total.

Mai: Ah, please tell me more about what you need.

PC: So anyway, I sketched the plans here....it isnt scaled but you should be able to work with it, here are a bunch of cutouts of things I want....doors like these (hands out sheet), windows like these (another sheet), stairs like this (another sheet), etc etc basta mix them all together and then I want 3 rooms, living room, dining ....blah blah blah

Mai: Ah, ok. Really, the way to begin is to prepare a plan of the lot, prepare a brief or list of requirements, have an idea of timeframes, and a scope of work, so you can talk to an architect. I can give you a guide if you want.

PC: How much will you charge?

Mai: It depends on the items I mentioned. (Explains in detail re design, revisions, detail, number of site visits, inclusions of engineering design fees, number of revisions etc)

PC: I have someone who will do it for 25k. An architecture student.

Mai: No, let me explain how we determine costs....(explains hourly rates, estimated time to be used, overheads, transport costs, printing costs, engineering fees). Obviously, if you require site visits once a week, which you say you do, then with 4 visits a month x 6 months construction, the 25k will hardly cover transpo costs and allowances to visit Tagaytay. And of course you are paying for our design.

PC: But its just a drawing. Paper only.

Mai: You are paying for the design, the expertise and experience of the designers, the engineering fees....etc etc. I can prepare a detailed proposal for you and then we can discuss price and scope of work.

PC: So whats your cheapest price. Can you do it for 20K? All in.

Mai: (Tangina ang kulit mo Tita!) No.

PC: Pwede i-sideline mo nalang.

Mai: (Can I kill you now, PLEASE!)

Mai: No.
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During my younger years.

Another Potential Client: I need to have our new offices planned, 250 sqm only, full design (architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fireprot) and project management, rush work, tutok sa trabaho. And I want you to really focus on the project.

Mai: Would you like me to prepare a proposal?

APC: Yes, thank you

Mai prepares detailed proposal. After sending this to APC, Mai gets a call from APC.

APC: Bakit 50,000* pwede 5,000 nalang. (*cost changed but asked for a 1000% reduction)

Mai: Holy crap are you kidding, kulang pa yan pambili ng maong ko no.
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After Mai meets with still another potential client and explains ranges of costs and finishes for office fit-outs, so she can get a picture of finishes vis a vis costs.

Still Another Potential Client: I want solid mahogany furniture, and granite floors, and leather chairs, and wallpaper...all high end finishes...and I want to spend 6,000.00 per square meter (at this time low end office construction cost was at 8,000 to 10,000.00 per square meter)

Mai: Honey, you can't get a Bimmer with a Kia budget.
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Hey, I never make takaw about giving advice or helping people out (especially friends, because don't friends do that talaga).

And we can always work to a budget with our clients. Design creatively because good design doesn't need to cost wads of money.

But I really really appreciate respect. And honesty. About expectations, budgets, what can and cannot be done. Everything on the table baga.

But sometimes I get to meet these stupid people who act really insulting and make me feel like I am haggling in a palengke. And there's quite a number of them ha! I sometimes think my tongue will start bleeding from my biting it.

This entry was posted on 3/16/2005 at 3/16/2005 08:43:00 am. You can skip to the end and leave a response.