Fees

Contracts

Gant Nychay works on an hourly basis unless otherwise agreed upon. This keeps us accountable and allows for flexibility in the services we may provide. We sometimes agree to negotiate a limit on the total amount of our fees for basic services, based on construction cost.

When comparing architects, it is important to know what their estimate of fees includes. Services can vary greatly, and it's important to know what you are going to get. Asking to see actual drawing sets, projects under construction, and completed projects will give you an idea of the level of detail and design refinement that an architect includes in their drawings and specifications. A typical complete set of construction documents from our office will include all the information a contractor will need to accurately price and construct the project. It will include a site plan, floor plans, lighting plans, interior and exterior elevations, building sections, interior and exterior details, and complete specifications. More complex projects may include additional drawings as necessary to clearly communicate design intent.

Once you have selected an architect, you'll want to clearly outline the services to be provided in a contract. Some architects will use an American Institute of Architects (AIA) Standard Owner/Architect contract, others will use their own contract or a letter of agreement. We usually use our Standard Conditions along with a letter of agreement. Our letter of agreement will establish any nonstandard conditions and the particular details of your project. We believe our agreement is a little more detailed and user friendly than the AIA document, but are totally comfortable in using it if a client so chooses. While handshakes and verbal agreements can consummate the deal, writing down and reading the details are essential to fostering respect and understanding throughout the process. Gant Nychay will not engage in any design project without a contract signed by the client. Depending on the size of the project, we may collect a retainer which would be credited back to the client on their last invoice.