Fees/Costs
It is important that it is clear to you what fees you will be charged and costs you will incur for the design professional’s services. Though cost should not be the only consideration, it is one of many things to consider in making your decision.
Avoid getting into the consumer mentality during the selection process. While one design professional’s fee may be lower than another’s, their total quality / level of service to you may be insufficient at best, or at worst, catastrophic to your project.
Ask them the following questions:
- What are your standard hourly charges?
- Do you require a retainer?
- Will I be charged for long distance phone calls made by the design professional (for project coordination)?
- Will I be charged for copies?
NorthStar Engineering is available to give you a proposal / estimate on your project, upon request. You will not be billed separately for long distance phone charges, like many other design professionals. Expenses incurred (reproductions, fees, special mail, materials, etc.) will typically be charged to you at Actual Cost + 15%.
If the design professional is not able or is unwilling to give you an answer on any of these items, you should seriously consider looking elsewhere for assistance on your project. A good design professional will be glad to provide you with honest, straight-forward answers to any of these questions.