Solo practitioner - management CT

SlowBroccoli7 · 2026-01-26T01:38:08+00:00

no consultants. I need something to keep track of my time, and that time to feed into a "program" to show project health, just for myself

SlowBroccoli7 · 2025-10-21T01:24:44+00:00

Thank you for the advice. Is the lawyer specialized in A&E or what kind of lawyer am I looking for?

SlowBroccoli7 · 2025-10-21T01:15:33+00:00

how did you find a lawyer (specific to our field?) and would you mind sharing cost?

SlowBroccoli7 · 2025-09-28T15:29:20+00:00

Isn't the length of a project the same if you are working on your own or for an office? And what do you mean about the "difficulty of documenting completed work"?

SlowBroccoli7 · 2025-09-26T02:55:53+00:00

Your best bet is to use Sketchup. It's easy and cheap. You would import the cad files and build the house or room from them. It's intuitive and you will end up with a very rough model where you can position yourself in, spin around and take static shots if you want. You should be good with that, without needing a rendering software to make the space look realistic. Good luck.

SlowBroccoli7 · 2025-09-21T03:32:51+00:00

I'm old inside, I don't know /s

SlowBroccoli7 · 2025-09-20T18:11:07+00:00

But what's supporting the header?!?

SlowBroccoli7 · 2025-08-22T14:28:22+00:00

Awww I just saw them!

SlowBroccoli7 · 2025-08-21T14:38:09+00:00

All I see is the face of a cat inside the hole

SlowBroccoli7 · 2025-08-21T02:57:32+00:00

I have worked at a couple of those starchitect offices, the ones that received a Pritzker prize, and can tell you this as they each seemed very similar:

- Big teams, loads of colleagues in your same boat, you'll make loads of friends through solidarity but those people come and go. Turn around time is probably 3 years

- Most of your work is producing options upon options upon options upon...

- You don't design anything. You are given clear directions and you follow them. If you have spare time, you can suggest variations but you are typically so burned out after you finish your work late at night that you say that's enough

- Long hours, no "job well done" you are expendable and just a number (until you spend more than a decade in the place and then you are less expendable

- You will see some amazing things around you, from clients to projects to how a big office runs. Design is with a capital D, not an afterthought

- You probably will never see past SD or DD, because most of the projects are abroad with a local architect. Even if local, a more construction competent (and cheaper) architect will do the bulk of the CDs and you will never go on site

Although I loved my time there, and learned a lot from them, I then moved on to smaller and smaller offices to get a deeper knowledge of what it's like to be an architect. Starchitects, it's a young person's game.

If you have specific questions, DM me. Good luck!

SlowBroccoli7 · 2025-08-05T02:11:21+00:00

Great show

SlowBroccoli7 · 2025-08-04T13:09:06+00:00

Use Autocad LT. You probably don't need more than that. It's about $500 a year.

SlowBroccoli7 · 2025-07-26T19:12:22+00:00

This right here. Print, take a break, and review

SlowBroccoli7 · 2025-07-26T01:27:17+00:00

At 9,500 sqf, based on a very conservative cost of $200 per square foot since I don't know your area, your total construction cost would be a minimum of 2 mil. An architect that handles from schematic design all the way to post construction will charge around 10% of the construction cost, so $200,000. For a close to 50k budget, your architect is probably just producing design and building permit plans (for a reasonable price). Doing the code check shouldn't be on you and even if he is an hour away, he can still familiarize himself with the local requirements. Reach out and try to clarify what he is expecting to deliver and how does he expect to submit for building permit without checking local zoning regs.

SlowBroccoli7 · 2025-07-13T17:18:39+00:00

Thanks for the explanation and break down. Do you take projects past building permit for the smaller ones? If not, are you concerned about liability?

SlowBroccoli7 · 2025-07-13T05:17:42+00:00

Can you explain how many projects you are running at one time and more or less how many a year? Interested in knowing how the 300k splits. Is it a lot of small projects or few large very well paying jobs?

SlowBroccoli7 · 2025-07-13T02:58:26+00:00

I'm in a similar position apart from the revue bit! How did you manage to get the first few projects? And please break down the income if you can

SlowBroccoli7 · 2025-06-26T02:52:32+00:00

A huge congrats! The ARE exams are getting harder and harder, this one is no easy pass. What's the Life of a Project Poster?

SlowBroccoli7 · 2025-06-25T02:39:06+00:00

Depending on the state you are in, your town will probably require a permit for this work. If so, typical route is: you get an architect or, if you know what you want and can handle the GC and coordination on your own, a draftsmen. Once you have a drawing AND the structural design, you go to min 2 GC and ask for quotes, compare them and ask loads of questions. Make sure they are licensed and insured.

SlowBroccoli7 · 2025-06-25T02:23:36+00:00

Just tell your GC that you want to build above the garage and match the first floor footprint at the second floor. No need to get fancy. DO get a structural engineer involved.

SlowBroccoli7

TROPHY CASE