Guide to Professional Practice for Architects

Establishing Direct Contacts with Clients and Setting up Office

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Ways to obtain work in Architecture | Professional Practice

In my previous article, I discussed the method of obtaining work “Waiting Period in Architecture”. Now we will move on with the discussion on “How to establish Direct Contacts with Clients and Setting up of your Office”.

Here is the list of different ways in which the work can be obtained:

  1. From Friends and relatives
  2. By your work
  3. By specialization
  4. By Luck
  5. By Winning architectural competition
  6. Through Chartered accountants and advocates
  7. Before setting up your practice
  8. Waiting period
  9. Setting up your office
  10. Telephone
  11. Computer Networking
  12. Regular attendance

Try to establish direct contacts with the client

At the beginning of your practice and even many a times later, you will come across some one who will assure you to suggest you name to a prospective client. Be careful with such middlemen. He may suggest you to hand over to him the sketches and that he may in turn show the sketches to the client. An established furniture maker in the town may ask you for furniture drawings, promising a client. Do not agree to this suggestion. As far as possible, you shall meet the client personally and discuss with him the requirements and the drawings. Many a times sketches handed over to middlemen are misused.

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Ways to obtain work | Waiting Period in Architecture

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Ways to obtain work in Architecture | Professional Practice

In my previous article, I discussed the method of obtaining work “Things to do before setting up Practice”. Now we will move on with the discussion on the next aspect “Waiting Period before Architect gets a grip of his profession”.

Here is the list of different ways in which the work can be obtained:

  1. From Friends and relatives
  2. By your work
  3. By specialization
  4. By Luck
  5. By Winning architectural competition
  6. Through Chartered accountants and advocates
  7. Before setting up your practice
  8. Waiting period
  9. Setting up your office
  10. Telephone
  11. Computer Networking
  12. Regular attendance

Waiting period | Guide to Professional Practice

Let us compare – only for a restricted purpose two activities namely opening of a shop and a consultant’s office. A capital is required, to be invested for a premise in both the cases. But in a case of grocer’s shop perhaps further capital is required to get the goods in the shop for sale. As compared to that let us say lesser amount is required to furnish an architect’s office.

But the first day, the shopkeeper may start collecting cash amount on his cash counter through the retail sale. That is not the case with an architect. The occasion of receipt of fees is once in a way. Let us compare medical or legal profession with that of an architect’s. No sooner the patient is examined or treated or legal advice is given, fees are collected in cash. There is no daily collection in the architect’s office.

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Ways to obtain work in Architecture | Through Chartered accountants and advocates

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Ways to obtain work in Architecture | Professional Practice

In my previous article, I discussed the method of obtaining work “By Winning Architectural Competitions”. Now we will move on with the discussion on the next method “Through Chartered accountants and advocates”.

Here is the list of different ways in which the work can be obtained:

  1. From Friends and relatives
  2. By your work
  3. By specialization
  4. By Luck
  5. By Winning architectural competition
  6. Through Chartered accountants and advocates
  7. Before setting up your practice
  8. Waiting period
  9. Setting up your office
  10. Telephone
  11. Computer Networking
  12. Regular attendance

Through Chartered accountants and advocates | Professional Practice

The type of work you get from their quarter is usually in the form of writing reports on properties, preparation of measurement drawings, certifying carpet or built up areas and valuation of a property. Financial Institutions like banks maintain a list of approved architects. The case is referred to the architect from the panel.

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Ways to obtain work by Architects | By Winning Architectural Competitions

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Ways to obtain work in Architecture | Professional Practice

In my previous article, I discussed the method of obtaining work “By Luck”. Now we will move on with the discussion on the next method “By Winning architectural Competitions”.

Here is the list of different ways in which the work can be obtained:

  1. From Friends and relatives
  2. By your work
  3. By specialization
  4. By Luck
  5. By Winning architectural competition
  6. Through Chartered accountants and advocates
  7. Before setting up your practice
  8. Waiting period
  9. Setting up your office
  10. Telephone
  11. Computer Networking
  12. Regular attendance

By Winning architectural competition | Professional Practice

When an architect takes part in an architectural competition and wins it, then all of a sudden he becomes a famous architect. This because the results of the competition are published in media. The works and drawings are also published and the architect becomes famous. Once an architect becomes well known, the clients approach him on their own, and he gets more works. His practice is established. Therefore, this is a good way to come to the forefront in practice.

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