Ken Writes:
>>>>>>>Then, after the contractor pours
their heart out with lots of good advice (flattered to have been asked and
anticipating the BIG job), the project goes to open bid and the work is
awarded to the low bidder. I've heard this story over and over and I think it
is one of the main greivances contractors have regarding working with design
professionals. It is one reason I have compiled a list of design professionals
whom I will NOT talk to (Kevin: call me and I will talk to you).

I think this problem presents a niche market for someone to give construction
advice without the anticipation, myth, or lie that they will get any further
work... and that they be paid for their services just as with any professional
consultant.<<<<<<<<

How else coud a nut-brain tradesperson like me develop a consulting practice
with a national market.This is exactly what I have based my consulting career
on since the early 1980s. It only took about 3 times before I learned my
lessons from people who wanted free advice:

1. Not to be taken advantage of. (It hurts too much, I grew up in the Mid-west
where helping people is standard practice and you don't even have to ask to
get help back.)
2. My thinking is valuable. (Hard to believe, but why else would they keep
coming back for more.)
3. Always pay tradespeople and contractors for their thinking. (Without
exception.)

Just yesterday I was surveying window conditions in a big old department store
building. I hired the best local window tradesperson to work with me at his
top rate. At the end of the afternoon I gave him a check. He's ahead, I'm
ahead,my client is ahead and the project is ahead. Practically all architects
who call me for advice will keep asking as long as I am willing to talk.
About one in forty will offer on their own volition to pay me for my time. Of
course, as a business person I know how to protect myself from this, but I
test it out once in a while and keep track, just to "measure my market." Ten
years ago it was about one in 25 or 30. You can see that the trend is not
positive. I don't hold this against architects. Taken as a group it is just
one of their characteristics. Once I know about it, it is easy to deal with. I
can now spot that 1 in 40 architect about every other time within 5 minutes of
talking. (Ken: Transactional Costing?) (While I use the word "architect" here
I would expand it to inclulde all licenced professionals.)

John Leeke, Preservation Consultant