In a message dated 98-07-04 00:47:30 EDT, Anni writes:

> 1.  they want a price on the whole package immediately regardless of
>  conditions which may be discovered.
>  2. they want a schedule immediately regardless of conditions which may be
>  discovered.

Ah yes, our late 20th century avarice for immendiate gratification. 1. and 2.
are conditions that are seldom met in successful preservation projects. I now
immediately advise all prospects that if I get involved everything will slow
down. Trying to fast-track in preservation usually doesn't work. I tell them
"you can have it fast, good or cheap. Pick two." Fast and good is never cheap.
Good and cheap is never fast. Fast and cheap is never good.

Accounting for the unknown *can* be done if there is all the money in the
world and unlimited time to spend it. This is the only way to assure meeting
these requirements and is seldom what building owners will consider straight
thinking. If it is a $10,000. 1-year project I can meet these requirement if
they can commit to a $100,000. budget and a 10-year schedule. Of course there
is a practical balance somewhere in-between, but the only way to find that
balance is with a lot of trouble*. If these people want me to take on that
trouble they have to pay me. I used to be surprised that there were those who
*were* willing to pay. (I am no longer suprised, and have learned how to
account for it in mananging my business. )

Some architects and other planners will tell their clients that they can do 1.
& 2., and then give them a budget and a schedule. Then, when there are in
difficulty they call me to help them out of it. Well, after being involved in
this situation about 20 times I begin to notice a pattern. Cost and schedule
overruns are always between  3 to 10 times more than the original "conceptual
planning" figures. So, within the first 10 minutes after I have a signed
consulting contract I multiply the planning figures by these numbers, and hand
this news over to my client. By the time the difficultly is over I am hailed
as a profet who really knows something. Give me a break. I just have the
foresight to keep track of what is really going on and the moxie* to actually
use that information to help my clients. I cannot understand why planners who
have done dozens or hundreds of projects consistently make the same mistakes
and do not learn their own lessons. (or why they are still in business)

(Of course 3-10 is a wide range, but I do have figures for different types of
projects and situations that can narrow the range significantly. If anyone
wants to know >this< information I would be please to work with you on your
project whether you want to keep a project on track or get one back on track.)

You need a strong marketing program to generate enough prospects and filter
them effeciently to find the clients who can bend on requirements 1. & 2..

* My motto: "Construction is Trouble" (Those successfully involved in
construction are those willing to take the trouble.)
My tenant: "The ultimate responsibility falls back to the building owner, and
the building owner cannot contract out that responsibility.) (though they will
try again and again.)

** I get this moxie by drinking Moxie. Get yourself some moxie by drinking
Moxie too.

John (that kid from Nebraska who is getting bold in his old age) Leeke