Overheard a client say they 'just needed a pretty picture' for their permit

Honestly, it made me realize how many people don't get that our drawings are legal documents, not just art. I had to explain that a single misplaced dimension on a foundation plan last week caused a whole site visit delay. How do you guys handle clients who don't understand the weight of what we do?

3 comments

3 Comments

jackson.jenny1mo ago

Ask the client to point out exactly where on the drawing they think the "pretty" part is - like the elevation or the site plan. Then ask if they get that moving a property line two inches on paper could mean their neighbor's driveway ends up on their property. It's wild to me how many people think we're just coloring inside the lines for fun, not literally holding up a building's structure and legal compliance. Do they ever actually read the title block and all those boilerplate notes, or do they just skip to the rendering?

miller.avery2mo ago

Ever add a scary "what if" clause to your contract?

the_mary2mo ago

Actually, the goal is to make a contract so clear that scary "what if" stuff never comes up. Trying to cover every wild scenario can make the document a mess that no one wants to read. A solid, simple agreement about who does what and when is usually better than a list of bad dreams. That's just my take on it though, miller.avery.