Project update | Tuesday May 4th 2021

 

Hello RC Designs readers and watchers,

 

Today is a weird project update. Today I'll talk about cancelled and on hold projects. I wasn't going to post at all. Thinking this would be a bad idea. But NOT getting the project contains also the journey and my blog content contains this too.

Let's start with cancelled project and what I've learned from them.

 

Online pre consultation

1. Hobby friend; Somewhere in February I got an message about an ballet friend asking for a offer on designing an house.So I made an offer with the concept of how large the house would be, without getting to much detail from the design. After weeks of no answer. I did a follow up and no response. And that's okay. Not every offer will become a success. And I can't take it personally.
   
2. An old client;An old client called two weeks ago with their sister for a offer. I had an physical appointment  that was cancelled the same day. So I was flexible and it became an online consult to give the person an offer. That was officially today 2 weeks ago without a response. I can do one follow up and see. But I'm guessing it's a no.

Past insecurity

In the past a NO would get me down. People have a million reason why you're not a good fit for them and you have to be okay with it. That's being an adult and most important staying professional.

• people could find you expensive
• people could just want free labor
• people could find you hard to work with
• people could not like your designs

I've learned that things not going as plan should not effect you. No matter who the client is.

 

Physical consultation

Freelance project  

Failing one time means losing the second. 

Meaning I lost a second project because this one did go terribly wrong.  

This is a freelance project that started in March. I had a call from an employer and they had a project for preliminary design. 

• First call

After my employer I contacted the client. The client called back with no idea that I was going to call but repeatedly confirming getting the heads up. The client made an appointment for Wednesday of the upcoming week and I was suppose to get the address. I called Tuesday four days later and one day before the physical consult. The client responded that we had an appointment Monday but Wednesday would be fine. My gut said no.

• Physical consultation

The client never took up the phone after calling five times at the residence. Finally the client responded and we had the consultation. We talked about what they wanted. And I put my response, so we decided to make a couple of sketches. 

• Preliminary design process

I started with the layout sketches. I made three different designs and the client responded positively to two designs. I got the yes to do the two designs. After the employer responded to us both with discussing what the service will be " 3D designs (preliminary), 2D work drawing and last the budget".

The client called with changes to the two designs. After two weeks no response with important notification the urgency of everything. I changed the sketches and mailed the options. The client responded a week after again with a couple of minor changes of the layout. 

So I finished the 3D designs and before the mailing I got another call for more changes. So corrected and mailed with the bill. 

• Budget

The client wanted to complain about the offer. Not finding the paying of two designs and every corrections fair. The employer is busy with the budget and I had to wait for their responses. So that I can do the 2D drawings. With the agreement being after budget I come in the mix again. The client still called again for corrections. So this project is maybe cancelled or on hold.

Lessons learned:

• Follow your gut and say no when your gut says no.
  
• Have the communicating style as your client or employer. If a person can't communicate with you hear than you can hear the frustration. The project is always doomed.
  
• Always pay up front. Make sure to talk money before everything else. That is a rookie mistake.
  
• Never deviate from your own design and consult process to make a client comfortable.  If the client goes left when right is the better option. Always remove yourself from the situation
  
• Keep every conversation. This makes it easier to follow the project process and to show people what is discussed.