Patience | Project Update RCD

Hello RCD readers,

I haven't posted about work for a while. And none at all for this year. So let's see where to start. 

Let's talk about some finished project's 

Last year I had a couple of project's that needed to start with the building permit. So beginning of this year I had two project's ready for that.

Now for the name of the title. When building you have to know it's like planting. It's going to take time if you want to enjoy the fruit of your labour. 

Project A | June 2024

He has been Facebook follower for a long time. Made the big step last year to contact me. It was his first time building and designing experience. And he was really nervous.  I try my best to just be my down to earth self. Mostly because I wasn't raised to have a stick up my butt. And more important not in my character to proof consistently what I've learned. A lot say it's just being confident. Sometimes I find it just being insecure. Okay staying focussed.  This is the normal proces:

1) contact us via Facebook ,Instagram, Mail or WhatsApp (please message)

2) fill in the online form ( this needs work. A lot of client's need this to be much simpler to fill in.)

3) personal consult and that is free( be smart and make it at the location self. So that we can discuss what is possible and what isn't. But most important. So that you can explain what you need)

4) 2nd stage make a potential offer with the information you've given me and you'll tell me if it's a yes 

All these step went smoothly. We did do it different. Most of the times people want to meet in person. Which is totally normal. You want to feel out if I'm the right fit for you. That's when I win or loose some potential client's.  It can be that I'm a woman. It can be that I look young so must be "inexperienced". It can be that I'm down too earth so for some it comes over as not confident. Either way the next step was pictures of the site self. I met the client's partner. And ofcourse I choose a Sunday.  I'm very flexible with the first consult.

Important reason:

Not every potential client is the right fit for me or I for them. It can be pricing. It can be we have different communication styles. So it can be no after the first consult.  And my purpose is to make sure they get at least the right information from me if they are not going to be my client. Because that's what I'd studied for. Making sure I help people with the knowledge I've received. 

The designing phase went very smooth. He knew what he wanted which made my job really easy. And he knew the pricing of everything. So he never complained about the cost. When a client trust in your knowledge you get the respect of them knowing you are worth the price. When they don't. You will always get "you are too expensive ". Which I use to feel insecure about, but not anymore. The client's that are for me will trust in my knowledge. 

After the designing phase. We had the patience part. Getting the documents in order for the building permit.  It took a long time to get his documents in order because of GLIS hectic amount of client's daily. So by the end of January we tried for building permit and by mid April I received finally his building permit.  Now follows the building cost.  I try to do this after because sometimes the building department changes a lot of the design and it would be changing the building cost for no reason at all.

Project B | November 2022

Yes you read it right. This project started with a married couple who wanted to give me a try. They wanted to be my first client.  But as life goes. I did start in 2022 with sketching phase and he really enjoyed the process of it.  So I had to make a lot of changes for him. And crickets for months.  Of course I thought " you win some. You loose some". And just kept working on my content , marktening strategy and my ongoing project's.  Somewhere last year I heard from him again. But this time he was serious. We finally went to the 3D model for exterior.  He loved it so what follows. The technical drawings. After that a final discussion of the design before heading over to the  engineer for the construction. The calculations were done for steel columns and beams. Which was out of my comfort zone. Not in drafting but what the building department found important to have more details. The client has three parts that would be done in stages. So the first part will be made so it can finance the second and third part of redesigning. 

This building permit phase was a real wake up call. A lot of additions and new rules plus regulations because the size of the design that I had to follow. Some I knew. Some where new for me. And a lot was sleepless nights of drafting and contacting the engineer to finish the drawings on time each time. With a kind lady from the building department doing her work right. 

So after waiting till end April. I finally received the building permit. 

So both projects have the building phase. I'll keep you up to date how that's going. Have a blessed day