My mother, now a wise octogenarian, had a saying that struck me as pertinent to today’s challenging environment for professional service providers. ‘Something for nothing is usually worth nothing,’ has relevance when hearing that in a low bid environment, potential clients are opting for service fees that are bid so low that they represent levels below cost. Few are exempt from this situation, which is a serious problem when trying to survive as a viable business. Of particular concern is the quality of the buildings that are subject to this extreme low bid trends.
Low bids historically beget change orders, which beget team friction and tedious, problem-riddled projects. Unusual ‘deals’ on construction prices can disguise the questionable quality factors that would only be noticeable if one ‘reads between the lines.’ Design-build projects are prone to be more ‘build-design’ when cost-cutting extends to the consulting architect and engineer. If clients didn’t understand the value of an architect or engineer prior to this recession, then they certainly will not want to invest in one now. Owners, landlords, tenants be wary. You still get what you pay for – or not. Some believe that trained consultants, registered architects, and engineers, are of less value than the builder who ‘gets it done’ faster, for less. Why involve consultants who charge a fee for services when the bottom line is money and getting something built?
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