> He says he likes the idea of the time difference with me in the UK,
> allowing him to red-line drawing that I out on a java webpage at the end
> of my day. I personally think that I am one of the best people that he
> could find for working in ArchiCAD in this way as I know how to do it,
and
> have never met anybody else that has. I do think that he is looking to
do
> this on the cheap, but in my cir***stances I want to go as low as I can
to
> make this deal.
I've worked remotely, mostly with successful results. I had one firm in
Israel that paid me all but the last payment, so be wary of that. Maybe
consider escrow if you're unsure, but trust is a two way thing.
This guy is probably contacting you to work remotely because he can't find
anyone to do it locally. Don't forget that. Have you tried asking HIM what
it's worth to him? People tend to forget that a negotiation is not a
fight,
it's a discussion between two parties with the aim of acheiving a common
goal. A win-win situation for both. He (hopefully) doesn't know how much
you
need the money, so don't let him.
My advice would be to quote what you 'usually' get for this kind of work
in
the UK. Make it whatever you ~want~ within reason. Then ask him how that
suits him - at least you'll find out just what he is prepared to pay.Tell
him you are unsure of the going rate in his area, not only will it build
trust through honesty, but it will give you room to negotiate. Let him
know
that you are open to negotiation, but make it very clear that you do look
forward to developing an ongoing and mutually rewarding relation****p with
him. Basic negotiation - always keep the goal in sight and work towards
it.
Be sure to sell yourself the whole time. People mistakingly think that
they
can just quote a number and expect someone to react to it positively. It's
quite the opposite - in fact if anything people should belabour the point
on
why they are worth what they say. You've got to prove that you are good at
this work, quote a (negotiable) figure, then explain why that is a good
price and how it will benefit him. Give references even and offer a money
back guarantee - sounds crazy, but it has been proven that only about 1%
of
people will take you up on it, even if they are unhappy, and it doesn't
mean
that you have to refund ~all~ the money [have you noticed how many money
back guarantees are out there? Don't even start me on rebates!]. Tell him
you'll even some knock off your 'usual' price, as a sign of good faith,
even
if you arrive at your normal price. You have to make him think he's
getting
a deal, and then you have to back it up.
My opinion is that per-diem is for suckers. It's a very poor way of
charging, whether by time or by amount. What you need to charge for is a
service. A complete package - a solution. Sure every job will change in
size
and complexity, but you should charge accordingly on a job-by-job basis,
also giving you room to become more profitable. Don't get greedy, but if
you
have or will create an efficient system to produce his drawings, you
should
be rewarded for it. That is what business is all about.
I have my own very successful ArchiCAD (on-site) consulting business and
have used these principles and others to further my success. I have
benefitted from such books as 'The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing' by Al
Ries & Jack Trout, How to Outnegotiate Anyone (Even a Car Dealer!) by Leo
Reilly, and The Apostle's Creed, by Ian Brooks. I can highly recommend all
of them ( and even some basic consulting books whose titles I can;t recall
right now), and if I were you I'd get the negotiation one quick smart.
It's
good for any kind of negotiation in life. Very powerful stuff that will
pay
for itself over and over with each new job.
Good luck.
Cheers,
Link.
"Synapse Syndrome" <synapse@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:jvmdnYj5oqnd7C_ZnZ2dnUVZ8s6dnZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> "roy" <melkor@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
> news:12b3kusa10qm87@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> Interesting permutations. Outsourcing from California - where
presumably
>> the labor rates are high.....
>>
>> You know, I get different feelings based on where it is going to.
>> Paying the Social Security tax of the self employed is always a good
>> idea. Try to not forget it.
>
> Heh, well I was hoping to sort not mention this extra work to the
taxman,
> but that's about as far I will go with fraud.
>
>> But assuming everything is on the up & up, your labor rate should be as
>> least as much as you could get where you are, and up to whatever he is
>> willing to pay. The things that make prices in California high the
>> Californians have done to themselves over the years. Aligator tears.
>
> I live in the UK, and if anything it looks like we get paid as much or
> possibly more here. However, I am in need of some extra money to get
some
> money together for a mortgage.
>
>> But the structural engineer is either a cheapskate, or stupid. Unless
you
>> know what it is you are drawing you will either be slow or prone to the
>> kind of mistakes that are costly - his liability. That's why we have
that
>> pesky "under DIRECT supervision" requirement for drafting for an
engineer
>> in Missouri.
>
> He says he likes the idea of the time difference with me in the UK,
> allowing him to red-line drawing that I out on a java webpage at the end
> of my day. I personally think that I am one of the best people that he
> could find for working in ArchiCAD in this way as I know how to do it,
and
> have never met anybody else that has. I do think that he is looking to
do
> this on the cheap, but in my cir***stances I want to go as low as I can
to
> make this deal.
>
>> Doesn't seem like HE is the kind I would work for, but it's your
choice.
>
> It's not ideal, but I'll see how it goes.
>
>> Hard up?
>
> Yep.
>
> ss.
>
|
