Design Contracts
Residential Design Agreement
The client agrees to contract with Von Schmidt Design Group to design a biddable set of home plans for a home of approximately ______ square feet to be located on lots ________________________in Block ___ of Section ____ in ____________ subdivision located in ___________County _________ . More commonly known by the following street address _____________________
For purposes of this agreement the final design size as signed off by the client will be used to determine fees and the above square footage is simply an estimate in order to begin the process.
Client agrees that there are three Phases to Design of a new home and selects the following services.
DESIGN FEE: Yes or No
Von Schmidt Design Group agrees to create a set of home plans which shall include:
- Scaled floor plans including the first floor, second floor, and foundation.
- Scaled front, rear and side elevations.
- A cross section showing wall assembly and roof construction.
- Section and room detail sheets
- All cabinetry layouts and detailed specifications
Please note: engineered truss drawings and floor joist drawings are to be prepared and engineered by the lumberyard
Costs Associated with this Service:
- $1.90 per square foot for all HVAC controlled space including in house storage
- $.45 per square foot for unfinished walk out basement and garage level square footage
- $.20 per square foot for exterior deck square footage
SPECIFICATIONS/ALLOWANCES FEE: Yes or No
Von Schmidt Design Group agrees to work with the client directly in our offices to help select and list out all the client driven decisions for their new home using this information to create a spreadsheet with detailed specifications and Allowances which shall include:
A room by room inventory of the home with selections made on all client selectable choices
A complete allowances list by room which will include all client selections
Complete structural specifications per the Engineering Drawings
Costs associated with this service:
-$1.25 per square foot of all HVAC controlled space EXCLUDES in house unfinished storage
ENGINEERING FEE: Yes or No
Von Schmidt Design Group will coordinate the soils testing, structural and foundation engineering of the home to meet the current codes and windstorm ratings. All such work will be performed by a licensed engineer who shall be working directly for the homeowner and not for Von Schmidt Design Group, Vacation Home Builders, or Waterfront Development even though engineer may be paid by same. All fees for such services are billed directly by the engineer to the client and may be paid by one of the above entities acting in an administrative capacity and then billed to client. Service Includes
Soils testing and report generation
Design of the Foundation system based on the soils report
Design of the framing and structural plan of the home to the chosen load and wind speed ratings
Foundation design and drafting
(All foundation types)*** $0.18/SF (Min. $600.00)
Framing design and drafting $0.22/SF (Min. $800.00)
Windstorm design and drafting $0.10/SF (Min. $350.00)
Foundation & Framing Package $0.36/SF (Min. $1,400.00)
Foundation, Framing & Windstorm Package $0.45/SF (Min. $1,750.00)
Inspection** (Foundation, framing, windstorm) $250.00 / ea up to 5,000 SF
Inspection** (Foundation, framing, windstorm) Over 5,000 SF add $50.00 per
each 2,500 SF
Inspection** (Elongation) $75.00/each
- Design fee includes all face to face meetings, e-mail correspondence, and phone conversations necessary to prepare the set of home plans.
- Should the client contract with Vacation Home Builders to build the project, Von Schmidt Design Group agrees to issue a credit to Vacation Home Builders so that all design costs will be included in final negotiated fees for build cost.
Please note: The design fee is not meant to be a fixed bid but rather a base fee. Changes after sign offs will initiate change fees at $75 per hour. See notes in contract section.
Following are the phases of the design process:
1. Initial meeting with client to discuss ideas, drawings, expectations, etc.
2. Contract signing and initial payment
3. Working closely with client to design main floor. Will include email, phone and face to face if necessary.
4. Footprint sign-off
5. Working closely with client to design second floor plan and foundation plan. Will included email, phone and face to face if necessary.
6. Second floor and foundation sign-off. 75% of design fee now due.
7. Upon receipt of 75% payment, elevations can be designed and the plans finalized.
8. Final design approval – remaining balance is now due
9. Upon receipt of final balance, one master copy of the design will be printed and delivered to the client.
Please note:
- Throughout the design process the design is the intellectual property of Von Schmidt Design Group and the client will receive only expiring, non-printable PDF versions of the design for review purposes.
- Unless the client was informed and signed an agreement that ownership would remain with designer, after final payment the design becomes the property of the client but Von Schmidt Design Group retains the rights to the digital CAD and PDF files. Additional printed copies may be purchased for $75.00 per set.
- Should the client contract with Vacation Home Builders to build the project, the client may then request a full size, printable PDF version of the prints.
Following are the 3 elements of the contract:
1. Commencement of drawing – Upon receipt of initial payment, main floor plans will be designed.
2. Footprint Sign-off – At this point, the client signs off on the main floor plan. The second floor and foundation can now be designed based on this “footprint”
Please note: Once this “footprint” has been established, any subsequent client initiated changes to that footprint will be billed at an hourly rate of $75 per hour.
3. Second floor and/or foundation sign-off – At this point the client signs off on all floor plans. Upon receipt of 75% payment, elevations can now be generated and designed.
Please note: Once the additional floor plans have been signed off on, any subsequent client initiated changes to those plans that result in changes to the elevations will be billed at an hourly rate of $75 per hour.
4. Final approval – At this point the client signs off on all floor plans and elevations. Plan dimensions will then be finalized and the plans are ready for print and final payment is due.
Please note: At the discretion of Von Schmidt Design Group, the design process may move to another stage without the formality of a signature from the client but this does not change when or if payments are due.
Following are the terms of payment:
Design Fee
- $1,000.00 due upon signing agreement
- 75% of total design fee due at Foundation Sign-off, before elevations will be generated
- Remaining balance due upon final design approval
Specifications Fee
- $1,000.00 due upon signing agreement
- 75% of total fee due after initial specifications are developed.
- Remaining balance due upon final specifications approval
Engineering Fee
- $1,000.00 due upon signing agreement
- Remaining balance due upon final engineering design approval before sealed documents can be generated.
Commencement of Drawing
Upon receipt of this form signed by all listed parties and initial payment, the design process will commence. This form authorizes the design process through phase 3 only. At that point, a footprint sign-off will be required to proceed.
___________________________ ______________
For Von Schmidt Design Group Date
___________________________ _ ____________
Client Date
___________________________ _____________
Client Date