[Inspired]

Ok, so I've been offered a large design job by a commercial contractor I've worked for many times. Sounds good so far, right?

Job Info:
The job will be a landscape design for a good sized mall in another state and the climate is fairly different. They think the landscape budget will be around 1.2 million. They are looking for a concept and then documents to bid and install from. They hire me basically as a sub. The plans have their logo all over them. This would be my largest job so far. It sounds very exciting maybe because I tend to be an adrenaline addict.

My concerns:
1.) This is a different branch of the company then I work with normally and they want me to give them some kind of idea how much my design fee will be. I really have no idea how much time a job this size will take. 150-200+ hours? I’m used to jobs in the 40 to 60 hour range.

2.) What about travel? I have no idea how to charge for travel time that involves air travel and a number of overnights. 8 hour days plus expenses?

3.) I'm already busy and they want it yesterday as usual. I’ll have to push some customers back a significantly. Not good.

4.) Since this would be pretty much all I do for the next month, do I ask for a retainer? They usually run 45 to 60 days before I actually get a check in hand.

5.) My Dynascape program locks up frequently on large design jobs and I risk losing design time redrawing. Although I have AutoCAD LT, my AutoCAD experience is limited. I have not taken the time to really learn it or even set it up like I have Dynascape set up. There will be no way this job will fit into one Dynascape file. I'm thinking I will need to create a number of Dynascape files.

6.) Emailing plans won't work because very few people have Dynascape. I've never found anyone who can print an accurately scaled drawing. I had to buy a DesignJet printer. How do I send a properly scaled drawing to a guy in another state. FedEx?

7.) They don’t know if they even have an old site plan to start from. Thinking about all those parking lot islands has me dizzy already.


Can you guys think of other possible issues I might be missing?

I’m actually thinking of turning the job down. Am I crazy? HELP!!!!