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The tough thing is that most designers are not working in the markets that need as much design work that requires contract administration. It is where competitive pricing is a big factor. People simply don't want to pay for things that they don't feel they need. It might be true that having an independent designer oversee the whole project on a $100k job might be in the best interest of the client. But when they interview a few design/builds with great portfolios and excellent reputations that will do a schematic landscape plan for $1k-2k, they tend to see less of a benefit and decide to keep the other $10-$20k for something else. That is certainly the case if the landscape job is under $50k. The less subs involved the less likely someone will pay for contract administration.
I believe that until you are regularly getting design work for jobs over $100k, you are not going to find too many people willing to pay for contract administration. I'm not saying it is right or wrong. I'm just saying that you can't get paid what you want to get paid unless someone wants to pay it.
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Well said AGLA, this is exactly right.
This is why I'm adamant about not lowering my design fee. Not every design project turns into construction with project management.
Now, I don't think projects of only 100K + need a project manager. In my opinion it depends on the number of craftsmen and contractors. Last year, I designed and managed a project in the $35,000 range. I had 5 subs- landscape contractor, irrigation, metal fabricator, carpenter and custom concrete. I also supplied the site furnishings.
It's not so much about the size of the budget, but the amount of detail in the project.
Like I said in my previous post, if a design only requires a qualified, quality landscape contractor, I just refer them to the homeowner. It wouldn't be in the best interest of the client for me to oversee the project and make 10-20%.