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23 Feb

Direct Mail for Architects

Author: admin / Category: Architects


Architects, the good ones always seem to have lots of work, from referrals and such, but it was not always that way, you see they had to get the clientele in the first place, do a great service and then those folks had to tell their friends and so on and so on. Of course we all know in such professional services that word-of-mouth and referrals is by far the best form of advertising, but how do you get it going when no one knows you?

Well think for second, how to get the first clients? A robust yet inexpensive marketing and advertising program might do the trick. Let me explain; you see, direct-mail marketing and direct-mail marketing coupon packages work very well for architects.

It is recommended that architects send out these direct-mail marketing packages to businesses and high net worth individuals within a 15-mile radius two times per year. In doing so architects will find that they have significant new business coming and have not paid out a lot of money unnecessarily in advertising that did not pull. If you own an architectural professional corporation perhaps you will consider this is part of your marketing and advertising strategy in 2006.

By: Lance Winslow

About the Author:
“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.



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19 Feb

Tips to Improve Your Home

Author: admin / Category: Properties Directory

Whether you are planning to sell your home or make it more comfortable to live in, there is a lot to be gained from making home improvements.

This could involve:

- Repairs of already existing structures,

- Remodeling certain parts of the home to give them a facelift,

- Making additions to your home to improve quality of life,

- Home improvement projects in order to make a house more energy efficient or environment-friendly.

To decide on a home improvement project can seem pretty daunting. But armed with a few handy home improvement tips, you could be well on your way to the ideal home of your dreams. Most of these tips are easy to follow and will make for an easy decision when deciding on home improvement projects.

The first home improvements you should consider are repair moves. Attend to any ceiling repair problems, the plumbing job you have been putting off or that attic insulation that has become necessary. This holds true whether you are planning to live in the home yourself, put it on rent, or put the home on sale.

Remodeling your kitchen or bathroom is a smart home improvement move if you are planning to put your home on sale. This increases the value of the home immediately, and if researched properly, can be done cost effectively.

Making additions to a home like adding wood burning stoves, or an outdoor storage area could also be excellent selling points if the home goes up for sale some day. Additions to the home should be considered as home improvement projects if there is extra outdoor space which by itself does not improve the value of the home. Exterior improvements like landscaping your garden or adding wooden garage doors can also be a great investment.

Helping a home improve its energy efficiency is also a great idea for a householder, because not only does it cut down on the electricity and gas bills, it is a great thing to do for the environment. Improvement in the insulation of the home can be a long-term money-saver.

It is obvious that home improvement projects should not be carried out on a whim. It is essential to evaluate why a specific home improvement project is required, and what would be gained from the investment. While home improvements that involve repair increase the comfort in the home and its longevity and are therefore essential, all other sorts of home improvement need to be carefully evaluated before deciding on them.

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13 Feb

Architect Degrees – What is the Quickest Way to Get an Architect Degree?

Author: admin / Category: Architects


It’s one thing to have a goal in mind, and hope that you can one day complete it. It’s another thing to have that goal and knock it out of the park before you even realize you’re done. For students seeking a new career path, an architect degree may be very appealing and the quickest way to follow through with this goal is to pursue an online degree in architecture.

Some students have concerns about pursuing an online degree and whether they would still really receive all of the same instruction they would from a traditional program. With some degrees, the online format may in fact be somewhat restrictive. However, an architect degree is not one of them.

You will still be able to complete, design and construct your own designs and you’ll be able to learn everything you need from texts, online lectures and various software programs. An online degree is a great option for architecture, and you can put your fears aside that you’ll be missing out on anything.

Why is taking an online degree in architecture so much quicker than going to an old fashioned on-campus program? The main reason is that online universities let you accelerate the pace of your learning.

Basically, you can go as fast as you want in the world of distance learning. If you can handle five or six classes at once, all year round, that’s good for you and you’re encouraged to move at that quick pace. You’ll be able to churn out your credits in this fashion, and you can take classes all year round without any long, wasted breaks.

At the same time, if you then need a break or other aspects of your life are getting busier, you can cut back on a few classes for a session or two. You’re not tied into anything, and an online degree is all about providing the best and most convenient schooling option that’s available today.

An architect degree taken from an online university will be convenient in many other ways. In addition to the accelerated options and flexibility described above, you’ll have the added bonus of not having to conform to any rigid schedules.

If you work during the day, you can do your schoolwork at night. If you’re busy all day and night, you can finish your assignments on the weekend. If early in the morning is the only free time you have, you can get your work done then. There’s no such thing as required class meeting times, which means that for once school can fit into your life without disrupting everything else.

The bottom line is that if you’re interested in pursuing an architect degree, an accelerated online degree program is the quickest option that you have at your disposal. Just imagine, in as little as two years or even less you can be done with your education, well on your way to a bright new career that you’ve always dreamt about. Don’t put off your goals any longer, get started with an online degree in architecture today.

By: John Maxted

About the Author:
To find an architect degree online right now as well as other valuable career, education and training information go to http://JobTrainingPlace.com

Job training place is designed specifically to provide you with comprehensive job and career information as well as discussing the various education and training alternatives available. These include construction industry training and apprenticeship programs, conventional university and college education as well as online courses ranging form basic programs right up to full Bachelor’s and post graduate degrees. If you are currently exploring your career and educational options this site will be most valuable.



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07 Feb

About Architects

Author: admin / Category: Architects


Architects who have never been apart of a professional liability claim should consider themselves to be lucky individuals. Those that have know how ugly a lawsuit can turn. The case usually takes over all parties involved emotionally and financially. By the time the lawsuit settles, the person who comes out on time figures out the end settlement wasn’t worth the trouble it caused tot heir families. The fallout from a court trail tends to be broader, as well. After each side completes bringing in the big guns, any remaining hope of ever piecing together a friendship again is shattered. For all the reasons listed, close to ten years ago now, insurance companies began requesting that their policy-holders try to utilize mediation to settle claims outside of court.

This is a voluntary, nonbonding process that consists of hiring an impartial third party to help resolve the ongoing conflict. This usually takes a day. During the late 1980s, architects began become told about the usage of mediation to clear disputes. Most of them were scared away at the idea. Even though it soon became a widely accepted practice, architects still looked down upon it thinking it was a sign of weakness. If they needed the help of someone it could mean they didn’t have a strong case. While the litigation-happy environment grew out of a number of failed condo projects in the early 90’s, that very attitude began to change.

Soon the architecture firms learned that all these court trials were expensive and very time-consuming. In present day, mediation is normally a set standard, and most AIA contracts contain a clause that mandates mediation as a first resort. Mediation is not the solution in every court case that spans from architecture, however. Frank Musica, who works as a risk management attorney at an accredited law institution, claims that in the case of a clear-cut designer error, it is better to rectify the problem post-haste. On the other hand, if a designed firm is being drug into litigation for ridiculous reasons, then they should avoid mediation. An example of this is a construction worker seeking more money in damages then workers’ compensation would allot.

Among the 4,500 claims filed each year, less then 1 percent actually go to litigation. They are either mediated, which 80 percent of the cases were done so successfully, or settled in court. Even with professionals who main field lies within the judicial system, mediation is simply a part of the protocol. The natures by which these cases come about is usually well suited for mediation. Normally the dispute is over work quality and cost, and the lines of responsibility for project management often overlap. Sometimes there is a peaceful resolution to these cases. Other times it doesn’t finish so friendly and the sides no longer remain friends. All these reasons make one seriously consider taking a second glance at the rules and regulations that should be followed when constructing a building. An architect has to be in top notch form to avoid never getting drug into court.

By: Laura J Miller

About the Author:
[http://architectinformativesite.com/aer/] provides information on everything related to architect. You can stop by our site and get a free education in architect right now. Be sure to check out our page on about architects [http://architectinformativesite.com/aer/about-architects].



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04 Feb

Architect Client Relationships

Author: admin / Category: Architects


In the history of architecture there has often been an unseen contradiction between what the architect wants to design and what the client wants built. Sometimes an architect will get so wrapped up in his vision and personal aesthetic values that what the client likes and does not like becomes secondary, or is overlooked completely. When this happens the house or building created may win design awards and look beautiful to a trained architectural eye, but the client or people who have to live in it may dislike it intensely. Often the owners or tenants will go back in and change things a second or third time to better suit their aesthetics or purpose.

At the root of this problem is the very nature of architecture, to create. An architect is very passionate about the creative artistic aspects of his work. He wants to create something new and different and put himself and his vision into his work. Often, however, the growth and development of an architect involves the painful realization that their unique vision does not usually count for very much. The client, after all, is paying for it and has to live with the house or building long after the architect has finished and gone on to other projects. The architect is there to serve the client and not the other way around.

The other professions rarely have this problem. Doctors and lawyers are almost always acknowledged to be the decision makers and authorities in their respective fields. Science and the written law are established and much less subject to interpretation compared to artistic values and visions.

Unfortunately, the established architectural community and schools have more often than not made the problem worse. Architects are never made famous because of how well they satisfy their clients. They are famous because of the unique, creative style or image that they have managed to present to the world. Architectural awards are given to designs or buildings that are creative and almost never to buildings that perform their function flawlessly or totally satisfy their clients. In many cases, world famous architects have never had the opportunity to build more than a small handful of buildings because of this contradiction between client needs and the architect’s creative vision.

If you do approach a world famous architect with a project, it is pretty much assumed that you as a client are buying into that architect’s creative vision 100 percent. You as a client become an extension of the architect’s vision and not vice versa. Of course, the client has generally had ample opportunities to review the famous architect’s body of work before hand because of the exposure the architect has gotten in the media. You like his work and aesthetic values and hire him, or you don’t. Of course there are architectural firms that are almost the opposite. They are highly client oriented rather than design oriented. They often become financially successful from client loyalty and referrals but rarely get media attention or become famous because of the conservative nature of their work and business.

Ultimately the best solution for most established architects is to balance the two extremes and become a teacher for the client. The architect presents the client with various design and style options and the pros and cons of each and listens carefully to the needs and tastes of the client. This establishes a dynamic synergistic relationship. Together they decide the image and vision for the architectural creation.

By: Michael Russell

About the Author:
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Architect [http://architect-guided.com]



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04 Feb

Austin Architect AD Stenger

Author: admin / Category: Architects


Arthur Dallas Stenger first began building homes in the 1940s in Austin, mostly on Arthur Lane in the Barton Hills area, which was named after his father (the first Arthur Dallas Stenger), who was also an architect. Though Stenger attended architecture school at the University of Texas after returning home from World War II, he never graduated. He did get his architecture license as an undergraduate, and began building homes for post war Austinites.

Though FHA loans had design restrictions built into them, it didn’t stop Stenger from creating unique homes that were moderately priced, even if he had to help the homeowners find loans. He also worked differently from other builders, by purchasing land (mostly in the Barton Hills and Pemberton Heights areas), finding a buyer, and building a home without making his clients sign contracts. There was no pressure for the buyer to take the house upon completion, though clients rarely backed out after seeing the home.

A Stenger home will stand out, with signature low peaked roofs, clad with concrete, wood rock and other organic materials. He also used rock and stone quarried from the home site as siding or built into the fireplace, helping the house fit easily within its surroundings. Stenger had a love for long, low slung fireplaces reminiscent of 50s lounges, so every home he built included a wood burning fireplace, though not particularly necessary in the heart of Texas.

The houses also have many of the amenities that Austin’s big modern building boom now cherish, with walls of windows and clerestory windows hanging just below the exposed roofline, and tinted concrete floors, now pricing out around 10 dollars a square foot. He also used the organic building theory of “bringing the outside in,” by running exterior stonework through the house and into its interior.

Though Barton Hills was featured as “the world’s largest air-conditioned subdivision” in the 1956 Parade of Homes, Stenger didn’t build his homes with central air. Instead, he built large windows to catch morning light, and not the hot sun light of mid afternoon, and a floor plan to allow for a breezy pass through ventilation when the windows were opened.

In 1957, when Stenger’s friend, radio host John Henry Faulk, ended up blacklisted as a communist in the McCarthy era, he built and financed a home for him, knowing his friend was swamped with legal fees. He took his other clients financial situations into account as well, helping offset furniture costs with several built ins, and pricing his houses between $18,000 and $22,000, though today they can range from $400,000 to $600,000.

Stenger built around 100 unique homes in the Austin area, building his last for his wife Jean in 1999, a few years before he died in 2002 at the age of 82. Today’s battle lies between those seeking out Stenger houses for their originality and great use of space, and others who prefer to tear down these houses to build larger homes, since the locations are highly sought after for their land alone.

By: Ki Gray

About the Author:
Escapesomewhere is a company working in Austin Texas. Their site provides information about Austin real estate along with a Austin MLS search. They also provide insights on the Austin market on their Austin real estate blog.



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04 Feb

Servicing my debts, the easy way

Author: admin / Category: Properties Directory

I’ve just had the bad news that the high court ruling has gone against people who thought that banks had charged rhem unfairly for going over their overdraft. One of those people was me. I had racked up over three thousand pounds worth of debt with one of the high street banks during my degree course, and becase I had been so short of money at the time, I was forever going over my agreed overdraft limit and of course getting charged an astronomical amount for the privelige.

Of course, I hadn’t had much pressure to settle the debt over the past couple of years, but as soon as the court ruling came through they were straight onto my back. I got one letter a week, at first asking for settlement within seven days, and when I failed to pay that I started to get very threatening letters indeed. It was difficult though, because I just didn’t have thhe means to pay. Fortunately one of my mates had the bright idea of finding a company online that might be able to offer advice, or even help me reduce my arrears somehow.

I had a little look around that night, and came across what looked to be a great site which seemed to think I would be able to get out of debt with their help. I started to look through the site and there was all sorts of advice. I had managed to accrue quite a bit of credit card debt and they had a great section on how to reduce credit card debt. I really needed help with all of my finances so I had a look at their debt management advice to see what they had to offer. It was so helpful and it lead me to being able to keep the bailifgfs off my back and I’ve now managed to work out a repayment plan that I can keep up with.

I don’t know what I would have done without that site, Now I’m free from the glare of the bank I can start to enjoy my life again!

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03 Feb

Architect Jobs – Architect Careers Explained

Author: admin / Category: Architects


Careers in architecture are involved with the art and science of designing buildings and other physical structures. New buildings are going up all the time and we still marvel at the great buildings of the past that have withstood the test of time all over the world. People with architecture degrees may be involved in many aspects of the process and product of planning, designing and constructing spaces where people will live or work. Architects must be considerate of the functional, social and aesthetic aspects of their work, and also have their own distinct point of view.

Architect Job Description

If you have no experience in this field, you may be wondering “Just what does an architect do?” Architects are the professionals involved with the planning, designing and reviewing of the construction of buildings and structures using materials and components while considering mass, space, form, volume, texture, structure, light, shadow, materials, program, cost, construction limitations and technology. Most people think of blueprints and stuffy meetings with guys and suits directing construction projects, but architecture entails so much more. Architect careers require the use of many tools and the skills to manipulate and coordinate technology, light and shadow, and in the 21st century this also requires quite a bit of computer skills. There are macro-level architects who are involved in urban design and landscape architecture jobs as well as micro-level architects who are involved in the construction details and even the furnishings.

In the modern age, architects do not only encompass structure and function into their work; more and more the consideration of sustainability is a vital component of any construction job. Sustainable or eco-friendly building should be constructed in an environmentally friendly manner in terms of the production of the materials, the impact on the environment of its surrounding area, and the demands that it makes on non-sustainable power for heating, cooling, water, waste management and lighting.

The architect job market has seen a rise in specialization by project type, technological expertise or delivery methods, as well as an increased separation of design architects from project architects. There are many architect careers that people with architecture degrees can go into, ranging from landscape architects to designers of skyscrapers and major public structures.

By: Erik R Johnson

About the Author:
Want to make career in Architecture? Browse ArtanddesignDegreesU.com and Find complete information about top architecture schools that are offering top architecture degree program in USA and Canada. This is an online art and design education portal offering information about various art and design degrees programs.



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