Payment for building work..... a really basic question

I've been asked to build up a sim for a client who has offered to pay me the 'going rate' for such work. Much as I'm excited at the prospect, I haven't a clue what the 'going rate' for such work would be. As it's my first comission I can't charge the same as an experienced builder and/or team. OTOH, I don't want to undercut other builders to the point of 'stealing work'. Any suggestions as to what would be a fair price to quote?

I'm afraid I can't speak inteligently on today's "going rate" because I don't really do custom work anymore (too time consuming), but what I can tell you is this. Erase that notion from your mind that you can't charge as much as someone else, just because the other guy's been doing it longer. Charge what you're worth, no more, no less. Whether it's your first commission or your hundredth, never sell yourself short.

In RL and in SL, whenever I've been faced with these "going rate" kind of questions, I usually find out what my competitors charge, and then I charge a little more, not less. Nothing outlandish, mind you, but just enough to set myself apart. Why? Because I'm worth it (modesty aside). I've got no problem saying to a client, "Sure, you coud go with that guy and pay that amount, and you'd get a good product. However, you came to me because you wanted quality, and what you'll get from me is not just a good product, but a great product, a much better investment for the money, and let me tell you why..."

The bottom line is if someone wants to take my time, they have to be willing to pay for the quality I know I will deliver. If they want something less, I'm happy to steer them elsewhere. I take pride in what I do, and I charge accordingly. I would suggest you do the same.

Chosen, your ideas intrigue me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

Well put.

Hi Alaz!

Before you actually lay down a figure to your client, you have to first define what the scope of work between you and your client. Since you mentioned that this is a sim sized build, you can split the work phases down into more bite sized chunks and then quote for the invidual phases.

I'll use here an example. The client wants to build up something like an amusement/themed park. So you do some research on amusement parks and come up with something like this.

- Sim concept, planning and layout - 5000L
- General landscaping, footpaths, exterior lighting - 8000L
- Zone 1 - ferriswheel, rollercoaster, rocketride - 15000L
- Zone 2 - bumper cars, carousel, shops - 15000L
- Zone 3 - undersea world, ghost town - 20000L
- 3 month maintenance period - 2000L

This allows for you to bill the client in stages instead of a lump sum pie in the sky figure. Make sure the client agrees to this beforehand.

So you go about completing a small concept model and present to the client. This might go on a couple of times, and once the general concept is approved, you get to claim your first stage of fees of 5000L.

You might go on halfway, and decide that you need help. So maybe you apportion say, Zone 2 to another builder. But you still need to monitor his work. So you may decide to take 1000L out of the 15000L to nanny over the build. The other builder gets 14000L.

Then when you finally finish the job and hand it over to the client, let them have for example 3 months to identify any misplaced prims, wrong textures, etc. This should not cover major changes. When the defects period is over, then you can claim for the last
payment.

This is just one of the methods to go about payment. You have to personally try and judge what you're willing to accept for a calculated ammount of effort on your part. Do not ever mention to the client that the price reflects some sort of unknown x-factor that you have. Thats for you to keep to yourself, and for others to judge. As your reputation increases, slowly increase your fees.

Sometimes, its the professionalism that makes one a great builder. Clients need to know that what they commission is completed in a timely manner, and according to their specs. Not because the builder builds amazing things.

Thanks for that suggestion, Cotton and for your advice, Chosen. I'll have to see how things shape up as I go along.

thank you for this, Ive been trying to figure out how to charge for a while myself.