Firm’s role and obligations

• Provide written terms of engagement or a client/architect agreement before any work is done for you and give you a copy of the Emirate Qatari Union of Architects . Develop a design solution with you, appropriate to your needs and budget.
• Communicate with you to ensure that you understand important steps in the project and important decisions taken.
• If engaged to administer the building contract, will act as your independent advisor on contractual matters like variations, progress payments and when the project reaches practical completion.

Typical Professional Services
Typically the services of firms can be broadly divided into three phases. You may engage accompany for all or some of these phases. Whatever services you require should be agreed to before work commences and be included in a written agreement between you and your architect. This ensures everyone is on the same page. Literally.
Before the work  phase starts you and the company handling your project might discuss important decisions like project feasibility, selection of a site, planning rules and the likely project program (how long it's likely to take).
1. The design phase typically moves through three stages:

• Briefing discussions to clarify your requirements.
• Sketch designs to explore possibilities; usually including some cost options.
• Design development to produce detailed drawings and selection of materials, fittings etc and associated cost.

2. Contract documentation produces technical drawings and specifications to obtain a planning and building permit, invite tenders, and for use in construction.
3. Contract administration. If you have agreed to engage  the firm to administer the building contract, they can advise on suitable contracts for the project and on a process of tender or negotiation to select a builder.
Roles:

• Liaise with the builder to assess quality of work at key stages and ensure that contract and specifications are complied with.
• Keep you informed of progress, and let yo know when key decisions need to be made
• Approve, with you, any variations
• Certify progress payments by you to the builder
• Identify defects and administer their rectification
• Decide when practical completion occurs so you can move in.

The built works need to be certified by the Council or an independent certifier to make sure they are built correctly and according to regulation. This is outside normal development services, but the company generally acts as your representative here too, and will keep you informed along the way.
The rights which include right to attorney fully taken care of by our board, we protect your right to the teeth in case your contract is bridged

And as registered member we protect your right throughout your stay in the kingdom..

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Choosing a Development Company

• Firstly outline your requirements.  Do your research first, before contacting two or three architects about your project. Firms would expect you to obtain a few proposals. 

• Check the architect's qualifications and registration.

• Check out their website for some projects designed by the architect to see if you like work they've done.  

• Ask for client references to check if the company had a good client relationship and whether they are happy with the outcome. Was the architect conscious of budget and time constraints? Was the client satisfied with the services they received? Is the client enjoying the project designed for them? Would the client recommend that firm? What would they do differently?

• At the initial meeting with the chosen firm briefly outline the nature of your project and the budget you have in mind. Sometimes what you want, and how much you have to spend don't align. So spend some time talking with your firm about what's really important to you. Often, this is where the creative solutions really start. The architect can assist you in clarifying and formulating your brief. Discuss the services the architect will provide and the stages of the project. Clarify the fees involved (mindful that the cheapest fee quoted does not necessarily mean the best).  Make sure you have the right person for your job. Are you both a 'good fit' for each other? 

A client's role
What can you as client do to assist realisation of your project?

• Be as clear as possible about what you want to achieve, what you need and what you can afford.  

• Don't hesitate to ask about the client/company agreement before you sign the contract to clarify what will be done for what cost  

• Changes are best made early so make sure the company explains samples of works to be done. The later in the process that changes are made, the more likely it will have a cost implication.  

• Be clear about the responsibilities of the architect engineers, builder and sub-contractors.  

• If  the company is administering the building contract, avoid three-way confusion by dealing with all queries through your architect who will deal with the builder. This ensures your early discussions on what you wanted from the project are built-in all the way through.

• Keep your own notes of meetings, either in the office or on site.  When decisions are flying, it can be useful to record them.

• Talk about timetables; be aware that many factors can affect these including delays in Council approval, unseasonal weather, disruption in the supply of materials and delays in construction due to matters outside the control of the architect.  

• Don't hesitate to ask questions, be involved, but allow your company to do their job. 

• Be aware of your rights as a consumer of architectural services. Professional conduct of firms is governed by the Emirate Qatari Union of Architects . Familiarise yourself with the Code which should be provided to you when you sign the contract with  any company
• If you have a problem, firstly talk to the company  and try to resolve these problems. Be open. But if you have a complaint or need advice about the professional conduct of an company, contact the Board.