Architect's Essentials of Contract Negotiation
Author: Ava J. Abramowitz
List Price: $35.00
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ISBN: 0471443654
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons (03 April, 2002)
Sales Rank: 85,080
Average Customer Rating: 4.92 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
Architect's Essentials of Contract Negotiation
For several years I've enjoyed attending Ava Abramowitz's presentations at AIA conferences and conventions. She makes contract law and negotiation strategies, topics that I'd normally consider dry at best, into subjects that are both stimulating and fascinating. Her new book is just as much fun to read as her presentations are to attend, and her words teach one not only about negotiating the contracts that define our relationships with our clients, but also about human behavior in general. Her ability to explain with anecdotes makes each lesson memorable.
Although this book is ostensibly for architects, it seems to me it would be useful for anyone wanting to learn the basics of negotiating their way through life. As the author points out, we negotiate everything from what you want for dinner each night, to whether our children can watch TV before they've done their homework. It's an incredibly important part of life. We all do it. We just don't always understand that we're doing it, and are often surprised at the consequences. Ava Abramowitz's book will help you negotiate with your eyes open, and with an intelligence that isn't rocket science but isn't always obvious until someone has shown you the ground rules. I highly recommend this book
Rating: 5 out of 5
wow!
Wow! I picked up a copy of Contract Negotiations the other day and despite being in the middle of 5 or 6 other books, it is ythis one I keep returning to. Because of the casual tone and informal style reading it feels as much like a good conversation as a good read. I've enjoyed her writing in the Handbook in the past, but here she has given ample room to explore the subjects more thoroughly and enjoyably. And Ava is able to sustain a level of high energy and interest throughout. Simply amazing to me, given what is usually treated as such a dry and reserved subject.
I have a year old architecture practice in Chicago, teach at U of Illinois Chicago in the Architecture department, and wrestle every day with the issues you describe in the book, whether with owner/clients, my own employees or grad students. If I ever get to reach my dream of teaching professional practice (in addition to the current building science/design) in the coming years, I will certainly make this book required reading. Until then I will set to memory so much of the wisdom therein and spread the word amongst colleagues and clients. What a real joy, to involve myself in the rewarding conversation that is this book.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Valuable Advice for Either Side of the Table.
Contract negotiations are often tedious and frustrating. This book was refreshingly useful because it laid out strategies for achieving desired negotitated results. The book's advice and approach can be applied with profit to any contract negotiations, but it's examples are based on negotiating the complicated agreements between Owners and Architects. I've used it with success to explain the Architect's needs and concerns to Owners and, just as frequently, I've used it when representing Owners to explain why a certain compromise and position in negotiations with Architects makes sense. It is a book with balanced advice on how to negotiate in general and how to do so in particular in the Owner/Architect context. It's many specific examples and suggested solutions to typical negotiation issues have saved me hours of time attempting to articulate to opposing counsel or my clients what the author has already compiled in this book.I've found its contents so useful that I've taught portions of seminars to Architects, Contractors and Owners using lessons and insights taken from the book. The attendees always have commented favorably on the concrete, practical advice they have learned from those portions of the seminar.
This is a valuable book. If you're involved in any negotiations, especially construction, it is worth purchasing.
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