BEVERLY J COWLES ARCHITECT INC

"THE MEMBER’S UNWARRANTED AND UNTIMELY DEFAMATORY ATTACK IS SLANDEROUS AND LIBELOUS. HAVING RECEIVED NOTICE OF THIS BY MAIL, I WAS FORCED TO JOIN TO READ AND RESPOND. MY CONTRACT WITH THE MEMBER WAS 7 YEARS AGO! I DESIGNED A CUSTOM HOME FOR THEM AND PROVIDED PRINTS. THEY HAVE BEEN LIVING THERE AT LEAST 6 YEARS! HIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT CONSTRUCTION COSTS NOT MY WORK. I WAS NOT HIRED TO PROVIDE DETAILED CONSTRUCTION COSTS. THEY SHOULD DIRECT THEIR MISGUIDED COMPLAINT TO THE CONTRACTOR. HE DROVE THE WEDGE AND INTERFERED WITH OUR CONTRACT. THEY BUILT THEIR HOUSE JUST AFTER PLANS WERE COMPLETE. I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER CONTRACTORS AND BIDS. CONSTRUCTION COSTS CHANGE AND VARY, THAT IS WHY YOU GET BIDS! MANY HOMEOWNERS HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF BY CONTRACTORS ADDING COSTS. I DO NOT OVERSEE CONSTRUCTION UNLESS PAID TO,AS STATED IN THE CONTRACT. ONCE THE OWNER PAYS THE ARCHITECTURAL FEES, THE PLANS ARE THEIRS TO USE. THE MEMBERS ORDERED ME TO CHANGE THE ORIGINAL DESIGN CONCEPT,ADDED SQUARE FOOTAGE, UPGRADED MASONRY FIREPLACE, ADDED OUTDOOR BASEMENT ACCESS. I ADVISED IT MIGHT COST MORE THAN THEIR GUESSTIMATED BORROWING CAPACITY. THIS ALSO CHANGED THE COMPLETION TIME FOR THE DOCUMENTS. I DID NOT CHARGE ADDITIONAL FEES TO DO THE EXTRA WORK. THE MEMBER TRIED TO SUPERVISE MY WORK PRODUCT, DROVE THE DESIGN AND COSTS ADDING AND DELETING ITEMS REGARDLESS OF MY ADVISE. I AM NOT PRIVILEGED TO KNOW CLIENTS' AVAILABLE FUNDS. I REMAINED COURTEOUS AND PROFESSIONAL. MY LETTER TO THE BANK SHOWS MY DESIRE TO HELP THEM: "DEAR MORTGAGE LENDER: ATTACHED IS A FULL SET OF CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS FOR THE NEW [MEMBER] RESIDENCE, SUBMITTED FOR YOUR PRELIMINARY REVIEW AND PRE-CONSTRUCTION LOAN PROCESSING. WHILE THE CONSTRUCTION BIDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE YET, CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN $200,000.00 AND $230,000.00. IN THE EVENT THE COSTS ARE HIGHER, MY CLIENTS HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE DOCUMENTS CAN BE ALTERED TO INDICATE WHICH PORTIONS CAN BE PHASED TO DO AT A LATER TIME. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL MY OFFICE AT ANY TIME…. VERY TRULY YOURS, BEVERLY J. COWLES, R.A.". (DOES THAT SOUND UNPROFESSIONAL?) HERE IS AN EMAIL EXCHANGE: "MY WIFE AND I TALKED ON THE PHONE LAST NIGHT. WE ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND A WAY TO POSITION THE FRONT DOOR SO THAT IT GRACEFULLY ENTERS THE GREAT ROOM WITHOUT DIVIDING THE SPACE AWKWARDLY. THERE WILL BE A NEED FOR A COAT CLOSET AND I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS ACTUALLY BEING IN A SMALL ROOM OF ITS OWN. A SORT OF AIR LOCK. HOWEVER – I HAVE NO GOOD INPUT ON HOW TO ACCOMPLISH THIS." [MEMBER]. "HI [MEMBER], WHY DON'T WE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO MEET, SIGN THE AGREEMENT AND BEGIN THE DESIGN PROCESS AT THE SAME MEETING? THERE IS AN ORDER TO THE DESIGN PROCESS. WE WILL WORK OUT ALL OF THOSE ISSUES IN OUR MEETINGS. WHEN WOULD YOU BE AVAILABLE? BEVERLY".(DOES THAT SOUND UNPROFESSIONAL?) "YES - I KNOW ALL ABOUT ORDER. HOWEVER - I TEND TO BLURT OUT MY IDEAS FOR FEAR I WILL FORGET WHAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT." [MEMBER]."