Business ProfileforBootstrap Architecture + Construction, LLC

I had a truly disappointing experience with Bootstrap. The principal of the company met me at my house and explained that most of their work was design-build. That is to say, they serve as architect and contractor. I am 54-years-old and have done five or six large renovation projects in the past, but I've never done such a large expensive project without bidding it out to many contractors. So I asked him if at the end of the architectural process it would be okay if I bid it out to two other contractors. He said yes, and so we proceeded to the first phase of our work together, the architectural plans. Once the plans were done, I said I was ready to get a bid from him, and I was also going to put the plans out for several other bids. That is when he told me that he was very booked and could likely not begin work on my project for at least another full year. I was shocked but decided that this information was simply a product of miscommunication between us. I told him I would nevertheless like to proceed with a bid. I have never written a negative review for a contractor or architect in my life. I'm writing this one now because the behavior of Bootstrap at this point was something that I can only describe as disrespectful, rude, and selfish. For reasons I still do not completely understand, Bootstrap declined to give me a bid. All along I had hoped to work with them, so I asked for a Zoom meeting. We had the Zoom meeting in which we reviewed various possibilities for the project, ending with an agreement by the principal that he would check his schedule and do his very best to prioritize me since I was an existing client who had already paid him $13,000 in architectural fees. I also reiterated my desire for a bid so I could see if I could afford his work. He said he would work on it and get back to me soon. I waited and waited. I waited one week. I waited two weeks. I emailed him. No answer. I emailed again, a total of five times. He did not answer me for a full five weeks. And when he answered he now told me that the earliest he could begin would be 13 months from the date of his email. He did not provide me with any bids or estimates for the cost of the project. At this point, I lost complete faith in Bootstrap. I do not recommend the company. Their behavior is perplexing, and in the end I feel like all their decision-making was in their own self-interest while I was treated as a second-class citizen.

See below for a reply to the complaint. If there is a method for us to upload our contract agreement with ************ I would like to do this. Additionally, I can provide your with any drawings, budgets, and other work we completed as part of this agreement.



I am the principal owner named in the complaint and believe this complaint should be removed from our BBB company report record. It is based only on misdirected emotion and not factually based on the agreement we had in-place and the full context of discussions or industry standards for project delivery methods (specifically requested by ***********).

Background:
We had an architectural service (only) agreement with ************ of which he still owes us $2,000. He's attempting to leverage, in the form of this complaint, a construction service (construction bid pricing) as a means not to pay the invoice and close out the service agreement. In his words in an email to me dated (9/16/21) "we live in a society where sometimes a discount or monetary gesture is an act of reconciliation". The issue of delivering construction service lies outside of the monetary value of the architectural service agreement and it's stated deliverable documents. It's also worth noting our total billing (including the outstanding invoice) is less than the billing projection noted in the fee proposal. We worked on his behalf in a more efficient capacity and at less cost than originally stated.

Below is a breakdown of the complaint and our response:

*********** Complaint
"I had a truly disappointing experience with Bootstrap. The principal of the company met me at my house and explained that most of their work was design-build. That is to say, they serve as architect and contractor. I am 54-years-old and have done five or six large renovation projects in the past, but I've never done such a large expensive project without bidding it out to many contractors. So I asked him if at the end of the architectural process it would be okay if I bid it out to two other contractors. He said yes, and so we proceeded to the first phase of our work together, the architectural plans."

Bootstrap Response:
There are a number of project deliverable types. Below are the relevant examples and how they are defined as industry standard.

• Design/Build is a process where on the front end an owner by contractual agreement, agrees to work directly with one architect and one construction entity to procure both the design and construction services for the project.
• Design/Bid/Build is a traditional process where a property owner engages with an architect for architectural service to create the contract drawings. Then after the architectural drawing phase, interested general contractors are solicited to "bid" the drawings and submit a contract cost and timeline. Then through a selection process a contractor is chosen and a contract is created between the owner and winning contractor.

Per ***** complaint, he is correct, the majority of our work is in a "design/build" relationship with a building owner. But as I mentioned to him (at that initial meeting) we also do architectural design (only) for clients when they either already have a contractor or are interested in bidding a project with multiple GC's like was his desire.

*** is also correct, he did tell me he planned to not only bid out and compare our architectural fee but he intended to bid out (to multiple GC's) the construction cost, and he is correct; I did say that was "okay" by us for him to bid the project to multiple GC's. BUT, he left out that I followed up with, "because it's not a design/build relationship from the start, meaning the project delivery method will be a design/bid/build approach, that we would send him an Architectural ONLY fee proposal and then at the time of bidding we would evaluate the project and our workload to determine if we would be a bidder". At that meeting there was no indication by him he wasn't understanding the implication of this project delivery strategy. In fact, he reinforced his knowledge of this process by telling me he had done "several construction projects in his past".

Subsequent to this meeting in August of 2020, we sent him and architectural service fee proposal, which was accepted by him as indicated by his signature. The proposal was then edited and re-accepted (by ***** signature) on three occasions to add architectural service scope but the document was never edited to include construction management or general contractor service/fee.

Furthering clarifying that this was an architectural only agreement, the letter is titled "architectural service" ...


THE COMMENT BOX WILL NOT ALLOW ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR OUR REPLY - THE REMAINDER OF OUR REPLY WAS SENT TO [email protected] ON 9/30.

I emailed Bootstrap to inform them that this accusation that I am leveraging my review for monetary reasons is completely incorrect. I have paid Bootstrap in full. After all my disappointments and setbacks with Bootstrap, the firm nevertheless sent me a final bill for $2000. I did request that the firm waive that final bill in light of the unfortunate outcome of our business relationship. Bootstrap pushed hard, insisting that I pay. I did pay the full amount contractually owed, cutting the check 9 days ago. I hope Bootstrap will therefore correct the above wrongful accusation. I will let review readers judge for themselves whether or not this is another example of how Bootstrap does business. I asked Bootstrap to take the high road of acknowledging the mistakes they had made in not replying to me for 5 weeks and never providing a bid and, yes, I did ask them please not to bill me more money after what had happened. They took the low road, however, putting money above client relations. I paid it because I honor contracts. This last interaction about money is all further evidence that Bootstrap cares about itself and profit-making more than clients.