Quick fix attitudes cause big problems

Inevitably, I receive requests asking for a "few drawings to just get a permit".

In other words, the quick fix is the approach to be used here, so don't ask any questions (because we don't have any answers anyways - at least not yet). This first question is often  immediately followed up by "What's the price to just do the work so we can get the permit?"

That's like asking me "How long is a piece of string?" I mean, come on.  Throw me a bone or two, please.

What the homeowner/contractor is looking for is a magic bullet that addresses the complex issue(s) they are unwittingly facing without taking the time to look into the problem. I also call this "short-termism". We just have to look outside for reference to see just how effective this business strategy has been for us all. 

However, I digress.

Opting for a quick fix when dealing with intricate problems is a quick way to make the problem even worse. A building, residential, commercial or whatever is about as intricate a system as you can encounter - even more complex than an ICE vehicle believe it or not. Descending the path of the quick fix is a slippery slope to the bottom of the money pit.

Here's why:

1. Surface-Level Solutions: Quick fixes are used to predominantly address the perceived surface issues of the problem, not its root cause. Many requests are for "more space!" without addressing the reason the existing space, privacy gradients and circulation paths fail to support the role of the occupants. The quick fix might hide the clutter and conflict in the existing space, but it doesn’t promote getting to grips with the true reasons for the complexity of the relationships the space needs to support.
2. Temporary Relief: The quick fix offers immediate and tangible results the client sees right now - but these solutions are often short-lived and only offer temporary relief. Why? The original issue(s) were never addressed so they still exist. It's guaranteed the problems are still there. In very little time they resurface and are sometimes even intensified due to the additional complexity the quick fix implementation introduces. The solution often used to remedy this situation - sell the problem to someone else and relocate to another space. Start fresh. (Wash, rinse, repeat).
3. Resource Drain: Then there are the resources used to implement the quick fix. Time, money, and energy that could've been used for more sustainable solutions are forever removed.  The result is the quick fix becomes permanently established and another quick fix is required to repair damage caused by the first quick fix. The money pit is created. Examples of this are seen everywhere in older homes where previous home owners were constantly ripping out walls, moving this space from here to there or cramming something useful into such a small space it becomes useless.  When I walk into buildings like this I often wonder to myself "What were they thinking?" 
4. Missed Learning Opportunities: Quick fixes do one thig very effectively - they remove the opportunity to learn about the relationships of the occupants and the support the different spaces offer. The issue the client focuses upon is the implementation of the quick fix rather than taking the time to dive deep and understand the real dynamics of the problem(s). By doing so, valuable insights and learning opportunities are lost.
5. Reputation Risks: I am often reminded of the saying "bad doctors bury patients; bad architects plant ivy". If stakeholders or clients notice the firm offers a pattern of "band-aid" solutions, it can harm the reputation and credibility of the creative who conjured up the quick fix in the first place.  You can often experience this where the designer shoe-horns something into place - say moving the washer and dryer into the furnace room or under a stair landing. Sounds like a reasonable solution, until it becomes evident the door to one of the appliances is unable to be opened because it collides with the furnace or the appliance doesn't have the clearance for height required. The quick fix promotes the opposite of of thoughtful, lasting solutions - band-aid solutions become the norm.
6. Unforeseen Consequences: Hastily implemented fixes often lead to unintended side effects. The "solve one problem, create another" scenario - like the aforementioned relocation of the laundry area. Unfortunately, these are both true stories.  One affecting hundreds of homeowners of a tract builder's townhomes, and another for the conversion of a basement into an apartment. Another result of unforeseen consequences is the dismissal of creative individuals as being know-nothings that are only good for drawing pretty pictures - mouse jockeys. For contractors who design and build on the fly, I call them hacks with hammers.

In the business world, and life in general, it's always tempting to take the shortest path - the desire line, so to speak. But, as with many things, what appears to be a simple problem is often a much more complex set of issues requiring a blend of patience, thorough analysis, creativity and thoughtful action to solve.

Hopefully, after reading this you to take a moment to pause and reflect about the risks associated with taking the route of the quick-fix and creating a money pit for yourself.

​Oh, and about that price to implement the quick-fix? I'll be sending the requestor a link to this post instead.