I was recommended the project by someone I knew. About 80% of the project is finished, and the remaining 20% involves uploading it to the hosting platform and integrating it with the CMS before starting. The project was particularly interesting because it involved creating a costume designer for a factory or workshop that specializes in custom-made suits. The features of the website were all contained on a single page.
Initially, I proposed a payment structure of 50% upfront and 50% upon completion, but the customer rejected it. They had a bad experience with another freelancer on this project and instead suggested a payment of 25% now and another 25% when the project reached 50% completion, as a kind of guarantee. The customer only provided a written description of what they wanted, with a link to their Western competitors' websites so that I could create something similar. I completed about 25% of the work in the initial stages and uploaded it to the hosting platform for the customer's evaluation. They provided feedback and requested changes, often referring to their competitors' websites as a reference. I made the necessary edits, and once again, uploaded the updated version. However, the customer still found some areas unsatisfactory and requested further revisions. The customer sought input from colleagues on the shop floor, resulting in several rounds of edits accumulating. Eventually, the customer expressed that they did not want to copy the competitors exactly, but still desired a similar style.
Frustrated, I decided to completely rebuild the project from scratch to match the competitors' style. I completed another 25% and presented it to the customer. Their reaction was positive, stating that it was much better and more convenient, and encouraged me to continue in that direction.
So far, I have completed 50% of the project and have been paid 25% of the agreed amount. It feels like I've essentially done the project twice for only 50% payment, even though I didn't require upfront payment. I'm not exactly sure why I agreed to these conditions, perhaps because I was more interested in adding this project to my portfolio than earning money. The deadline was extended by a week. Part of the blame lies with me, as I didn't fully grasp the customer's needs and jumped into the project without a clear understanding. In addition to the written description, the customer also provided an archive file containing images of various costume elements, along with an Excel file. The Excel file included URLs and descriptions for each costume element, but also had several flaws that required alterations or additional work from an illustrator. Overall, what was supposed to be a one-week project ended up dragging on for a month.
Just when I was waiting for edits from the illustrator, the customer suddenly asked me to make the builder adaptive, even though there was no mention of adaptation in the initial requirements, and the competitor's website did not have an adaptive builder. Realizing that I needed to modify the CSS, HTML, and JS code to accommodate the new DOM, these adaptations set me back by 30-40%.
In conclusion, this project has become a headache for me and highlights the importance of having a clear understanding of the customer's expectations before starting any work. The constant back-and-forth of "let's do it this way, no actually let's do it better this way, even though it's not actually better" has made it clear that in an ideal scenario, it would have been best to request a PSD designer design from the beginning. I'm considering quitting this project, but I'm unsure if it's the right decision or not.
It can be difficult to navigate customer expectations, especially when they change throughout the process. While it's important to consider the potential impact on your portfolio and reputation, it's also essential to prioritize your own well-being and satisfaction. If you feel that continuing with this project is negatively affecting you, it may be worth considering ending the project and focusing on opportunities that align better with your goals and expectations.
It's essential to learn from this experience and ensure you have a clear understanding of expectations before starting future projects.
It appears that the project scope and requirements were not well-defined from the beginning, which led to a lot of confusion and changes along the way. This lack of clarity made it challenging for you to deliver what the customer truly wanted.
Taking on a project for portfolio purposes is understandable, but it's important to ensure that you have a clear agreement with the client and that their expectations align with yours. It seems like there was a mismatch in expectations here, with the customer wanting something different than what was initially discussed.
Considering quitting the project is a decision that only you can make. It's important to assess the impact it may have on your professional reputation, as well as any contractual obligations you may have. If you do decide to end the project, it's advisable to communicate openly and honestly with the client, expressing your concerns and reasons for discontinuing the work.
Moving forward, it's crucial to establish a clear project scope and get all requirements dоcumented in writing. This will help prevent misunderstandings and ensure that both parties are on the same page. Additionally, building in milestones and checkpoints throughout the project can help catch any potential issues early on and allow for adjustments before significant time and effort are invested.
In situations like this, it can be helpful to have open and honest communication with the client. You may want to schedule a meeting or call to discuss your concerns and frustrations. Express your understanding of their changing expectations but also emphasize the impact it has had on the project timeline and scope.
Consider proposing a revised plan or timeline that takes into account the additional work you have already done and the changes they are requesting. It's important to set boundaries and clearly communicate what is feasible within the given timeframe and budget.
If the client is not receptive to your concerns or if you feel that continuing the project will only lead to more frustration and dissatisfaction, it may be necessary to evaluate whether it's worth continuing. Ending the project prematurely is a decision that should be carefully considered, weighing the potential consequences for your professional reputation and the impact on your portfolio.
Without formal terms of reference and a project, there are no right terms in this scenario. The first step is determining the desired outcome for each side. If the direction is positive, the initial action should be creating a technical specification and project plan. This will provide clarity on the product delivered under the contract. Accordingly, it becomes possible to adjust deadlines and potentially the budget as budget overruns are often common in such situations.
Furthermore, it is advisable to implement a helpdesk system or similar mechanism to track shortcomings, separate them from additional tasks, and dоcument the resolution process. This helps prevent future disputes.
To minimize financial risks for both parties, it is beneficial to divide project payments into incremental stages. For instance, after post-payment for the first stage, subsequent stages can be accompanied by a 50% prepayment. Such an approach ensures minimal financial risk for all involved.
It is a completely normal occurrence.
It happens frequently.
And the longer the project continues, the more likely it becomes.
This is especially true even with a large number of inspectors.
You missed your opportunity to prove something to them when they veered away from the project specifications.
Their decision to start from scratch was in vain.
If you decide to abandon the project now, it will greatly damage your reputation.
Of course, you have the option to refuse.
However, the best solution to your problem is to communicate and explain that there has been a significant deviation from the original terms of reference (TOR). You can then request separate funding for the necessary improvements.
In many cases, they are willing to pay extra. It just requires proper explanation.
P.S.:
It is particularly beneficial to negotiate such arrangements on an hourly basis rather than a fixed payment.
P.S..:
Working with a large group of decision makers (especially those who do not respond simultaneously) without a formal brief or TOR is unnecessary.