20 replies to this topic

[RSTING]

We are a gated community looking for a real nice color graphical map of the community showing all of our streets, parks, lots, addresses, golf course, and amenity buildings. Is there a cost effective software out there than can be used or a company that can do this cost effectively. the cheapest quote we have received from a local vendor was $2000 to create 2 maps.

[Dale Sanderson]

What's "cost-effective" in your opinion? What's your budget for this project?

[RSTING]

Well we would like to stay under $500, ultimately we would like to have the ability to have software to alter and create maps whenever we needed or to take the file to a printer to have printed whenever necessary.

[rudy]

Well we would like to stay under $500, ultimately we would like to have the ability to have software to alter and create maps whenever we needed or to take the file to a printer to have printed whenever necessary.

That may or may not be possible depending on the size of the community and the type of content you would like to include. I think any one here who is interested in undertaking this would want to know a few more details before providing a quote. Not knowing anything about it I'd say $500 could be on the low end of things - at least for North American cartographers.

[David Medeiros]

I’m sure you’re familiar with the phrase, “you get what you pay for”. You’ve said you want a “real nice” map but you also want a cheap or “cost effective” map. Those things may be mutually exclusive in this case. I know the idea of having your own software to do the maps yourself sounds like a good way to avoid the high cost of professional cartography but consider the time you’ll spend learning the software and the possibility that you may not be able to achieve on your own what you looking for.

Your cartographer should be able to hand over to you a file or set of files that will be easy to print as needed and user alterable (PDFs for example). Once the map has been created it may be feasible for you to maintain it yourself and make changes as needed. Or work a maintenance fee schedule into your contract; it should be much cheaper to update the map than create.

Post a few more details about the project; links to any similar maps you like and the extent or size of the area to be mapped would be helpful.

[razornole]

I'm not sure who quoted you, but I will assume that they are professionals. Included in that cost is the expense of running a business and the experience of a professional. Maybe you could find someone learning the trade who doesn't have the overhead cost of business, but again you will get what you pay for.

kru

[RSTING]

Thanks everyone for your responses. Its not a large community we have approximately 2400 lots, a 9 hole golf course, and amenity buildings. I don't have an HTML or FTP map of our community but if you google map or look up "Candlewick Lake, Poplar Grove, Il." you should find it, large lake right in the middle of the community.

Well, I really don't want to go the software route, because I will end up being the person using it. I have spoke with Eureka Cartographers in Ca. seem genunine.

I understand the cost balance is out of whack, but when you are dealing with a board of directors and a fiscally failing economy, they tend to be frugal

[Jimbo]

I just want to make a point that businesses are ever increasingly looking for low cost solutions, & if they can not get it in North America then they will outsource it to someone who will, but you will get what you paid for. The more freelancers use sites such as elance, the more quality freelancers get crushed by sub par competition by allowing projects that cost a lot of money go for less then $200.00. I have seen it too often, as a matter of fact there was such a project that would taken about 150 hours of production time if done properly & went for a grand total of $500. Basically I'm saying that there seems to be a sense of entitlement that these companies want the work done & care more about protecting their profits over getting quality results.

[s hubbard]

Thanks everyone for your responses. Its not a large community we have approximately 2400 lots, a 9 hole golf course, and amenity buildings. I don't have an HTML or FTP map of our community but if you google map or look up "Candlewick Lake, Poplar Grove, Il." you should find it, large lake right in the middle of the community.

Well, I really don't want to go the software route, because I will end up being the person using it. I have spoke with Eureka Cartographers in Ca. seem genunine.

I understand the cost balance is out of whack, but when you are dealing with a board of directors and a fiscally failing economy, they tend to be frugal

check my maps out, let me know if you would like to talk.
we can bargain on the price.
www.hubbardmapworks.com
there is a contact form there >>
thanks,

[David Medeiros]

I’m not sure what the protocol is on the board for offering services but I’m interested in learning more about your project and perhaps giving you a quote. Feel free to list the specifics here but I’d I also like to get in touch with you directly if that’s ok?

You can contact me at dmed@sonic.net Visit www.mapbliss.com for samples.

Hans, if this is not the proper method for this kind of offer please delete and let me know how to handle it in the future. I tried his PM but it’s not turned on.

[Charles Syrett]

I don't think $2,000 for two maps is far off. But it's a little like shopping for a car. What's your budget? Are you looking for a compact, or a luxury model?

$500 could get you some sort of map, but it would be the no-frills kind, and it would likely have a disclaimer on it. BTW, this is why so many community maps are surrounded by advertisements.

Charles Syrett
Map Graphics
http://www.mapgraphics.com

[Jimbo]

Hans, if this is not the proper method for this kind of offer please delete and let me know how to handle it in the future. I tried his PM but it’s not turned on.

I have notified Hans, he'll be here shortly.

[Hans van der Maarel]

PM for RSTING should be working now.

This is also not what this particular section is for, so I'll move it to the Business Opportunities area.

[Jean-Louis]

I have dealt with this situation many many times before.

The solution is to spread the cost amongst several individual sponsors. ie you get a number of businesses to pay a share of a total cost in exchange for advertizing and being featured on the map.

Maybe you dont have businesses there but you might have a number of self employed professionals such as dentists, lawyers etc that may be interested in advertizing their services to the whole community.

Be aware however that the job of 'selling' the concept to a number of individuals and also making sure that they get their money's worth illustration-wise makes it a much bigger project. In which case you would have to aim for a higher revenue than your original $2000.

If you have such a base, then you could get something real nice without the board paying an arm for it. Furthermore the project is much more appreciated when stakeholders see themselves in the artwork.

[Derek Tonn]

I don't think $2,000 for two maps is far off. But it's a little like shopping for a car. What's your budget? Are you looking for a compact, or a luxury model?

$500 could get you some sort of map, but it would be the no-frills kind, and it would likely have a disclaimer on it. BTW, this is why so many community maps are surrounded by advertisements.

Charles Syrett
Map Graphics
http://www.mapgraphics.com

Great posting, Charles!

There are so many variables at play in projects such as this. Quantity of detail to be drawn. Geographic scope of the project. Style(s) of design preferred. Requirements for deliverables (timelines, file types, etc.). Rights to the artwork. Quality of reference materials available. Etc.

There is the question of quality (getting what you pay for). However, I also like to turn it around with prospective clients in these types of situations and say "what can you afford?" If $2,000 for what we (map designers) think a prospective client is describing makes them fall out of their chair in shock, then they tell us "we've got no more than $500 to spend on this type of project" and we tell them exactly what we can deliver within that type of budget. Cutting to the chase.

If they say they've got $500 to spend but they want the final deliverable to include "$2,000" worth of detail and design quality (owning the work when it's finished besides), the situation is not going to end well 99% of the time. With certain types of map design styles, people who do not do map illustration/design for a living simply do not appreciate all of the time and effort that goes into producing quality work. I see it 3-4 times per-week in our cartoon-style map illustration services...as people call me up thinking they will be a few hundred to several hundred dollars to produce. Not realizing that Terry Sirrell on our team might need to spend 75-100+ hours producing the design. And Terry couldn't afford to work for $2-$4/hour even if he was currently holding up a cardboard sign at the freeway off-ramp that reads "Will Map for Food." None of us can. And none of us should.

So, long story short, maybe the better approach is to tell prospective vendors what you can afford. Then they will tell you what they can do. The less money you have to work with, the more you're going to need to "settle" for less design detail and/or far less quality of work. Anyone at CartoTalk could make you a $100 map! That might only buy you 90 minutes to 8-10 hours of design work though. For what it's worth.