Oh, if it were me, I would call over there and say you want your money back, since you have seen no results and virtually no communication in 8 months despite all of your following up. And then follow it up with a letter to cancel the contract for non performance and a polite demand for all your money back.

I will also mention that I am currently working with an architect, and if I need to see something or have a question, I text or email him during the work day and get an instant or nearly instant response. So. You have phrased your question as if the behavior of this architect and the firm you deal with might be normal, however, it is not.

Thank you! I have no idea what is normal because this is the first time we've hired an architect. Someone answering right back sounds really lovely. I have a hard time with confrontation so I may have been too passive and understanding through the last few responses & "check-ins" Your post has given me enough confidence to write a more assertive letter. I will post the response they give, if I actually receive one. 🙄

I would call, and leave a nice-but-worried message that I’m very concerned about where we are in the process and need to speak with you today. If I didn’t hear back I would call early tomorrow to follow up. When we spoke I would push for specific actions by specific dates, which I’d write up and send in a follow up email. The first time they missed a deadline I’d call late that day and confront them on it.

This is great advice, thank you.

Being uncomfortable with confrontation - that’s why attorneys exist. Invest your next $$ in having one send a letter on your behalf. It doesn’t cost a lot. You should demand your money back for not doing the work they promised, and not getting your approval for what they claim the did. Being ‘nice ‘ now won’t get you what you need - which is a new architect

The OP likes her architect and asked how to establish better communication “without offending.” She doesn’t need a lawyer for that.

Schedule a face-to-face meeting. Returning emails and phone calls are a lower priority than preparing for an actual meeting. Tell them you want a meeting to review the status of the project.

That sounds like a perfectly reasonable request to add to my letter today. Thank you. They were so nice when they first came to the house. I want to believe it's just that things have been crazy and maybe whatever has been crazy is hard to say over an email or text to a client, like illness or death in the family. They have a solid reputation, and like I said, they were very nice, so their silence may be just human and overwhelmed by something in life. A meeting request is an excellent idea. I really appreciate all this advice, it really helps.

"We only hear from their billing office."

Maybe their billing office can get the architect to call you when you explain why you will not be paying any more money until you have open communication and some actual progress.................

I actually wrote the billing office a few months ago and they responded by forwarding the bill again, no text in the email, just forwarded the bill, which made me think it's possibly automated.

In my experience, creative types aren't the best organized folks nor ones to keep to a particular schedule without prodding, but if you learn to harness their talents, you can have a great experience and a great outcome. I'd ask for a face-to-face meeting to review the plans to date. That should encourage them to get to a reasonable milestone. At that meeting, agree on next steps--a specific list of plan revisions-- and schedule a follow up meeting--say in two weeks or so.

That's what my instincts were saying. They are such a talented group that I wondered if it was just a hard time staying organized. I like the idea of a face to face meeting in a few weeks. Gives them a deadline and for us to see what is going on and ask questions.

Thank you everyone. One of the younger architects that work for him wrote us back, so really appreciate the advice, since it worked. She had a very basic one page plan she sent and has offered to meet Tuesday. This message is also now included on all emails: "Please be aware that many jurisdictions are experiencing significant delays due to reduced/remote staffing. Additionally, Santa Cruz County is still recovering from severe wildfires. In response to these events, replies may be delayed. Our team is making adjustments to limit the impact on all projects. Thank you for your patience and understanding."

The above statement (attached to all their current emails) may be why we are experiencing so many communication issues and delays. It would explain it, even though they haven't mentioned anything to us personally as to why all the delays and lack of communication, which would have been helpful. I'll just assume our little project is probably been low priority with the issues in our area. California has the most screwed up, dishonest & most expensive gov. & governor in the USA, so this could be causing real issues.

... though, this response was swiftly followed by another invoice. *sigh*

This is preposterous. You are being taken for a ride. My build (you know, the one where the architect is responds promptly by phone, text, email) is also a California wildfire rebuild.

However, I think that you need to examine yourself for why you have a such a high tolerance for being treated like this? Why do you keep making up imagined excuses for what I consider to be mis-treatment? (To get a bill for complaining about no call-backs and no work product?--mistreatment). This is you, and you should consult a helpful, strong person in your life to help you buck up and insist on being treated better.