Research shows that where projects are not independently project managed, 95% of people overspend in their builds and 80% of builds are delivered late.

Finding the right builder for your job is one of the biggest challenges for your building project. Someone you can work with and trust to give you a quality build.

ClearPlan Project Management are not linked to any particular builder and have worked with a wide variety of local building companies over the years.
 
Our top tips for finding and keeping that vital relationship between you and your builder harmonious.

• Plan your build: Check your building control drawings have all the information a builder will need eg. Electrical layouts for lights and plug sockets? If not, consider working with an independent project manager to get advice and make sure you are clear about what you want.
• Detail: ClearPlan work with clients to produce a Finishes Schedule; a detailed description of each room, what is to be done, by whom and how it is to be left in its finished state.
• Research: Research costly items e.g. kitchens, bathrooms, windows and doors. Understand how much what you want is going to cost so that you can compare this with the builders quote for the same items.
• Get a Building Contract: Avoid most building project pitfalls by ensuring a building contract is in place. Get a copy of a nationally recognised contract, familiarise yourself with it and use it as the basis for employing your builder. Be wary of any builder who is unwilling to work under contract.

ClearPlan ALWAYS advise that you use a building contract. If you need one, contact us and we can point you in the right direction.

Looking for the right builder, next steps…

Recommendation: Talk to others about work that they have had completed but remember no two jobs are alike, your building project may be very different from work other people have had done.

Ask questions: Did the builder manage the delivery of materials needed for the site efficiently? If there were times they couldn’t work why was that? If you could change one thing about what they did in the build, what would it be?

Search the internet: If you use this route to find your builder, take up at least two references and don’t just phone people that the builder recommends, go and see them, look at the work and find out what, if any problems there were.

Choosing the right builder…

Get three or four different builders quotes, your decision should be made not just on price but on their ability to provide you with:

• Independent verification of who they are and the quality of their work, are they registered with the Federation of Master Builders or the Office of Fair Trading?
• References as per above
• Copies of their insurance cover so that you will know what happens if the job goes wrong, the builder has an accident and cannot work.
• A written quotation on company headed paper should be used in conjunction with the building contract. Is the quote is inclusive or exclusive of VAT? Is it split to show the breakdown between materials and labour?
• Payment Schedule, again should be part of the building contract and should clearly state who pays what, when. You need clarity on who is responsible to buy materials, their storage and security and who has to pay for them if they are damaged or stolen from site.
• Firm start and finish date, use the contract to establish reasonable penalties for a late finish.
• Agreed retention figure, the percentage of money that you hold back until the job is completely finished and you have all of the relevant certificates. Get this figure agreed in writing and aim for 10% (between 5% and 10% is common practice).

Working with the right builder…

Once your build starts, always get any variations to the job agreed and in writing.

It’s worthwhile considering the services of someone independent to manage the job for you. Their fees will cover all of the activities above that you would otherwise have to do yourself.

Employing an independent building project manager means any issues or potential confrontation will not have to be dealt with by you. This should allow the relationship that you have with the people working in your home to remain good, even if your building project manager is seen as “the bad guy”.

ClearPlan have solid testimonials from clients who saved time, money and stress by having their build managed by an independent professional.