BRIEF
CONCEPT DESIGN
A hand drawn mark in black that looks like a door or window

Construction Phase

Getting to site is a huge milestone, but it isn't the finish line. Construction Phase Assistance is how we ensure your vision becomes reality, not just an approximation of it.

A huge amount of thought goes into the design and drawings before construction begins, and that investment deserves protecting once building work is underway. We see ourselves as concept guardians through this stage, staying closely involved so the intent behind every decision, from spatial proportions to material choices, survives the inevitable pressures and compromises of a live building site and the reality of the project budget.

Being on hand throughout construction also helps reduce costly errors before they happen, rather than discovering them once they're built. A quick answer to a contractor's query, or a site visit at the right moment, can save money many times over compared with unpicking a mistake after the fact, and tends to reduce changes and variations as the project progresses.

Our involvement typically covers:

  • Regular site meetings, checking progress against the design intent and build quality

  • Coordination of consultants, keeping structural, services and other specialist input aligned as the build progresses

  • Acting as a single point of contact between you and your contractor, so queries and decisions don't get lost between different parties

  • Assistance in contract arrangement and administration, including guidance on interim valuation of works completed

  • Negotiation and conflict resolution, should disagreements arise between you and your contractor

  • Oversight of health and safety considerations relevant to the design as construction proceeds

  • Advising on the use of contingency, helping you understand where unexpected costs are justified and where they aren't

Having a single point of contact matters more than it might seem. Construction projects involve a lot of moving parts, contractors, consultants, suppliers, and having us coordinate between them means you aren't left trying to interpret conflicting information or chase down answers yourself.

Our construction phase assistance typically takes the following path:

  • We prepare contracts and ensure that the necessary information to protect the different parties is included

  • We attend regular site meetings throughout the build, reviewing progress, build quality and adherence to the design.

  • We respond to contractor queries as they arise, providing prompt guidance to keep the programme moving and reduce costly errors.

  • We proactively work with contractors to resolve unexpected issues or redesigns that become necessary as the build progresses.

  • We coordinate consultants as needed, ensuring specialist input continues to align with the design as work progresses.

  • We assist with contract administration, including reviewing valuations and advising on the appropriate use of contingency.

  • Where issues or disagreements arise, we support negotiation and conflict resolution between you and your contractor.

  • We carry out a final inspection as the project nears completion, checking the finished build against the design intent, as well as managing snagging processes after completion.

TENDERING
CONSTRUCTION PHASE

FAQ’s: Construction Phase

  • It covers the ongoing management of the building contract once work is underway, including assessing valuations for interim payments, issuing instructions, and managing any changes to the works. We take this on so you have expert oversight without needing to interpret contractual detail yourself.

  • Yes . It won't eliminate every unexpected cost on a construction project, but by acting as a single point of contact, catching issues early, and advising on the use of contingency, we help ensure any additional costs are justified, understood and managed rather than surprising you after the fact.

  •  This depends entirely on the complexity of the build being proposed. Many of our projects will run perfectly smoothly with a competent builder working directly with the client and us only providing input on an ad hoc, as needed basis. But for more complex builds, this service more than pays for itself by reducing unexpected costs and having a qualified representative on the client side, negotiating on tired behalf.

  • This depends on the complexity and pace of your project, but we typically allow for fortnightly visits to undertake valuations and attend site meetings to resolve issues that have arisen. Alongside this, we are always available to respond to queries as they come up between visits. We'll agree a suitable level of involvement with you at the outset.

  • We are your appointed representative in this service, but contractually we still have to operate impartially and ‘administer the contract’ as it is written. This may seem to be a conflict of interest, but our main interest at this stage is ensuring the contract runs smoothly for your benefit. Sometimes ensuring a contractor is happy and engaged is as important as ensuring negotiations are fair for our appointed clients. Our role is to maintain a solid working relationship throughout for the good of the project and ultimately the client.