PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Frequently Asked Questions

• Right at the beginning!

• We offer a free initial consultation in order to gain a detailed

understanding of our client’s needs.

• From this we can provide a budget cost & fee quotation.

• Once our client has decided to proceed we can undertake

discussions with planners and appoint the architect to

prepare the plans.

• After our clients have planning permission to build their

property we would normally submit Building Regulations approval on their behalf.

When would you normally

get involved with a project?

• Think of us as a prime contractor.

• We organise all labour and materials on our client’s behalf.

• However our clients pay the contractors and suppliers direct.

• Unlike a builder, our fees for managing the project are fixed at the

contract start.

• There are no hidden costs associated with extra material

mark ups, hidden profits, or risk associated

within builders prices.

• We are therefore, acting entirely in our client’s best interests throughout the project.

How are you different

to a builder?

• We only put forward tradesmen who are recommended and/or who are

members of accredited schemes, e.g. Gas Safe, NICEIC

• We always check documentation to ensure that they are:

• Adequately insured

• Have the correct understanding of Health & Safety & other legislative

requirements

• Are qualified to do the job

• Our tender documentation is tailored specifically to client

requirements ensuring that poor tradesmen are quickly

filtered out

• We always take references and on-site checks when using new contractors.

How do I know that you will

put forward reliable

trades-people?

• Well, before it starts we ensure that the correct foundations are in place,

including:

• A detailed timetable

• A schedule of payments – for both materials & labour

• At this point the client can either manage themselves or select our

optional on-going management service

• Once the project is underway:

• Managing the trades-people & scheduling against

the plan

• Ensuring that the correct materials arrive on time!

• Holding regular reviews & re-planning as necessary

• Conducting regular QA & site inspection visits

So what do you do when the

project is underway?

• Obviously there is a cost but…..

• All supplier and material costs are paid directly by the client.

• Hence they not only have control but also make significant cost

savings which normally outweigh our fees

• This is illustrated in the following diagram

Are you an extra cost or

can you save your

client’s money?

The Role of The

Project Manager

Direct Contracts

Management & Control

Project Management

Saving You Money

• Within his quotations a builder will typically include:

• 5-10% - mark up on materials

• 5-10% - mark up on sub-contractor costs

• 10-15% - his profit on the project

• 0-30% - to cover his uncertainty & risk

• We charge:

• 5-15% - fixed fee based on the price of the job

• 0% - mark up on materials – paid direct

• 0% - mark up on sub-contractor costs – paid direct

• 0% - profit on the job – the client keeps this!

• 0-10% - uncertainty & risk – we jointly control this!

Giving an overall saving of at least 15%