Ok let's get you all prepped for your big journey into the work of managing a building project 👍. Before we start looking at the stages lets understand who might be involved and the roles they play in your project.
Who is going to manage your project & meeting your “Crew”
Whether its an extension, a renovation or a completely new build, the crew you will meet and need to manage will be roughly the same. You may have agreed for your architect to help manage your build or you might be considering hiring a project manager. With either option do not think that you won’t still be involved at every stage. Its your build after all. If you choose the architect, remember they have a day job as well. You’re not the only client, they can’t be there everyday. If you choose a project manager, you are unlikely to be the only client and although they will spend more time on site you are still going to be at the center of the decision making process.
Or 🤨 ....
You take the far more cost effective and satisfying route of managing the project yourself with a trusted builder. You will still probably need the help and supervision of the architect. You will need their help when confirming detailed building specifications and checking overall compliance to the design. If you enter into a contract with your builder you should also use the architect to manage the contract. It allows for a sense of distance when the inevitable disputes occur around progress and payments. We would always suggest having a contract with your builder if you can. If your project doesn’t seem big enough you can always work off a quote.
The best place to start is understanding who will be involved (We have assumed a use case that your build involves a new kitchen or bathrooms etc):
You and your partner (it’s better to be a team)
Architect – Provides all the plans and drawings, get detailed, don’t just rely on top level plans
Builder/ Main contractor – Owns the completion and overall building of the project.
Structural Engineer – They make sure it won’t fall down, they will over spec but be patient. If it does fall down you have somebody to go back to. They are insured (maybe why they over spec)
Subcontractors – Electricians, Plumbing and Heating engineers, Roofers, Groundwork
Outside contractors – Kitchen fitters, Tilers, Groundworks, Specialist Installers
Quantity Surveyor – The money man, they will have usually helped the builder cost out the quote. They will also manage the call off process throughout the building project, these are usually called “valuations”, if you are using a contract with an Architect , they will check its correct and issue you a “Cert” to pay. They are also usually in charge of making sure the builder makes their margin.
That’s a decent crew to manage! They will appear and disappear throughout the stages of your build so you don’t need to worry about managing them all from the start. You can do it!
You just need to choose what will suit you best, how it fits into your budget, how close you want to be involved. You can take any route you want but dont worry MyBuild will be with you all the way to make it as stress free anyway you choose.
Its also super easy with MyBuild, when you are ready you just start the "Crew" plan and start sharing.
Lets now move on to the stages / phases of a build
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