Avoiding building project disasters!

Avoiding building project disasters!

 

We successfully manage a wide variety of building projects for clients where things have gone wrong. We determine these as Rescue Projects or Disaster Recovery Projects and each one has had an element of avoiding building project disasters.

In these scenarios we are typically called in because work has stopped. In some cases disputes have arisen or the work on site is not what the client had anticipated receiving.  We want to help more clients ensure they are avoiding building project disasters created by rogue builders, or issues that arise once a project has started.

 

The list of reasons for people falling into building disaster was something like this:

1. Lack of construction experience resulting in underestimating the size and complexity of task and where the risks lie.

2. Failure to get and take advice on how their project can be successfully managed.

3. Insufficient permission and agreements such as Planning, Lawful Development, Building Regulations and Party Wall, build over agreements, service and utility connections etc.

4. Insufficient detailed information relating to engineering, dimensions and levels, construction techniques, services and products.

5. Lack of a budget and clear understanding of the costs.

6. Insufficient contract documentation to describe clearly what is required, what would be delivered, by when and how much it would cost.

7. Wanting to believe that the project can be delivered cheaply and electing to go with a builder offering a cheap price – who very often does not have enough knowledge and experience to know his / her own limitations.

8. Indecision or requesting changes that are not then fully followed through to revisions in the project information ahead of building work taking place.

9. Lack of time at the right time – You need to have time during the working day when others are working.

10. Incorrect contracts drawn up with contractors or other trades who dictate their own terms without reason.

 

Experience

Almost without exception, the ‘Project Rescues’ that CLPM deal with have one thing in common. The number 1 point listed above – residential clients do not have sufficient construction experience. This results in them underestimating the size and complexity of task and where the risks lie. If clients don’t then avoid number 2 on the list they will very often fall foul of the problems associated with all or many of the others listed above (3 – 10).

In some cases, clients will become aware and face up to the issues early on, in many cases naivety or pride can lead them to push on, and on, and on…….

Although, not to isolate those who are familiar with the construction industry, the other main issue is around communication and contracts. Where points are not documented accurately, there will always be ambiguity.

 

Issues

We have had to deal with issues such as:

• Buildings being built without permission
• Clients signing contracts without reading t’s and c’s
• Projects being built in the wrong place
• Plans that do not contain all the necessary information and detail
• Projects being built with no thought as to how they may be connected to sewerage and other utilities

 

Financial and Contractual Issues

We have also had to deal with all manner of financial issues and contractual disputes. Some relating to clients expectations that they were paying for a complete building rather than just part of it or simply paying too much too early. In these instances leaving themselves open to a being left without a builder and without the finances to complete.

CLPM Quantity Surveying team can provide contractual services to ensure the correct contract is in place for the project. Contracts protect all parties involved in a project and will clearly outline the details within. These are critical to project success.

 

Managing a project

We also find issues where our teams haven’t been in control of plans and information from the beginning. If we need to oversee and architects plans, there may be a need for us to influence the designs to enable a smooth build process.

Equally, if we do not carry out a professional tender, but are asked to review others tenders, it takes much more time to analyse the data. We find tender data will be in a different format and be based on a different key components.

It is much easier for us to be involved in a project from the very beginning. It will save us time, and our clients money.

 

Take Advice

If in doubt please ask. Get advice from a trusted professional and take it. If you haven’t already then our advice would be to do so sooner rather than later. Whilst we are very often able to help clients rescue a project, we rarely undo all of the damage that has been done – only correct it. In some cases clients can be left bearing a significant and avoidable extra cost to achieve completion.

We’re available to chat to you about your building issues and offer advice.

CLPM

Hope you have found our information ‘Avoiding building project disasters helpful!’

If you want any more details on our project management services, please call 01923 896550 or email info@cl-pm.com

You can also read about our previous jobs where we have been able to help clients with their projects. Our case studies show many different situations where our project management team have made a significant difference to the project’s success.