6 Top Tips Prior to Starting Your Construction Project

I recently came across this interesting article by Bhangals Construction Consultants Ltd, entitled "7 Things to do before starting your construction project" which caught my attention since I hope to have a little construction work done on my house in the future and because we supply the very professions that they refer to, namely Quantity Surveyors.  I have tweaked it slightly, but here's what they say in essence:

Construction, alteration and renovation can be and is sometimes perceived as being simple, but on the flip side it can also be extremely complicated and fraught with dangers.  A few top tips to consider are:

1. Prepare a plan and design.  You may need to get an architect and/or other consultants to help you.
2. Sufficient money.  Without sufficient funds to complete your project, the project may not be completed or take longer than expected to complete.  Get professional help from a quantity surveyor and draft a best and worst case cost plan.  The quantity surveyor should produce a set of contract documents including a bill of quantities and a contract.
3. Choose at least three contractors in order to get a variety of quotes. If you have had a bill of quantities produced the quotes will be easier to analyse.
4. Once the contractors have given you the quotes, go through them and check that everything has been included.  If you have appointed a quantity surveyor they will do this for you. Remember that the lowest quote is not always the best quote.
5. Shortlist a minimum of two contractors, get references from them and go to see past jobs they have completed which are similar to your project.
6. Ensure you put a payment schedule together; this should be based on the anticipated programme.

So there you have a few bits of advice.  I hope it helps and good luck.