Help!
How can Clear Surveys help?
We have managed thousands of domestic building projects ranging in value from as small as £10,000 to £2,500,000 and understand the complex and time sensitive demands that can make life difficult for clients. We have always worked directly with consumers and understand the need for timely advice and good forward planning. Not only do we offer sound contract administration services, to ensure your best interests are protected throughout the project but we also offer an open dialogue approach, where we are available to support you, offer an alternative view and sense check what you may be told by other trade professionals from our wider viewpoint.
Dodging Disaster
Most people hold an understandable fear that cowboy contractors will make their lives hell and ruin their home and whilst this can be true, the construction industry is full of excellent contractor’s who care about their work and value their reputation above their bottom line. Disputes are still common, but avoidable with good planning and technical expertise. Our work on the Federation of Master Builders National Standards Committee over many years has demonstrated that the majority of contract breakdown stems from poor communication, poor documentation (typically a lack of sufficient detail at the tender stage) and contractors overvaluing their works and demanding too much money too soon, leaving insufficient funds left within the contract to execute completion, making the contractor tempted to simply wander off to the next, more lucrative project. A properly arranged contract, supported by a detailed Schedule of Works that explicitly lays out what you require, followed up with progress and quality inspections provided via Contract Administrator services can prevent these issues ever arising. Your interests are protected and your project can transform from a potentially risky and stressful event with no firm end in sight, into something that is a pleasure to be involved with.
Kissing Frogs
We have been ‘kissing frogs’ for decades, so we have a huge depth and range of contacts to recommend for every part of your project. Despite partnering wherever possible with known quantities, it’s important a Contract Administrator has teeth, which they can deploy to protect your interests when the situation requires it. A good Contract Administrator will help and support you through the often uncomfortable situations that can arise, or depending on the level of service you select, complete the entire process for you, leaving you with more time to keep up with your usual commitments.
Do you have time to run a project?
Most clients are not well prepared for the time investment required for a building project. This begins to escalate very quickly as a project progresses through it’s natural cycle. A good size project, run without support, with you appointing your own individual trades, can easily run to twenty plus hours a week for the person at the helm; time which most people simply can’t afford to give. Dealing with conflicts, controlling the budget, making decisions in a timely fashion, researching suitable materials and products, communicating all these decisions to all the relevant parties all takes precious time but is vital to success.