Clients tend to remember a build for how it was managed rather than how the bricks were laid. Late decisions, unclear costs and surprise variations cause more disputes than defects do. A defined process protects both sides and lets you see where the project stands at every stage.
The steps below apply to most jobs. Small repairs compress them, and large commercial projects expand them, but the logic stays the same.
Enquiry and site visit
You send an enquiry through the quote form or ask for a site visit. We visit, listen to what you want to achieve, look at the conditions and note anything that could affect the work, such as access, soil, existing services or neighbours.
Scope, plans and quotation
We turn the brief into a written scope. For new buildings and structural changes that means drawings, and our architectural plans team can prepare them. For larger work we price from a bill of quantities so you can compare like with like. The quotation lists what is included, what is excluded and any provisional sums.
Approvals and contract
Where the work requires it, plans are submitted to the municipality for approval before any building starts. See building plan approvals. We then sign a contract that sets out scope, payment stages, retention where applicable, and how variations are handled. Larger projects may use JBCC or NEC forms, while smaller ones use a straightforward agreement.
Site establishment and construction
We establish the site with safety signage, fencing and the required health and safety file under the Construction Regulations. Work then proceeds in sequence, with regular updates on progress and any decisions that need your input. Our project management team coordinates the trades so that one does not wait on another.
Inspection, snags and handover
Before practical completion we inspect the work against the scope and draw up a snag list. You are invited to walk the site with us. Once defects are corrected, we hand over certificates, guarantees and manuals, including electrical and plumbing Certificates of Compliance where applicable.
Why the order matters
Skipping steps rarely saves time. Starting before approval risks a stop-work order. Pricing before a site visit risks variations once the excavator hits rock or a buried pipe. Fixing finishes before the services are tested means breaking out new work. Each stage in this process exists because we have seen what happens without it.
It also gives you decision points. You can walk away after the quotation, adjust the scope after the plans, or pause before the contract is signed. Once building begins, changes cost more, so we try to bring the difficult questions forward.
What we need from you
A named decision-maker who can approve variations, access to the site on agreed days, and timely choices on finishes, fittings and colours. Delayed selections are one of the most common causes of late completion, so we give you a schedule of when each decision is needed.
If you are financing the build, tell us early what your lender requires. Banks often ask for approved plans, a signed contract, NHBRC enrolment and progress inspections before releasing stage payments.
Common questions
Will I get a fixed price?
Where the scope is clear and drawings exist, we quote on a defined scope. Anything outside it is handled through a written variation that you approve first.
What is retention?
A small portion of each payment held back until defects are corrected after practical completion. It is a standard feature of formal building contracts.
What is a snag list?
A record of minor defects or unfinished items found at inspection, which the contractor corrects before final handover.
