Give the project a useful starting point
Pre-construction connects the brief, the property and the budget. It can begin with an early idea or with drawings already prepared by your architect. The work and deliverables are agreed around the information available and the decisions you need to make.
What to review
- Existing drawings, surveys, site access and visible conditions.
- Questions about structure, drainage, utilities and other systems that need specialist investigation.
- The relevant planning and building review route for the property.
- Scope, finish expectations, allowances and exclusions.
- Selections, design information and long-lead items that affect the schedule.
What to agree before starting
Confirm the scope of the pre-construction work, its fee, the documents to be produced and how the information may be used. An early feasibility review is not a guarantee of planning approval, a survey or a substitute for specialist due diligence.
How the budget develops
A preliminary budget and a construction proposal serve different purposes. As drawings, specifications and investigations develop, assumptions can be replaced with more detailed pricing. Ask which figures are quotations, allowances or exclusions and what could change them.
Our guide to reading an estimate and renovation budget notes explain what to look for.
The next step
Depending on the brief, the work may continue into design and construction planning or construction with your existing architect. Tell us about the property and the decisions ahead.
