Management

Traditionally, small construction jobs are priced either by a fixed quote or by cost of materials plus labour.   Larger jobs requiring several trades are usually assumed under a general contractor.  There are two phases to this process.  The customer calls on a few general contractors to bid on a project.  In turn the general contractors call on sub trades to bid on their part of the project.  The collected prices and the general contractor’s fees are then put together as a quote for the customer to weigh against the other quotes.  With no changes from the plan, no unforeseen problems and no external economic forces such as a spike in lumber prices the fixed price allows the customer the stability of knowing how much the job will cost.  The problems come with changes.  How are revised prices worked out?  Are portions re-bid or does the job move to ad hoc cost-plus pricing?  This is where the relationship between customer and contractor can become stained.  As the customer is not usually privy to the finances of the job they can find themselves increasingly making decisions in the dark. 

This problem has led to an increase in customers general contracting there own projects.  Though this is fully understandable it can led to real problems and unnecessary cost overruns.  There are a thousand subtleties that an experienced builder brings to a job that take years to collect.  Customers often lack the broad vision needed to coordinate the timely execution of each trade to bring the project along.  Often in this arrangement the customer’s lack of expertise is made up by consultations with the main construction contractor.  As these are often unpaid consultations they can also led to animosity.  The bigger problem is no one is actually responsible for the execution of the job.  Though these problems may be favorable to the loss of control to a general contractor there is a compromise.    

We prefer a management model for running jobs, making an effort to eliminate the antagonism between builder and customer that can exist in the traditional bid contract.  We work with our customers in full financial transparency.  Depending on the size of the job, cost sheets are produced weekly.   This allows all to make informed decisions on the job as it progresses.  As the sub-trade prices are often taken by quote, a managed job allows the customer to review the various bids with the manager and be part of the selection.  Whether you want us to take on the work ourselves or help you arrange the right people for the job we would like the opportunity to help you with your home improvement project.  Even if you want to do the work yourself but do not no where to begin or how to estimate the cost, we would be happy to help you.