For small projects a letter of intent should be sufficient. This should state the amount tendered for starting and finishing dates. For larger projects contracts such as a JCT minor works of other off the shelf contracts can be used for safeguarding your project.

You should ensure that your insurance cover on your property covers you for building works and if not upgrade it so it does for the duration of the build. Also check that the builder has all his insurances in place prior to commencing on site. It is also good practice for the builder to send out a letter to your neighbours explaining what he is about to do, when he is starting the work and include his contact details. The client must be aware of any party wall obligations prior to commencement on site.

A SoW is a complete shopping list of everything that is included in the project. It also includes detailed instructions for the builder to follow to achieve the finished design. Within the SoW we will specify exactly the types of finishes you require, which cuts out the grey areas in the builders pricing. It also allows you to change specification or omit certain elements from the scheme, which can help to bring the project in on budget or keep cost down. However, even with a SoW there will always be extra’s and unknowns when dealing with existing or new buildings.

Unless you have specifically got us to produce a Schedule of Work for the project, which is an additional fee the builder may not have priced exactly for what is on the drawings. For example the drawings don’t identify what boiler you are having or the number of light fittings, floor finishes etc… as these are not requirements of building control. We recommend that the client provide details of all finishes and furnishings. Example: kitchen and bathroom furniture

Not necessarily. We recommend that you obtain a breakdown of the two most competitive quotes so that you can see exactly what the builders have or have not priced for. You should also take into consideration the timescales of the quotes.

You may wish to use a builder recommended, or choose from our recommended list of builders here. The builders on our recommended list are builders we have worked with on past projects and we know to be competent. Note:- the choice of builder will be at your discretion.

We issue all relevant certificates and three sets of drawings, which are included for in your quotation. Any additional copies of the drawings will be charged at £5.00 per copy as our drawings are A1 and full colour. Once you receive your drawings you can issue them for tender to your builders.

Because William McCall is a part of the LABC (link) partnership the process is much quicker and allows us to have the plans approved within 2 – 4 weeks instead of 6 – 8 weeks.

We submit the drawings and relevant documentation to the Local Authority Building Control for approval.

Again, we pride ourselves on a speedy service and we aim to have the drawings completed and ready to submit within a three week period of you consenting for us to proceed with Stage Two. Obviously this depends on the complexity of the individual project. For example, a single story extension is a much quicker turnaround than a double extension, which is reflected in our quotation.