Choosing the professional team for your private home
For a substantial private home project, theclient needs a team that can develop the design, understand its cost andorganise its delivery. The architect, project manager and quantity surveyoreach contribute to that work, with the exact responsibilities determined bytheir appointments.
The useful starting point is to establishwhat the project requires and who will take responsibility for it. A list ofjob titles alone will not reveal where duties overlap or where important workhas been left unallocated.
The architect develops the architectural design
The architect typically works with theclient to develop the brief and architectural proposals, then prepares thedesign information included in their agreed scope. Their involvement may cover planning, technical design and services during construction.
On a private home, the architect works with structural and services engineers, the interior designer and other specialists. Agree who coordinates each part of that information, particularly wherefinishes, lighting, joinery and building systems meet.
Some architects also provide wider projector contract administration services. Those responsibilities should be expressly included in the appointment so the client understands the extent of the service.
The project manager organises overall delivery
A project manager can coordinate the professional appointments, master programme, procurement activities and decisions needed to move the project forward. Their role may begin during acquisition or feasibility and continue through construction and handover.
That includes tracking which information is needed, who must provide it and when the client needs to make a decision. Reporting should connect progress with the issues that affect the budget, the intended move in date and the priorities in the brief.
At The Grange in Swalcliffe, Friel Welch is appointed to provide project management for a substantial refurbishment, extension and fit-out. The scope includes managing pre-commencement planning conditions as the project prepares for construction.
The quantity surveyor establishes and monitors cost
A quantity surveyor can prepare estimates and cost plans, advise on procurement, review tenders and assess the financialeffect of changes. During construction, the appointment may include valuations,financial reporting and final account support.
Early cost advice should explain what is included in the budget, the assumptions behind it and the risks that remain. Asthe design develops, cost checks allow the client and architect to consider options while there is still scope to respond.
For the client, the value lies in understanding the likely financial commitment and the consequences of decisions, rather than receiving a figure without a clear basis.
Define the boundaries between appointments
Prepare a responsibility schedule before substantive work begins. Identify who prepares each key document, who reviewsit and who has authority to approve or instruct the next step.
Particular points to agree include consultant selection, design coordination, cost reporting, contractor procurement, site inspections, contract administration and the process for approving change. Some services can be combined within one organisation, providedthe responsibilities and fee basis are clear.
The client should also know what happens when the team disagrees. A practical recommendation needs to explain the effecton design, cost and programme so the decision can be made with the relevant advice in view.
Confirm statutory and contractual roles separately
Identify the principal designer and principal contractor responsibilities under the applicable building regulations and construction health and safety requirements. A project management title alone does not confirm who is carrying those roles.
The Building Safety Regulator’s dutyholder guidanceand HSE’s guidance for domestic clients explainthe respective frameworks. Agree the appointments and competence requirementswith your advisers.
Likewise, confirm who will administer the selected building contract and what authority each party has. The team structure should reflect the actual procurement route.
Choose the support that matches the project
A straightforward refurbishment may need a different level of coordination from a listed-house renovation involving several outbuildings, extensive interiors and landscape works. Consider complexity, uncertainty and the time you can give to decisions when defining the team.
Friel Welch brings project management, quantity surveying and technical coordination together for private clients, working alongside their chosen architects and interior designers.
Contact Friel Welch to discuss the team and appointmentsfor your home.
