How accurate is your take off?
Urban Project Services
by Mark Catton
3y ago
Preparing an accurate take off is important. It forms the basis of your price. Yet a high number of issues we come across originate with a mistake in the take off. Most issues originate from either: Not understanding the scope; or Missing item With most of the above occurring as a result of a rushed take off. Many rush the take off process because they are overwhelmed with tenders or have tight tender deadlines & feel that if they don’t supply a bid then they’ll disappoint a the client or risk not being asked to tender for future works. Whereas the reality can be the opposite. You risk a ..read more
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Urban Bites #49 How do t’s & c’s affect your tender price?
Urban Project Services
by Mark Catton
3y ago
The contract terms & the estimate are sometimes seen as unrelated documents; how often have you priced an estimate without reviewing the contract terms? The t’s & c’s can affect the price in many ways, for example: Contract dates – do your rates reflect the requirements of the programme Resource – If you’re now working under an admin heavy contract have you allowed for additional resource (& time) Logistics – Are there restrictions on delivery or storage Attendances – Have you allowed for your attendances as described in the schedule Management – do you need full time rather than ..read more
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Urban Bites #48 Benefits of a contract review
Urban Project Services
by Mark Catton
3y ago
Having the ability and knowledge to amend onerous and unfair clauses is one of the benefits of conducting a contract review. The other, is understanding your obligations and opportunities under the contract. If you understand what your obligations are, you can put in place strategies to ensure compliance and mitigate risk. Most contacts differ slightly so what is required in one may well be different in another; so, relying on what you did in the last contact may not be sufficient in the next one. For example, Some contracts stipulate what is required within a payment application, if you don ..read more
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Urban Bites #47 Reviewing a contract is good business practice
Urban Project Services
by Mark Catton
3y ago
Signing a construction contract knowing there are elements which are unfair & may come back to bite you later isn’t the best way to start a project. You may say normally things works out – but what about when it doesn’t. One bad job can reek havoc on your finances which you’ve spent years building up. Over the past few months we’ve reviewed many construction contracts for subcontractors & all attempt to push commercial risk downstream. For example: Excessive LAD’s Acceptance of site conditions (when you haven’t visited site) Deemed acceptance of documents (which are onl ..read more
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Urban Bites #46 Should you use standard rates?
Urban Project Services
by Mark Catton
3y ago
Standard rates are great for getting tenders out the door quickly, but don’t take into account the peculiarities of the project being priced. You may win on some & lose on others – with the overall result being mediocre returns or worse. If rather than using standard rates you priced according the site conditions, programme, contract requirements etc. then you may not price as many but those you do price & win will be winners. Pricing less tenders is not a bad thing if you are selective in the bids you go for. Pricing everything that lands on your desk will mean that you have option bu ..read more
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Urban Bites #45 Records
Urban Project Services
by Mark Catton
3y ago
We’ve had a few conversations recently regarding issues with claims. In all cases these issues could have been resolved or avoided if adequate contemporaneous records had been taken. Many times, records consist of a couple of lines in a site diary or programme marked up to show progress. How are few lines supposed to support your position & marking up what you have done doesn’t give the reader any information as to why the delay occurred or its consequences. Remember those who have the best records have the greatest chance of success, so treat them seriously & take the time to record i ..read more
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Urban Bites #44 Do you find contracts over whelming & intimidating?
Urban Project Services
by Mark Catton
3y ago
Reading a contract that you don’t understand can be very over whelming & intimidating, coupled with the client pressuring you to return a signed contract, it can just be easier to sign & forget. However, in doing so you’re increasing risk to the project & your business. If you don’t understand what the contract says, how can you know that its fair to you, or what your liabilities or obligations are or how to successfully administer it. Many will justify this approach by saying we don’t need to worry about the contract as we don’t have problem projects. But, at some point they will ..read more
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Urban Bites #43 Follow the contract – issue notices!
Urban Project Services
by Mark Catton
3y ago
We typically work with construction contractors who have a turnover of between £1-£5m. At this stage you’re growing & taking on board larger projects for larger contractors. Which is great However be mindful that the larger you go the more contractual things tend to become. One of the common situations we see is where an issue arises such as site conditions not being as agreed, or another event causes delay & a notice is not issued. Typically, conversations are held with the site team & the contractor does all they can to mitigate, but a formal notice is not issued because they do ..read more
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Urban Bites #42 Project Reviews
Urban Project Services
by Mark Catton
3y ago
Project reviews are valuable tools; done properly they’ll capture: What went wrong / right What you would have done better / differently Supply chain performance How the tender held up against construction Innovations in methodology / material use These are all vital things to embrace, learn from & use in future projects. This is how you improve margins, increase efficiency & grow successfully. But how often do these reviews get stored away only to be forgotten? I’ve seen many companies large & small where this Is the case. You’ve been through the pain of creating this knowledge ..read more
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Urban Bites #41 Is slashing price & programme a good bid winning strategy?
Urban Project Services
by Mark Catton
3y ago
Slashing prices & programme is never a good bid winning strategy. The price & programme you submit to the client should be your price best price to do complete the works & make a profit. Trying to compete against your competitors’ price will only cause damage to you & end up as savings & additional profit for the client. Using it as a strategy to get a foot in the door also makes no sense, if the main contractor has brought from you because of your reduced prices & programme, what will happen when you have to increase prices and/or you continually struggle on site becau ..read more
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