The three most common mistakes clients make
The construction of an industrial hall is a high-value investment where incorrect decisions or unconsidered details can have serious consequences. Based on experience, we have compiled the three most common mistakes made by clients below, along with how to avoid them to prevent unnecessary costs and delays.
1. Automatically choosing the cheapest offer
There are frequent accounts of investors who could not resist the lowest quote, only to find that the contractor believed to be the cheapest ended up making the project the most expensive, as well as causing it to drag on. Unfortunately, some unethical companies win clients with a cheap initial quote, only for new expenditures to emerge in installments during construction, resulting in a final total higher than the original quotes of other companies. It is also possible that the total amount does not increase, but poor quality materials are installed and cheap, unskilled labor is employed. Of course, this does not automatically mean that the cheapest quote cannot be good, but one must be cautious.
Recommendation:
It is advisable to compare quotes in a standardised format using an unpriced bill of quantities. The unpriced bill of quantities is prepared by your designer with detailed technical content, precise parameters, and quality requirements. If this is sufficiently accurate, it rules out the possibility of the contractor introducing unexpected items later on.
It is highly recommended to employ a technical supervisor who, representing your interests, continuously verifies during construction that the specified materials are actually installed and to the correct standard of quality.
A detailed and fair contract is also essential to protect your interests.
Request the company's professional indemnity insurance policy; every contractor must possess one.
Furthermore, it is worth reviewing the company's references and assessing how fair and open their approach is during the initial consultations.
2. Requirements that are not fully clarified
If the investor does not consider their requirements in sufficient detail beforehand, modifications may arise during construction, which can lead to redesigns, cost increases, and schedule delays. An even greater extra cost can be incurred if it only becomes apparent after construction, or even during daily operations, what you actually required. This could include, for example, a larger floor area, higher clear height, more doors, a layout that better supports workflows, better lighting, higher utility capacity, and many other factors.
Recommendation:
As far as possible, model your daily processes in advance and consider what technical specifications would support them. We have prepared a summary to help our clients consider the key aspects beforehand.
3. Selecting the wrong plot
Not every company considers in full detail how critical the plot is, even though it fundamentally determines the success of the investment. An attractive price or time pressure can easily result in the investor purchasing a site that ultimately does not suit the planned activity. Inadequate zoning classification, lack of utilities, absence of expansion opportunities, poor accessibility, or weak soil conditions can cause significant additional costs and time loss either during construction or subsequent operations.
Recommendation:
We have created a checklist of factors to guide your preliminary assessment of a given plot. Additionally, we can recommend specific building plots ourselves.