07962 222 103
Professional Services
See below for a list of our professional services.
If your service requirement is not listed please call to discuss bespoke solutions.
Architectural Services
The interpretation of your ideas and living space requirements are the starting point of our input to achieve your dreams. We provide design solutions that transform your first thoughts into feasible plans, for budget costing, local authority applications, either planning, listed building, or building regulations, and for the basis of detailed specification of the works. We can also provide development advice for feasibility studies and investment potential.
Planning Advice/Appeals
We can act on your behalf in respect of the validity and suitability of planning applications, making representations, both for and against, to local authorities, planning committees, and monitoring works to check that they comply with granted consents, whether on our own designs, or on another’s. We can provide appeals advice, if applications are unjustifiably refused, or on any enforcement actions that may be necessary.
Tendering/Estimating
We offer professional advice on budget estimating, works procurement strategy and the tendering process. We can also prepare documents for tender, which would commonly include contract preliminaries, detailed drawings and/or workmanship and materials specifications. We aim to include realistic assessments of our clients’ final choices such that the project is completed as close to the original contract sum as possible.
Contract Administration
One of the best ways to protect the interests of all parties to a building project is to use a standard form of building contract. Standard forms of contract, such as the JCT Householder, Intermediate or Minor Works Agreement, or even a simple Plain English format, will allow full financial control over a project, ensuring that the client pays only for works completed and that payment terms are satisfied. In addition, regular inspection and monitoring of building works is undertaken to ensure that clients' requirements are fulfilled.
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996
The Act provides a framework for preventing and resolving disputes in relation to party walls & structures, boundary walls and excavations near neighbouring buildings.
We can provide advice on the various rights and obligations imposed on owners by the Act, prepare and serve the relevant notices on your behalf, and prepare appropriate awards and schedules of condition.
Project Co-ordination/Management
The co-ordination and control of works to your property can be time consuming and complex. We can provide a menu of services which include obtaining initial tender sums for the work, negotiation of the contract form and confirmation of the contract sum, periodic inspection of the works in progress, cost control of your choices under Prime Cost and provisional sums within the works, valuation of variations to the contract, certification of interim and final account requests, to resolving of outstanding issues at post practical completion snagging, to achieve the extensive completion of the building project.
Site Inspection, Certification & Project Monitoring
We can monitor and certify building works. For new dwellings certification will be in accordance with the RICS Certification of Domestic Structures procedure. Site inspection can be carried out to suit clients’ requirements, either to establish the quality and progress of works, or to establish whether the work complies with consents obtained, and tender costings/valuation requests, on both our own and others designs as necessary. We can include expert reports on the status/value of works in relation to contract disputes, or recommend courses of action to achieve appropriate settlement.
Building Pathology
We can offer advice on the causes and possible remedy of specific building defects and problems. As well as undertaking defect investigation and analysis, we can arrange for defect monitoring, testing if necessary, and the specification and supervision of subsequent remedial work.
Boundary Disputes
We can make detailed investigations and gather impartial evidence regarding boundary and demarcation disputes, which if necessary can be prepared for use as expert evidence.
Pre-acquisition Building Surveys for Residential & Commercial Premises
This form of survey is suitable for all types of property and provides a much more detailed assessment of both construction and condition. A building survey report may include extensive technical information relating to a property and will consider those defects and problems which are likely to affect both the market value and the future maintenance of the property. A building survey report would not normally include a valuation, unless agreed otherwise. Various levels of survey report are available, and can be tailored to suit the property, and meet the needs and expectations of the client.
Schedules of Dilapidations
Acting for either landlord or tenant, we can provide professional advice and prepare, and if appropriate, contest interim or terminal schedules of dilapidations.
Schedules of Condition
We can prepare detailed schedules of condition to record the condition of a property prior to works commencing or occupation under a lease.
Condition Surveys
Condition surveys can be used to establish both current and future maintenance liabilities for a building, and using this information, we can advise and assist in the preparation and administration of planned maintenance programmes.
Landlord & Tenant
Most forms of commercial property leases contain expressed covenants, which impose obligations on both the landlord and tenant to repair and maintain the property. We can provide professional advice in respect of these obligations and act on behalf of a party to a lease to encourage compliance with such obligations and resolve any disputes arising.
To find out more about our professional services, call
07962 222 103