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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 6:53 pm
by Ted
If you are an ordinary person who hasn't a clue about building and you employ an arch to design and oversee the construction of some building work, how many builders do you think the arch should get to tender for the job?

Also, how should the tender process pan out? Do the builders just tender when they feel like it or do they have to submit their tenders by a certain date in a certain format?

Should an arch recommend a certain builder over another?

Should an arch recommend the most expensive builder who tendered?

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:12 pm
by slickboy
When we have worked for architects we are ugiven a deadline to get the tender in. I would imagine three different quotes would be the norm.

I know a mate of mine who was told by the architects that his quote was way higher than the other two but because he specified everything clearly they recommended him to the client and he got the job as they thought the other quotes were vague.

I imagine that, with my experience of architects being that they fussy, thay would want to work with someione who understood the project well as it would be a pain in the arse once work started and they started arguing over what was and wasn't included in the quote.

Also, I would pay more for someone that has been recommended as "excellent" rather than "ok".

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:47 pm
by Ted
Unfortnately, in this case, only two builders tendered for the job. I think this shows negligence by the arch.

The two builders who tendered did not submit comparable quotes.

The more expensive builder who tendered and got the job at the arch's recommendation, did not tender in the format requested by the arch, claiming he did not have the office time to devote to tendering for the job.

Unfortunately, the builder who got the job seems to have done a very poor job. He would have done it on time, no doubt, as he uses every type of plant hire under the sun at the client's expense, but the work in my view is far from satisfactory and not done with reasonable care or skill.

He hired a 4wd Manitou forklift to move three pallets of thermalites less than 25m! I could do that in not much more than an hour by myself, I reckon!

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 10:02 pm
by lutonlagerlout
normally its 3 quotes and you are given a date to tender by, and a start date, and expected finish date.
normally 12% plant contingency is added to the price and a further 10% contingency for unforseen costs
like i say ted 180 buys a lot of quality work
i have 3 architects that i have a good working relationship with and they tend to get us to tender their jobs as they know we can do a good job on time etc.
but final choice is the clients
LLL