We only need a few pointers?  Can you help?  Sure! I do everything from one-hour consultancies to a full project management package – and everything in between!

Can you help with interior design? Yes and no.  I’m not an interior designer but over 25 years I gained a good feel for what looks right.  Most of my clients don’t have an interior designer working with them - they want to design their own space and I can act as a sounding board as required.

Can you help me find builders? Yes. If required I can research suitable contractors and carry out due diligence and suitability checks.  In some areas I can recommend builders I’ve worked with before.  I can meet with the builders if required and go through the job with them and help you decide who to use. 

Can you help me find out how much the works will cost? Yes! We can agree a schedule of works I can provide estimates of how much the difference items of work might cost.  We can talk about you budget and agree a schedule of works that fits your budget.

Why do I need a schedule of works? The success of any building project is dependent on the builder having a detailed specification to form the basis of the contract documents.  A good schedule of works will have all the information the builder needs to price accurately.

How do I know if we need building regulations approval?  I can tell you if your works are notifiable and what the correct steps are to get your works designed, carried out to the specification and inspected and certified.

Are you insured? Yes I have £1m public liability and £1m professional indemnity cover.

Do you have architects you work with? Yes I have a selection of architects (and all other professionals) I’ve worked with over the years.  I can help select an architect or designer appropriate to your requirements.

How can I get a quotation from you for your services? Please use the contact page and you can upload floorplans, photos and videos.  If you can let me know what you are looking for I will issue a fee quote. 

We want to do a lot of work on our property ourselves. Can you help us? Definitely.  I have developed over 20 properties and I’ve done a LOT of work myself.  I can help you work out what is doable from a DIY perspective and what you would be better off getting a professional in for. 

Who are you clients typically? Mostly my clients are homeowners wanting to work on their own homes but I’ve also worked for developers, builders and landlords.

Can you help me save money on my project? Definitely.  The better organised a project is the less chance there is of cost overruns.  Comparing different builders prices and gaining a full understanding of what is and whats not included is essential to avoiding nasty surprises.

I am overseas, can you manage building works on my behalf while I’m away? Sure! I’m worked with remote clients before and I can help keep you up to date with the ongoing issues with regular meetings, photos and videos .

We are anxious about our neighbours during our building works.. Keeping neighbours onboard and informed is very important during building works.  They are not always thrilled about building works next door to them so I can visit them at the start of the process and keep them informed as the job goes on.

Why would I use a project manager? Why wouldn’t I let a builder project manage the job? You can do but, in my experience, you really need someone with experience to act as your representative and to act in your best interests.  An independent project manager will make sure that payments are agreed by valuation or stage payments and so will prevent ‘front loading’ whereby the builder issues invoices for payment that are applied disproportionately to elements of the work that have been carried out. 

What areas do you work in? I work in Brighton and London areas mainly.  I could work further afield but travels costs would need to be factored in.

Can you advise on structural work? I can suggest what structural works might be required but I would always bring in a structural engineer to prepare an appropriate design with calculations.