Cost Control - It's someone else's money!

Remember as an Architect you are making decisions about someone else's money, and the cost of the work is always determined by the market.

Talk to the client.
Develop the brief
Set a budget and be realistic about it!
Involve consultants.

Brief.
Complete programme, design to completion
Budget
Site
Schedule of area / spaces
Technical requirements, specification and finishes
Intangibles
Identify what is achievable
Do the resources and match clients expectations

Discuss, record and update
Initial budget, is there any flexibility?
Set up a contingency
Procedure for variations and payments

Design
Cost plan at sketch design
Estimating and adding detail
Cost report at construction information stage
Tender and negotiation, bill of quantities

Contract
Pricing of variations - monitor and instruct of any extras
payments which are made as per contract agreement

Cost plan
This is a written document
Give a cost range...
List what works are included
State if VAT is included
List anything which is excluded (fees, charges, etc)
State assumptions - Building unoccupied, single phase, normal ground works.
State what is out of your control - Inflation, market prices, planning permission, main drainage works , etc.

Cost estimating
Estimate and never guess
Ask for advice - published data, quantity surveyor, contractors, suppliers, etc.
Identify non-standard items
Keep a detailed record and update this regularly
Attach drawing to your record.

*Advise your client to stick to a set amount.
*Account for errors in construction documents

Avoid cost over runs! Be realistic, simple payments.