Independent Advice Before You Commit to a Builder
Building work involves serious money and serious risk. Build Advocate gives homeowners independent construction advice before they sign contracts, pay deposits or make expensive decisions.
We review the details from your side of the table — helping you understand the risks, spot problems early and make informed decisions before your money is committed.
Project & Plan Review — £225
Independent construction input before you start asking builders for prices.
Already have drawings for an extension, loft conversion or renovation? Before you move into builder selection, we review the project from a practical construction perspective.
The aim is to identify unclear details, unnecessary cost, buildability issues, missing information and questions that should be resolved before those drawings turn into quotations and contracts.
What you receive
A clear written review of our findings
Key concerns and unclear areas highlighted
Practical construction observations
Potential cost-pressure areas identified
Questions to take back to your designer or engineer
Suggestions for items to resolve before obtaining final quotations
A clear overall assessment of how ready the project is to move to builder selection
Follow-up call to talk through the findings
What we review
Architectural drawings and proposed layout
Practical buildability of the design
Areas likely to increase construction cost
Details that appear unclear, incomplete or difficult to build
Access, sequencing and site constraints
Obvious specification gaps
Coordination issues between drawings and information provided
Areas where alternative approaches may offer better value
Questions worth raising with your architect, designer or engineer
General project risks before going out to builders
An independent construction review of your project plans before you approach builders. We assess practical buildability, unclear or missing information, potential cost pressures, coordination issues and areas worth resolving with your architect, designer or engineer before quotations are obtained.
Single Builder Deep-Dive Review — £395
Independent expert scrutiny before you commit to your builder.
Already have a builder in mind? Perhaps they’ve been recommended, have a strong local reputation, or you simply feel they’re the right fit.
Before you sign a contract, pay a deposit or commit significant money, we independently review the proposal and the information behind it to identify omissions, unclear terms and potential risks.
What you receive
A clear written assessment of our findings
Risks, omissions and unclear items highlighted
Questions to raise with your builder before committing
Areas that could lead to additional costs or disputes
An assessment of the proposed payment structure
Practical recommendations on what should be resolved before signing or paying
A clear overall view of the proposal
A follow-up call to talk through the findings and answer your questions
What we review
Your builder’s quotation and scope of works
Architectural drawings and relevant project information
Proposed contract and key commercial terms
Deposit and payment schedule
Allowances, exclusions and provisional sums
Pricing that appears unusually high or low
Proposed project program and timings
Available background information on the builder
Areas where the proposal is unclear or incomplete
An independent review of your project plans and one chosen builder’s quotation, scope of works, proposed contract, payment structure and available background information. We identify risks, omissions, unclear terms and issues that should be resolved before you commit.
Complete Builder Due-Diligence Review £995
Independent expert support when you’re choosing between builders for a major project.
Choosing between several builders can be difficult because quotations are rarely presented in the same way. The cheapest headline price is not necessarily the cheapest project once omissions, allowances, payment terms and differences in scope are understood.
We review your project and up to three proposed builders side by side, helping you understand what each is actually offering and where the risks lie before you make your decision.
What you receive
A clear written comparison of the three proposals
Important differences, omissions and risks highlighted
Builder due-diligence findings
Questions to raise with each builder
Assessment of proposed payment structures
Areas likely to generate additional costs
Practical recommendations before appointment
Our independent overall assessment and recommendation
Follow-up call to talk through the findings and answer your questions
What we review
Your architectural drawings and relevant project information
Up to three builder quotations and scopes of work
Differences and omissions between quotations
Pricing, allowances, exclusions and provisional sums
Proposed contracts and key commercial terms
Deposits and payment schedules
Proposed project programs and timings
Available background information on each builder
Areas of the project that appear unclear or insufficiently detailed
Potential additional-cost and dispute risks
A comprehensive independent review of your project plans and up to three proposed builders. We compare quotations, scope, pricing, exclusions, allowances, proposed contracts, payment structures, project programs and available background information on each builder, highlighting differences, omissions and potential risks before you make your decision.
Project Rescue & Expert Advice — £225 Initial Assessment
Independent construction advice when a project is already going wrong.
If your build is over budget, behind schedule, workmanship is causing concern, payments no longer make sense or communication with the builder has broken down, the first job is to establish exactly where you stand.
We review the information available, identify the immediate risks and give you a practical assessment of the options before you commit more money or make the situation worse.
What you receive
A clear written assessment of the current position
Key problems and risks identified
Questionable or unclear charges highlighted
Assessment of the payment position
Immediate priorities for stabilising the project
Questions to raise with the builder
Practical options for moving forward
A recommended next course of action
Follow-up call to talk through the findings
What we review
Work completed to date
Original quotation, scope and contract
Payments already made and amounts outstanding
Variations and additional charges
Architectural and structural information
Project program and delays
Relevant correspondence with the builder
Workmanship concerns from information provided
Outstanding work and apparent scope gaps
Any other issues contributing to the current situation
Full Project Rescue — From £1,999
For projects requiring hands-on intervention, we can carry out a site visit, undertake a deeper review of the project and actively help establish a route forward.
Depending on the circumstances, this can include assessing progress on site, reviewing outstanding work and costs, speaking directly with relevant parties and contacting up to three suitable contractors or specialists where replacement or additional support is required.
Full Project Rescue is quoted individually following the £225 Initial Assessment.
An independent assessment for building projects that are already experiencing problems. We review the information available, including work completed, payments, variations, delays, workmanship concerns, contracts and relevant correspondence, then identify the immediate risks and provide a practical recommended route forward. This £225 service is an assessment only. If hands-on Project Rescue support is required afterwards, including site attendance, detailed project review or contacting contractors and other parties, this is quoted separately and starts from £1,999.