I’ve been successfully running my construction industry consultancy service for a number of years now but still find that some still don’t quite know what it is I do to help tradespeople and contractors.
With that in mind, I thought I’d jot down a few notes about what construction consultants do and how your business may benefit by bringing one on board for your next project.
What Do Construction Consultants Do?
In today’s constantly evolving construction industry, no two projects are ever exactly the same.
A good construction consultant understands this all too well and, thus, offers several services designed to help you achieve your project’s unique goals.
Such services include, but aren’t always limited to:
- Quantity Surveying
- Cost Estimating
- Project Management.
Ultimately, the reason construction industry consultants such as myself offer these services is simple:
We want our industry clients to minimize costs and maximize revenues without compromising on the quality of the work they provide.
Still, that’s not all we do.
Some consultants will also work with private individuals on a range of self-build projects to help them ensure everything is completed on time and on budget.
No matter what your role may be, here are a few ways that hiring a construction consultancy company can help you on your next project.
1. Private Clients
If you’re working on a self-build project, you may be missing out on the kind of significant cost savings that are usually reserved for industry professionals only.
When you hire a consultant, they can use their experience, expertise, and network of trusted contacts to help you get the best quality services, tools, and materials at the best possible rates, but also provide an added level of quality assurance to ensure your project is up to par.
2. Cutting Costs Without Cutting Corners
This skill of giving clients more bang for their proverbial buck extends to contractors, construction firms, and self-employed tradesmen.
An experienced contractor will work side-by-side with you all the way from the initial planning stages to the handover date and beyond, ensuring that every single detail is addressed with cost efficiency in mind.
In my experience, being able to negotiate deals for my clients that only major construction brands can usually secure is the main reason why so many of them come back to me time and time again.
3. Getting the Job Done on Time, Every Time
I’ve worked in construction and the trades for several decades now, and I’ve seen time and time again how a budget that is stretched-thin makes it incredibly difficult for projects to get up to code without going beyond the deadline.
This often poses a dilemma for those in charge of the said project:
Sacrifice material quality and manpower, and there’s a high risk that the deadline flies by, the quality isn’t sufficient, or worse, both.
On the flip side, getting the job done on time and to industry standards means spending more than you bargained for, putting your business -and potentially your clients- further out of pocket than any of you expected.
Either way, the impact on your business can be immediate and far-reaching. Not only does it harm you financially, but it can also damage your reputation and negatively impact your ability to attract new clients.
4. Maximum Quality for Minimal Spend
What all this comes down to then, is that what a construction consultant does is helps their clients to lower their outgoings and increase their profit from each project through cost estimating quantity surveying, and project management.
The way we do this is different for each client.
One day, we could be helping a client with accurate cost estimates that help them win that one game-changing tender. Next, we may be in a project management meeting, overseeing every aspect of a new build.
That’s not all, either. Most modern construction consultancy firms will also offer additional services such as:
- 3D visuals
- Building control approvals
- Design advice
- Detailed drawings and specifications
- Site acquisition
- Site surveys.
and much more.
What do Construction Consultants Charge?
Construction consultants charge fees that work out to somewhere between $30 – $75 per hour. That said, most consultants don’t charge by the hour by a percentage of the overall project cost.
Typically, you’ll find most construction consultancy fees ranging from 1% – 20% of the cost depending on how much work is involved and the kind of services rendered.
It’s a standard industry practice that the higher the cost of the job, the smaller the percentage charged by your consultant.
For example, a project estimated at $100+ million will likely come with a 1% consultancy fee. Meanwhile, a project costing $1 million would come with a consultant fee of around 3%, which works out to $30,000.
I’m spending less and less time working as an independent consultant these days, but if you’d like more advice and guidance on how to start and grow a successful business as a self-employed tradesperson or contractor, you’ll find it all on social media. Follow Tradesman Biz on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.