Highly recommended to help you manage your complex building projects from start to finish
In late 2017, we embarked upon what now seems in retrospect an ambitious programme of works to build an oak orangery and summer kitchen, a swimming pool and a pool room and changing area and a complete kitchen refurbishment.
In total there are 4 separate new structures (one adjoining the existing house) and one refurbished kitchen together with a significant element of groundwork and landscaping
Between late 2017 and late 2019 we managed to negotiate our own way through the planning minefield. I then realised that although we now had planning permission and could theoretically start work, we now had a completely new set of problems - how to size the programme, organise the work into sensible work packages, estimate the costs and then commission and manage the work to completion whilst maintaining the quality and value for money. I set about looking for a suitable qualified company. I wanted QS , building project management, building surveyor, commercial management type skills from some one (or maybe several people) who had done all of this recently in a domestic refurbishment renovation extension environment.
I was fortunate enough to find Dom from MN8 Property Consultants pretty early on in my search. Dom and I met in December 2019 and like many such meetings I have had in other business situations, all seemed good after the first exchanges, but you never really know if the representations that have been made are going to turn out to be realised over the course of trials and tribulations that a programme of work like this inevitably entails. So engaging Dom in the work felt like a bit of a leap of faith for us (and I am guessing this was the same for Dom as well) because he didn't know what we would be like to deal with. This is one of the reasons why I am writing this fairly lengthy review, because I want individuals who are in the same (or a similar) position to the one in which we were in to know that although it is a bit of a leap of faith, if my experiences with Dom are repeated (and I believe they would be), then you are embarking in a relationship with an individual who is very experienced in the building trade, will look after your interests whilst maintaining a balanced and fair minded professional approach to the various vendors and contractors, is conscientious, hard working, balanced, professional and thorough. In my experience with Dom, you will be in very safe pair of hands.
Dom and I initially discussed the approach that could be taken to the work - broadly appointing a main contractor to manage all of the work or appointing multiple contractors and effectively having Dom manage the contractors on our behalf. We discussed the pros and cos of each approach and in the end we elected for the second route because I thought it would be cheaper in the long run and would offer us more control over the form and quality of the finished articles. Both of these turned out to be correct and I believe we probably saved 30% over the cost of employing a main contractor and we are very satisfied with the end quality and finish of the job. A large element of this is down to Dom's ongoing efforts on our behalf which have sometimes brought Dom head to head with the individual contractor. Despite this, the individual contractors also have shown a great deal of respect for Dom and his judgements decisions which tells you a lot in itself.
Overall this has been a complicated, difficult and challenging programme of works, completed with only one months delay (7 months) against the original programme plan of 6 months despite being executed in the middle of a Pandemic (Covid 19) and the resulting shortage of materials and people. There is no way which we could have achieved this on our own and we are very grateful to Dom and to the team of contractors who (on the whole) have worked hard and conscientiously for us and Dom to complete what in the end is a very impressive and pleasing result.
Well done and thanks to Dom and team.
To those reading this I hope you get my main message which is in my opinion, you need look no further than Dom to help you achieve your refurbishment extension projects and programmes on time, on budget and to a superb quality standard.
I'll be happy to amplify and further explain any of the details behind the comments in this review should you wish to get in touch with me.
With best wishes for successful outcomes to your own building adventures!
John Abel
10 September 2020
Unprompted review