Getting that 'WOW' at the first meeting using Xplorer. 

This tool can give everyone a realistic understanding of how the wish list and budget will work together. Plus, it's a great tool to impress your potential clients!

Start by entering the data based on the wish list with room sizes and/or the renovation items to determine the budget.  If the budget is unclear, keep working together, as you can see the price change when you press 'update' as more and more information is entered.

Work together and have fun with it – be interactive with adding and removing items from the wish list and changing up the levels of finishes until you come to a cost solution that you are all happy with.

When you return to the office, you can finetune the project brief. That data migrates to the Discovery Program, where a Trial Budget Report will be provided. This is based on the initial meeting, plus other items, like retaining walls, fencing, and other specialty items that may be required to make the report customised to the project.

The great thing is it's quick and easy to use, so it will only take a couple of hours to complete the report rather than weeks tendering the project.

This is the beginning of the project journey through construction management. Open, transparent and honest. The perfect recipe for project success.

Watch the video of the Xplorer demo.

Is finance needed for the project?

Did you know that the Trial Budget Report can be used for a pre-finance check? Getting started early on a finance investigation ensures that no one is wasting their time before spending a cent on designs. 

Lending body RAMs recognises that the C2CPRO Contract is the way forward to ensure the security of project funds in the residential market.  Check out an interview with a RAMs representative below.

In a perfect world, you would have met with the project owner before they had final plans drawn.

The Trial Budget Report now becomes the brief to the designer/architect.  This brief outlines the building size and the level of finish that has been discussed and is what the designer should follow to ensure a design outcome that will meet the budget outcome previously discussed.

The Discovery can be used to create further reports based on the designs to make sure the budget is on track. If it’s not, make amendments to the design, or if the design is to stay as is, the report will clearly outline that the budget has now changed.

At this stage, the design will most likely be drafted at sketch level or, with more detail, ready for building approval.

Discuss with the Project Owner to determine project expectations and, most importantly, the budget. 

If the budget is unclear, that’s fine; the Discovery is pretty accurate and will help decide on the design and budget.

The great thing is it's quick and easy to use, so it will only take a couple of hours to complete the report rather than weeks tendering the project. 

If the cost outcome does not meet the budget expectations, consider the project brief and brainstorm the ‘must haves’ and the ‘nice to haves’ to meet the budget. 

While the designer is working on more detailed plans, there are our software modules and other items to consider for the project's success.

Once the design is complete, do another Trial Budget Report to outline the budget against the design, or the data from the Discovery can now be moved to the Master Cost Assembly to create a more detailed, project-specific Preliminary Cost Report.

Discuss with the Project Owner any high-cost items if budget is an issue. Work through it together.

Now, there is confidence to move forward with structural design or town planning, knowing the design will meet the budget.

While you, the designer and consultants are working hard on further detailing the design, now is the chance for your client to start making their selections, like tiles, basins, and all the other fun stuff.

Allowances for PC items are shown in the Shopping List Program, as well as how many items are allowed. If bathroom wall tiles are on sale and savings are made, the client either keeps the savings or, better yet, can get that freestanding bath that was just out of the budget allowance. 

The client is fully aware of the allowances and can confidently make their choices, shopping wherever they choose. They will love the freedom and flexibility while staying within their budget.  

Provide the Shopping List Program link to the Interior Designer if your client has one so they can make the right selection at the right price!

Selection choices can have a cost knock-on effect.

Your guidance is still essential during the shopping stage. The client wants a concealed cistern toilet? The plumber needs to know the type of installation required, and the designer needs to know if the design needs to be adjusted to suit. 

Details of each selection can be added, with web links where the client found them online and even photos of the items can be uploaded to their wish list. Favourite items get ticked and added to the Picklist. 

By now, there is confidence that a relationship has been nurtured where communication and transparency are key. 

You are now retrieving firm quotes from trades and suppliers due to the high certainty you will win the job. These firm quotes get added to the Master Cost Assembly to get closer to the final quote price.

The Project Owner is shopping to complete their selections.

The Designer is finalising plans for building approval.

Trades love Domestic Construction Management.

Once all relevant items are quoted and the provisional sum allowances are satisfactory, a Preliminary Cost Report is ready for presentation. Remember, this is the first contract price presentation, and more often than not, the quote will be amended based on comments, additional requirements or omissions. 

Now is the time to talk about Construction Management, the contract and the use of a Joint Security Account (not to be confused with Project Trust Accounts), and the importance of securing your client's funds intended for the project. 

Download the CM Contract Summary, which outlines C2CPRO and its benefits.

The C2CPRO Fixed Price Domestic Construction Management Contract (C2CPRO Contract) offers all the usual benefits of standard residential contracts but with a crucial difference: the Project Owner manages the project funds jointly with the Builder, compared to conventional arrangements where builders control a significant portion of funds.

By this stage, all are aware of the C2CPRO Construction Management Contract, and are on the same page on how the project is to be managed and are ready to proceed to signing the contract.

Meet together and go through the contract. Confirm the items in the Cost Report and any excluded items. 

Once you have a signed contract, the next step is to set up the Joint Security Account.

Payments to all involved get made from this account, rather than the project funds being paid to the builder and then dispersed by them.

This is the most important part of C2CPRO.

The JSA is a two-to-sign bank account setup between you and your clients. No one person can authorise a payment outside of the account without the other. 

The JSA should have funds in it at all times.  As claims are made and funds allocated to trades and suppliers, your client needs to ensure the account is consistently maintained with funds to keep the project moving.  This also means that for financed projects, your client is responsible for promptly informing the financier each time a claim is made.

Once the account is set up, your client places the 'deposit stage payment' in the account. Relevant insurances are paid from the account, and building approval is granted.

You are now ready to build!