Time is Money – Benjamin Franklin
It is an interesting time in the construction industry in Australia. Growth has been strong in the past several years backed by the government spending in the sector. However, small to medium scaled builders are still finding their feet despite excellent skill & experience base.
If you as a builder have been struggling with your office administration, then this article is for you!
What’s your biggest challenge on your construction projects? Contractors big and small seem to face the same problems on project after project. Whether you are a one-man painting contractor, a small remodel business, or a residential home builder with 20-years of industry experience, these construction problems have most likely plagued you at one time or another.
Here are the answers you’ve been looking for on some of biggest problems facing builders today.
Slow Invoicing & Payments
As we all know by experience, Time is money in the building game. Whether you get paid on time or not from your client largely depends on whether you invoice your client on time or not. Have you experienced that you have already completed the Frame stage but haven’t yet invoiced for the base yet? If you ask yourself, you would know that the invoice wasn’t sent on time as you were tied up organising the next step of the construction or had an emergency you were facing on your other ongoing project.
Sounds familiar? Worry not, Aavas Consultants Builder’s admin service is here to assist you. Choose from one of our service packages which would include invoicing on your behalf to the client. We will manage the Invoicing side of the office duty so you can concentrate on what you do best…build!
Lack Of Budget Or Estimate From The Start
No matter what size of the project, it is crucial to have a ballpark idea of how much it is going to cost you to do the job. This will in turn assist you in quoting your clients and ensure you earn a profit for the hard work you are putting in the project.
At Aavas Consultants, we have templates we can use to give you an estimate of how much costs will incur. For items which are job specific, we can arrange a quote on your behalf from the contactors you prefer using and add that on.
Omitting Variations To Be Charged To The Client
Has it happened to you that you have done extra work on site for your client but haven’t charged them for it? Because…. you forgot about it when invoicing? Or maybe you didn’t have an accurate inclusions/specification signed with your contract so there was confusion as to what is considered “Ëxtra” or a “Variation”? Well we at Aavas understand this scenario and our wide experience in managing a builder’s office means we can make sure that any extra work or an upgrade will be charged to your client so that you are not out of pocket.
Not Having Watertight Contracts
When things go pear shaped, the building contract you have signed with your client forms the base of all claims. Therefore, it is imperative to have a watertight contract filled out correctly. This includes having special conditions put in to clarify the ‘grey area’ and starting with the right foot with your clients. With Aavas Consultant’s wealth of experience in this area, we can write up the contracts for you and even assist in contract signing with your clients. A fair contract would protect you and your client and make sure both parties are on the same page before work on site starts.
Lack Of Detailed Specifications As Part Of Client Building Contract
Continuing from the above point, it is essential to have a building contract which clarifies items which do not form part of the standard building contract. Things like landscaping inclusion, connection of utilities etc need to be specified so that any anticipated costs are budgeted for both by builder or owner/clients.
Hassles Around Employing A Staff, Training Them & Red Tape
If you have been facing trouble finding the right staff for your construction office or are tired of the paperwork involved around employing staff – worry not as Aavas can quote on per project basis and you can budget for the admin costs towards the project when providing a quote to your client. Easy as. No need to worry about this anymore.
Not Having Proper Purchase Orders Sent To Contractors
Picture this, you have received the invoice from one of your contractors and they have charged one and a half times the original quote. They claim that there has been “extra” works. Since you did not send a purchase order or a trade contract at the time of engagement, you do not have anything to fall back on.
At Aavas Consultants, we can also provide trade contracts to be sent to your contractors to sign before engagement. So, when an invoice is received it can be checked against the purchase order.
Lack Of Proper Communication With The Owner/Client About Job Progress
Communication is the key when it comes to Customer Communication. Half of the times, you as a builder would have already done the job but not communicated to the client. This most probably wouldn’t have been communicated due to lack of time.
When you engage Aavas Consultants, part of our service would be to update your clients of the progress and be a point of contact for them. This will ensure that you do not have to deal with the questions which can be answered from the office.
Not Having Proper Documentation System
In current times, proper documentation record is very crucial. When things are in black and white on paper, there is no confusion. Also, having correct documents generated and stored would ensure a paper trail to be created for the job. This helps you as a builder to refer to it for some other job or if the client raises a query.
We at Aavas Consultants have a standard format which we can apply to your job.
Omitting The Requirements Of A Planning Permit
For Redevelopment or subdivision projects it is important to read the planning permit conditions even before taking over the job. Some permit conditions are to be met prior to site start. Most conditions relating to building are the responsibility of the builder. For example, a construction management plan should be stamped/approved by the council prior to starting.
At Aavas Consultants, due to our experience in town planning and planning permits, we can assess the planning permit for you to inform of you of the obligations you would have towards the project.
Lack Of Proper Handover Packs
The job of a builder is not done when the construction reached practical completion. It is deemed to be over once the project has been handed over to the owner/client.
We offer a Handover Pack management service which would include standard guides for maintaining the building, the owner’s responsibilities and the mandatory certificates.
We can even organise handover hampers to add that little extra touch of appreciation. Remember a happy client will be 10 more.
If the above points resonate to you as a builder, we will be more than happy to assist you in your requirements for a Builder’s Admin Service. We act as the Builder’s Office support including all contracts administration services to other office duties.
We look forward to serving you and taking the headache of managing the paperwork from you. Leaving you to do what you do best….BUILD.
Visit our services page https://www.aavas.com.au/services/builders-admin/ to know more.
