What is a Pre-Construction Agreement

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Pre-Construction Agreement [PCA]

  • Typically, 1% of the total contract value – pending project value and project complexity.
  • This pre-construction agreement is refunded if the project moves forward with Kentbuilt through to construction. It will be deducted from the final contract sum.

The pre-construction agreement is made up of three phases

  1. Design
  2. Plan
  3. Price

We start with the design phase, where we work closely with you to understand your vision. Once the design is in place, we move on to the planning stage, where we finalise the details and structure a transparent pricing breakdown.

From Concept to Construction.

The journey from concept design to construction involves several key steps, and it’s common to encounter challenges, especially when dealing with consultants and council regulations. We are here to make this process as simple and smooth as possible.

DESIGN

Key Project Requirements

Our goal is to bring your project to life while ensuring it meets the following criteria.

  • Aesthetically Pleasing: The final design should reflect your aesthetic preferences and enhance the space.
  • Functional & Practical: We ensure the design is not only visually appealing but also practical and tailored to your needs.
  • Financially Achievable: We’ll work within your budget, ensuring the project is cost-Effective without compromising quality.

Note: 80% of designs fail to be built due to misalignment between the design and budget. This can be avoided by getting builder feedback early in the process, reducing the risk of costly rework and delays later on.

We take care of all the necessary steps, ensuring transparency and clear communication throughout.

  • Consultants: We can either organise the required consultants on your behalf or provide you with access to our trusted list of professionals.
  • Direct Payment: To ensure full transparency, you will pay the consultants directly. This eliminates any builder’s margin, so your investment goes directly toward the services provided.

Consultants We Engage:

  • Architect or Building Designer: Based on your preferences and requirements, we’ll recommend the best professional suited to your project.
  • Design: This includes concept design, plans, and elevations.
  • Working Drawings & Specifications: Detailed working drawings and specifications for construction.
  • Engineering: Structural design, including the footing report.
  • Soil Report: Required for assessing site conditions.
  • Energy EFiciency: Ensuring the design meets energy eFiciency standards.

The above items are all required for Development Approval to be granted by local Council.

For simple guide to Council Approvals – Click this link

PLAN

Risk Mitigation and minimisation

One of the first things we do is identify any potential risks. We want to address these upfront so that there are no surprises later in the process, helping avoid any unnecessary delays or additional costs.

Project Duration/ Programme

Next, we create a preliminary construction timeline. This gives us a clear idea of the project’s duration, helping manage expectations and ensuring that everyone is aligned on timelines.

Buildability

We then go over the buildability of the project. This means we assess whether the design is practical and feasible, making sure that everything we plan to build can be done eFiciently and eFectively.

PRICE

Coordination and Pricing

Once we have a solid plan in place, we begin collating all the necessary documentation and send it out to our trusted trades and suppliers for pricing. This includes working with subcontractors, consultants such as architects, engineers, and surveyors, and specialists like truss manufacturers.

We often get multiple quotes for different trades and materials to ensure you’re getting the best value for your investment.

Subcontractor price vetting

When the quotes come back, we carefully vet all the information. This step ensures that we are choosing the best possible options for your project. For example, when reviewing timber supply quotes, we make sure that all costs are accounted for and that no unexpected charges are added. We also pay attention to any scope gaps that might need to be addressed.

By thoroughly vetting this information, we can save you thousands in potential variations that could arise later in the project.