CareHomeDeskCareHomeDeskWhy good scoping saves money, how to produce a scope of works, and when to involve a surveyor.
The majority of care home building project cost overruns are caused by inadequate scoping at the outset. A scope that misses elements, underestimates complexity, or is ambiguous creates three problems: inaccurate budgets, contractor variations (additional cost during works), and disputes at completion. Getting scope right is the highest-leverage investment in any project.
A complete scope of works should include: a description of the works to be carried out (specific and unambiguous), the standard to which the works should be completed (with reference to relevant British Standards or product specifications), any constraints on working (working hours, areas not to be disturbed, infection control requirements during works in an occupied building), the handover standard and documentation required (as-built drawings, warranties, O&M manuals), and any provisional sums for elements that cannot be fully specified at tender stage.
For projects above approximately 20,000, appointing a building surveyor or project manager to produce the scope and manage the tender process is normally cost-effective. The surveyor's fee (typically 8-12% of contract value for full project management) is offset many times over by: competitive tendering producing lower initial cost, fewer contractor variations due to complete scope, and professional contract management reducing the risk of defects at completion.
CareHomeDesk gives you compliance checklists, maintenance logs, and contractor management tools built around exactly this kind of knowledge.