Cost awareness
Budget and cost management is an integral part of the
architect's duties. Monitoring budgets is part of our daily work.
For each phase of the project we make estimates that ensure
everything stays right on budget.
Even once the program of requirements has been established there
are, after all (!)still many decisions still to be made along the
way. Allocation of the total fixed budget among the various aspects
of the project (facade, main construction, installation design,
etc.) needs to be watched closely and discussed in time to avoid
budget overspends for this could jeopardize the entire
project.
HM Architects monitors and supervises the budget in consultation
with the client.
Note our track record: not one of our projects has
ever gone over budget because of inadequate budget control and
monitoring!
We fully understand the five factors that ensure efficient and
effective cost control:
- understanding the cost factors in the design;
- quality of drawings and specifications;
- knowledge of procurement methods and construction;
- accurate preparation and supervision of implementation;
- for the preparation of management budgets, we always work with
a trusted, external, calculation agency.
Effective cost control starts with clear agreements. We stick to
the following method:
- We present various models in the first draft stage and make
informed decisions together with our clients.
- We review the plan at each stage, using the constraints of the
component budgets, and at the specification stage, the management
budget.
- We maintain budgetary control by conducting special financial
forecasts of different aspects of the final design phase. We also
explore various financial alternatives to help us to successfully
monitor the budget.
- And, of course, we make sure that our knowledge in the fields
of regulation, legislation and standardization is up to par with
the current situation, not just in the Netherlands, but abroad as
well.
