To kick off any project, we invite prospective clients to an initial consultation with a member of our team. This is an opportunity for us to gain a greater understanding of the project objectives and gets the ball rolling on making your idea a reality.
We work with plenty of clients who have never been involved in a fit-out project before. For these individuals, the initial consultation can be quite daunting. You may not have any idea about the design and build process, just a desired outcome in mind.
Thankfully, we are able to help you navigate this and act as a helping hand throughout the project. This begins even before the initial consultation. We’ve put together the following guide to what is involved in this meeting and how you can prepare for it.
For more information on how Eden can help you, get in touch using the contact form below.
The initial consultation is the first contact our team has with our prospective clients. It typically takes place in two parts, the first of which happens over the phone and the second involves a site visit or a face-to-face meeting.
The purpose of the consultation is to discuss the objectives and specifications of the project, so that we can determine whether we are a suitable fit and if so, gather enough information to provide an approximate cost.
Let’s be clear: the initial consultation should not feel intimidating. You’re not being quizzed on your construction knowledge, and if your answer to some of our questions is “I don’t know”, we’re here to help you figure this out.
However, there are a number of things we’d recommend prospective clients think about prior to the initial consultation. This is simply to make the conversation as productive as possible. The more information we can ascertain from you about the project, the more accurate our guidance and our pricing will be.
What stage is your project at? Is this still in the exploratory stage or have you begun the process by getting drawings made up—often with a view to applying for planning permission.
Having drawings is absolutely not a necessity for the initial consultation. If you require these, we can provide a full design and build service.
Many internal fit-out projects, such as office fit outs, will not require planning permission unless you’re doing external changes, but it’s worth investigating this beforehand. If, for example, you’re planning a commercial to residential conversion which includes a change of use, this will likely require planning permission
We can manage the process of applying for planning permission if necessary.
We often find that individuals that have not undertaken these types of projects before underestimate the potential cost. It’s important to be realistic about the desired budget so we can advise to the best of our ability. This will also save you some nasty surprises when it comes to pricing!
The outcome of the consultation will depend on whether it appears we are the correct people to assist you. We have a diverse portfolio and plenty of experience, but that doesn’t make us the right contractor for every project. It’s important that everyone feels that we are the best-placed team to realise your idea.
If we believe ourselves to be the right fit following the telephone consultation, we will usually follow up with a visit to your site or premises. Should everything be good to go ahead, we will then use the information you have provided to determine a price.
Eden London is a trusted principle contractor operating across the UK. If you would like to find out more about how we can help you with your project, please use the contact form below.