First and foremost, ensure you only work with an architect, draftsman or registered commercial builder. We can’t stress this enough and if you do so, whether or not it is us, you have recourse through professional and regulatory bodies to ensure you are protected.
Unfortunately, the construction industry is filed with “cowboys.” Despite glossy flyers and advertising campaigns in the best magazines, many of these advertisers are not appropriately registered if they have any registrations at all! This means they have no insurances, are not able to design a practice and not able to comply with regulatory requirements. This will leave you exposed to legal and insurance ramifications.
Fit outs without permits – some of these unscrupulous traders will build without a permit; be it a planning permit or a building permit. We have recently seen practice construction works stopped by council inspections, leaving the owners in a state of paying rent while the practice is only partially built and in a situation where the works may have to be taken down so to make them compliant. By this stage, the “builder” is long gone leaving the owner with mounting debt.
Illegal Designs – sometimes called “sketches” to get around legal requirements. Some traders will tell you that they will do a “sketch” for you and then will arrange for the construction with third parties. Again, clearly, there are inherent legal and insurance problems with this opening you up to unwanted liabilities.
“We are not builders but we know the tradesmen and we will arrange it for you” – this is commonly heard. The arrangement of more than one trade is the work of a builder. That is, unless you are arranging the works yourself as an owner builder, to schedule a plumber and an electrician for example is the work of a builder. Again, only a registered commercial builder should be used.
One-Stop-Shop or Turn Key Solutions: Be aware of “all inclusive fit outs” meaning the one stop shop that designs the fit out, organises the tradespeople and supplies you the equipment. Just as in your profession there is no such thing as a one-stop-shop, the same is true in this instance. For example, we work with installers of the equipment to ensure it is seamless to you, but we are builders and we do not supply equipment to you. Similarly, your equipment suppliers supply and install the equipment but do not build walls. If you are dealing with industry professionals, then we all know each other and regularly work together to provide you with a finished and seamless delivery.
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