Checklist before construction starts

Documents before construction

Prepare drawings, permits, utility conditions, surveys, soil information, construction manager contact, surveyor details and contractor contacts. Depending on the project, you may also need technical decisions, service agreements and utility documents.

It is not enough to have documents somewhere. The current version must be easy to find. Updated drawings, the correct quote and the latest budget should be clear to both homeowner and contractors.

Budget and work scope

Break the budget into stages: site preparation, foundations, structure, roof, windows, services, plastering, screeds, facade, fit-out and handover. One total number for the whole project does not show where the risk sits.

Every quote should describe its scope. If material, transport, equipment or corrections are excluded, mark it before work starts. Many disputes begin because both sides understood the same price differently.

Schedule and contractor sequence

Before construction starts, at least the first sequence should be clear: surveyor, excavation, foundations, waterproofing, walls, floors, roof and windows. Later stages can be refined, but dependencies must be visible early.

The schedule should include start conditions, not only dates. Is material ready? Are documents approved? Was the previous stage accepted? Does the next contractor understand the scope? Without these answers, dates quickly lose value.

Site preparation

The site must be ready for equipment, deliveries and workers. Plan access, storage, security, utilities, water, power, waste, temporary facilities and communication with neighbors. Poor site preparation can delay the build immediately.

Also decide how the project will be documented. Who takes photos? Where do invoices go? How are changes reported? Who confirms inspections and acceptance? Early rules prevent information from disappearing in phone calls.

Control changes from day one

Every build changes. The issue is not change itself, but undocumented change. Each decision should have a date, stage, cost, approver and schedule impact. This applies to materials, scope, additional work and corrections.

BuildIQ helps manage the build by stage. Budget, documents, photos, contractors and dates stay together, so the start of construction relies on a system, not memory.

What to lock before the first crew arrives

Before work starts, confirm the first handoff: who enters the site, what stage is ready, what depends on the previous contractor and what has to be documented immediately. If the first week is vague, the whole build usually becomes harder to control.

This is also the right time to decide how changes will be approved. One written rule for extra work, deposits, acceptance and delays is easier to follow than repeated informal discussions.

Common mistakes before starting

Common mistakes include no contingency, incomplete quotes, outdated drawings, no schedule, unprepared site and documents scattered across email, phone and paper. Each issue may look small, but on site it can quickly become a delay.