GOING SOLO: A RISKY BUSINESS
Tom Adams, CEO
ANALYSIS PARALYSIS
The internet has introduced us to many useful tools, but when it comes to design, there is arguably too much choice on offer. By our last count, there are over 6,000 registered architecture design practices working in the UK and a similar number of—if not slightly more—interior design studios. The current tally of construction contractors is nearly 100,000. On top of this is the visual bombardment by magazines and newspapers, as well as social media sites such as Instagram and Pinterest. A small search for inspiration can result in overwhelming amounts of information and hours lost in indecision.
Through our bespoke taste exploration exercise and in-house vetting of partners, our clients are able to make informed decisions.
WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?
The design industry in the UK is large and growing. There are a lot of studios, practices and construction companies competing for work. When it comes to making decisions about every aspect of the build—especially when there are inevitable blocks in the road—most people find that none of the teams hired for the project can offer truly independent advice.
RedBook acts as trusted advisors for all our clients; you are our top priority. With years of experience overseeing projects, we have the know-how and knowledge to provide the best, unbiased advice.
INFLATED FEES
Like anywhere in the world, some companies pitching for business can fall into the trap of building a fee structure according not to the work they are being asked to do but to how much money the client might be prepared to pay. It’s a sad truth that the richer the client, the more expensive the services can become.
At RedBook, clients remain anonymous until a project team has been selected and a fee schedule is agreed upon and in place. Not only that, but we constantly benchmark the fees of every professional service within the project team against industry averages and will challenge any that look inflated.
TIME SWALLOWING
Even the smallest building project will come with a dizzying array of questions and decisions that need to be made, along with a number of unforeseen problems that need solving. When going solo, answers or resolutions to these are often required immediately, or there’s a real risk the building team might disappear off on another project.
As Project Directors, we not only assemble the ideal design teams but also ensure that our clients are taking all the necessary decisions in a timely manner, either in the role of a light-touch Project Guardian or, for those who are very time-poor or live overseas, a hands-on Client Representative.
CHOOSING THE TEAM
Trying to build a team from a blank slate is hard. With large or complex property projects, there are a number of different professionals and specialists who will need to come in and provide their expertise.
At RedBook, we go through a thorough matchmaking process to build the right project team. Using an in-house system that scores our Partners strengths against a long list of suitability criteria such as the scale of existing projects (will they be taking on too much work? ), previous experience and geographical location. Importantly, we also look at personalities to make sure that there is a good fit.
TIMES OF DISCORD
There’s always a risk that, at some point during the lifespan of a project, one or two members of the team might fall out. This has a significant impact on the timeline and sometimes even the budget of the project.
This risk is mitigated when working with RedBook. Our Partners are hand-picked; we know each of them. As a result, we can step in and use our position to quickly address any issues and ensure everything is back on track as quickly as possible.
