The best thing about using a local design and build partnership for any project below major housing level is the close relationship one can build – trust and understanding are absolutely vital in this world. One must be able to talk to the architect or designer and get across what we want to get out of a project. It is all too easy to listen to sage words and not take in the essence and along the way, lose sight of our own needs and requirements. Very often a build team will have a set idea in mind, but this does not always sit easily with the end user. There may be good reason for this, such as lack of contact and perseverance on one side or the other. The key is to always keep in touch via the project manager or build foreman if this is the agreed route. Do not let them run with the project so it goes ahead of where one can rein it back in. This will cause all sorts of conflict if it gets out of hand.
