"...an architect who listens"

Going through the detailed specification provided by our architect, the engineer reckons that we will not, in fact, be needing a quantity surveyor after all, such is the high quality of the document. We responded that we'd all put a lot of effort into the spec and that "this is what you get when you have an architect who listens".

He had a right laugh at that, as if the very idea was something utterly implausible.

Anyway, good news: no QS. That still leaves the tender. The engineer will be spending about three weeks working up the drawings to tenderable quality, and in the meantime will offer some recommendations on contractors. While he does that, we will be putting our shortlist together and aim to have the tender out by the end of the month.

At last, an ally!

So we met our engineer and he seemed quite optimistic about the whole project. He thought our budget was reasonable and that a project schedule of about six months was a runner. Most importantly, he is interested in being our project manager and will

all for a flat fee.

What we still need to get for ourselves is a quantity surveyor and, oh yes, a builder. But at least now there's someone on board who knows what they're doing.