how much should be pay for project management?

[PlumSykes]

We've got plans to knock thru our kitchen/dining room/lean-to conservatory.

I've had someone come round to give us a quote for project managing the whole affair-dealing with architects, putting it out to tender, dealing with contractors etc.

The whole job will cost around £30,000, they are quoting £3500 to PM it. Does that sound reasonable to you?

Jesus, I hope not. A colleague who manages a company's estates did pm for our house, and would only accept a couple of bottles of spirits in payment.

Still, he probably got kickbacks from the builders/decorators/damp people he picked...

It's quite high but not off the scale - most seem to go on a percentage of the total cost - between 7-15% with percentages often slightly higher for smaller jobs ( which yours would be classed as) as they still have work to do iyswim. Worth it if they do a decent job as they can save you lots of time, money and stress.

My brother is a designer, and does PM work, he charges 10% of the cost. He's just done our extension and new kitchen, and tbh the amount he's saved us on goods (he gets trade discounts on just about everything) alone must come to at least his fee.

Does your PM get trade discounts and pass them on to you?

Ours, who is also a Chartered Surveyor, charged 10% of the cost. Loads and loads of people seemed shocked at this and saw it as a waste of money.

What rot! How many building projects do you know that hit bumps in the road but still come in on time and under budget? Exactly, not many. It was unbelievably smooth and he was worth every single penny. The specification was very detailed so there was absolutely no room for ambiguity when it came to pricing the job up. He signed it off at various agreed points and we paid accordingly. Everyone was happy.

It was great having someone between me and the builders as well as they could rant about him instead of me.

Certainly, in our case, he saved us time, money and a serious amount of aggravation and stress.

Excellent, thanks everyone for your feedback. I thought 10% sounded about right, and since the cost will no doubt go up, I think £3500 will prob work out at 10%.

Am certain that using them will be worth the money, even if they don't get the discounts etc. I've got two preschoolers to deal with full-time, I can't be worrying about a fleet of builders as well.

I have been to see some of their previous work, and am hugely impressed with the quality of the finish, and they are a small, local firm so will have lots of great contacts etc.

Thanks again, all.

I think it is reasonable, but just be aware that you may still end up doing lots of work. DH and I are "particular" according to our PM which is his way of making us research everything

But, truth be told, we are particular so I guess he's right.

And totally agree that having a buffer between us and the builders is looooovely and is what will keep us from growing old and bitter in the span of 2 months.

Totally reasonable and worth every penny. I have one on our current build and he's saved us his fee in materials. Then his presence on site has made things stress free for me. He's been away for a week on holiday and this week has been so stressfull for me. I also have 2 preschoolers.