Include windows in an invitation to tender?

[DaveKF]

New build house, going to use a main contractor. I've got full BR drawings and will get Bill of Quantities from online shop.

 

But I'm still unclear about some vital things like windows: do we a) get quotes from window suppliers ourselves or b) specify in detail the specs for the windows and get the main contractor to get quotes and include that in his quote?

 

Any advice would be very welcome.

 

Do we specify all the internal finishes and joinery for one single quote or do shell and then interiors as 2 separate stages?

[Nickfromwales]

Most of my clients want to touch / feel / operate the units, slide and fold the doors etc so are more hands on in this respect tbh.

[DevilDamo]

In having a main contractor, you would let them take care of the whole process and ordering. They may in the first instance allow a provisional sum for those items and provide you with their recommended or suggested suppliers.

[JohnMo]

36 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said:

Most of my clients want to touch / feel / operate the units, slide and fold the doors etc so are more hands on in this respect tbh.

Yep, got prices, took wife to see windows, 2 mins later we were in the car on the way home, the windows were cr@p - I got more prices. 

 

36 minutes ago, DevilDamo said:

provide you with their recommended or suggested suppliers

I took advice from several contractors, do your own leg work. Go around show rooms try opening and closing, look for gaps etc. if they can't do a good job for a showroom, you've no hope.

[nod]

Online or any other estimators are really just a finger in the air 

 

When you get your contractor to quote Get him to itemize everything Ie 

25k for windows external doors 40 k for a kitchen etc Then at least you can up or downgrade from what you have in writing 

[Nickfromwales]

53 minutes ago, nod said:

Online or any other estimators are really just a finger in the air 

 

It actually depends on which one you choose, and what you actually ask them to do. I have a good chap who charges me a very nominal sum to do a BOQ to reflect a "minimal acceptable standard" and then I cut him loose.

 

I just want the framework so I can then use it to input the clients choices and get to a design freeze, that way they can see the budget expand and contract with the different choices they make; often some have to compromise, particularly when we show them the professional fees etc and when we add in the stuff in the prelims that they quickly skirted over when first considering building a house!

 

I think it's an essential process that each project needs, afaic, to keep a firm control on costs and for getting design freezes done early on which then allows the client to go out to tender.