01 Project Brief
Define objectives, scope, priorities, constraints, stakeholders, budget and success criteria.
Published book + companion downloads
The Client’s Building Project Checklist
For first-time and occasional construction clients — from brief to handover.
Chris Wilkinson
Structured client-side checks for the decisions that protect time, money and confidence.
A practical guide for anyone responsible for commissioning or managing a construction project without years of specialist industry experience. The book follows the project from briefing and appointments through design, tendering, construction, handover, defects and close-out.
Each stage combines plain-English guidance with a checklist that can be adapted to the scale, complexity and risk of the project. The aim is not paperwork for its own sake, but better questions and more visible decisions before omissions become costly problems.
Particularly useful for
- Construction and project management students
- New professional clients and estates staff
- Project officers and degree apprentices
- Building surveying and quantity surveying practice
- Anyone needing a repeatable client-side project framework
Companion resources
Nine expanded project checklists
Each checklist is available in Word and Excel. Download individual files below or take a complete set in your preferred format.
Download the complete set
All nine expanded checklists in one ZIP file.
02 Consultant Appointment
Consider scope, competence, responsibilities, fees, authority and information needs when appointing the professional team.
03 Design Development and Tender Readiness
Review whether design, surveys, approvals and project information are sufficiently developed before tender.
04 Pre-Tender Issue
Check the tender package, procurement information, programme, pricing requirements and issue controls.
05 Tender Comparison and Return
Compare tender returns consistently, identify qualifications and gaps, and record the basis of contractor selection.
06 Pre-Start Assurance
Confirm appointments, information, approvals, logistics, safety arrangements and client-side readiness before work starts.
07 During the Works Control
Maintain oversight of programme, cost, change, information, quality, risk, meetings and decisions during construction.
08 Handover and Operational Readiness
Plan for practical completion, training, records, keys, O&M information and the transition into operation.
09 Defects, Aftercare and Project Close-Out
Manage defects, retention, final documents, warranties, final certification and lessons learned.
Related extra
Client Project Control Pack
Eight additional editable tools covering project finance, change, actions, approvals, responsibilities and handover.