Cost of building.

Hi Phil, I think I was trying to make a point.......................

@Guerrilla: In Bulgaria every construction (unless it is a small residential one) must have a "nezavisim stroitelen nadzor" (independent construction supervisor). These professionals are licensed by the ministry. They are hired by the investor and work for him. Their job is to check and insure that everything is being built up to standards.

When a construction is finished, there is a special state commission consisting of different engineers who come and also inspect the building for correspondence to standards. Only after their approval the building can enter in operation.

And at the end it is a free market. You are free to choose any builder you trust, Guerrilla.

Ing, thank you for the answer to my question. It will help me in the future, Ing

Working in Bulgaria is very different to that of the uk. Ive found I need to forget everything and start learning fast. I wouldnt say any better or worse just probably more relaxed. Programming and planning doesnt exist, the paperwork and beurocracy will drive you crazy beyond any doubt of reasonable logic. You will find excellent tradesmen but very few will understand drawings, so you need to be there to guide every step. However much you try to explain something, turn your back and it will be upside down and the wrong colour. You will find excellent architects/engineers and then you will find a big gap as there has been no formal training for tradesmen.
Ive just spent 3 weeks working in London with an excellent joiner from my town. In Bulgaria the windows open in,the hinges are on the architrave etc, he was making huge mahogany 2.5 M tall French windows for apartments in Kew. Everybody involved said they are the best they had seen, excellent job!. He was missing family so now back in Krichim. You will need a bucket of tolerance and another of patience but I am sure you will get there in the end Smile

Peter

I have just finished a contract in Nigeria of all places and have other non UK contracts under my belt. Nigeria for example, there are few or no skilled tradesmen, not only do they not understand the drawings but they will argue with you for an hour telling you they appear to be wrong.
As for back turning it is the same as things will go wrong or stop if you aren't there but worse still whilst your back is turned half of the materials will go missing also!!! There is more but you need to go and experience it, you will return wondering how you ever got frustrated in Bulgaria. What we will do is meet up for a beer when I am more settled, talk shop and we can swap a few stories.
Tolerance and patience I have, I am lucky to be in the industry and like you have many years experience contracting.

The point I politely tried and obviously failed to make is that it is very important especially to the guy who has little or no construction knowledge, buys his plot, gets his architect to draw up his plans etc and then employs his architect as his main contractor. He needs to have a professional acting on his sole behalf.
I do not mean building control, a person who can advise him on progress, variations, claims and quality. This is usually an architect on the smaller projects we are discussing.
How many times do you hear a building project going sour and the client wondering why he ever placed all of his trust and money in the same person to design, price, construct and then check the project. I merely asked that if Ing for eg charges 15 lv per m2 on a project to act as the architect and be solely employed by the client. After acquisition, design and planning approval Ing is then appointed as the main contractor, is there a percentage reduction in his architectural fees to allow the client to, for e.g, hire a third party to look after his sole interests or even a cost saving and do it himself.
Or does he still act as the architect. Ing has responded and said he thinks it is ok to act as both, I disagree.

Ing this is not an attack on you or your company, however on a Forum I am allowed an opinion.

This a serious question and a little advice for any country and any contract!!

Someone mention beer!, Here that Bazz?, Chirpan here we come! Smile

. Serious though if you need any help please just ask. Got everything here from a cat scanner to scaffold.
Just waiting to here back from Angel today, re tanks! it was his name day yesterday and also a special day for not working!!, got my chestnuts roasted for cutting logs!, I wondered why the the neighbours were quiet.
Many issues over construction in Bulgaria, Domestic development has been off plan but non existant at present and is usually buddy buddy with architect and developer, getting into a legal situation isnt an option here!. If banks have there way, mortgages will only be available on finished projects/homes. Contracting here is a very big can of worms and this is were the beer comes in!. I worked with Biwater in the UK, they have an office in Sofia but its now reduced just to designing!. I can take you up to the new hydro dam near me which is impressive. Be prepared to be alarmed though at the state of the industry and you will realise why the euro funding was stopped so rapidly! Sad

Peter

Last edited by ing on Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:59 pm; edited 1 time in total

@Guerilla: Thank you, I get your point. For how long have you been living in Bulgaria? How many projects have you successfully finished here?

The company I work for has been around for 20 years. None of its projects have gone wrong. Every contract includes time constraints and prices. For the client it is easy to compare the terms just by collecting a few offers by different companies in advance to singing a contract.

As sparky mentions in Bulgaria it does not make sense to sew anyone for anything. It just takes too long and is very ineffective. So you simply have to work with people who you trust and who you are sure can do the job. The projects you talk about went badly, because someone took the cheapest and unrealistic offer and hired the wrong people.

Planning and building belong together. Incorporating the two closer together brings great advantages. You plan with an exact idea how everything will be built keeping in mind the in house capabilites. You plan cost-effectively because you know the prices. You are able to supervise construction because you disigned the project and know every small detail about it. You are able to solve small problems that ocur during construction easily because you know the project well ... And our workers are able to read the plans themselves.

Sparky, Ing thank you both for your replies.

Sparky, yes we will have a beer and we can arrange that through PM I am sure! I am up for coming to Plovdiv if that is ok, we can meet in town and well see where we end up Razz

Ing, please let us not turn this into a I have more experience in an environment than you thing.
I asked you a question, is there a reduction from you as an architect if you are then appointed MC. You say no. I personally would not use you if that is the case.
This never was about your company, how you do business or how things work in Bulgaria or the South Pole for that matter.
Of course design and build go together but there should always be a third party looking after the Client/End User without any conflict of interest.
For example, if A company (not yours) is running behind schedule and a key date has to be reached for eg. are they going to react better with an external pressure maybe holding the purse strings or their own guy saying Cmon guys!!
Please relax a little this is not an attack on you!

Sure there is a discount when our company is both the designer and the constructor. I never wrote there wasn't. The client is free to use the saved money to hire an additional architect or other professional if they feel they need to.

Ing,

Please PM me with your Contact Details and Office Location in Sofia.

I am in Sofia until 14 November and would like to discuss a possible project with you.

Regards,

Mike

Just finishing sketches and looking for someone with an A3 scanner!! Sad

Peter

Certainly on the domestic housing/apartment front contract procedures are informal. Its difficult to come from another country and understand what happens here, thats where the problems start, expecting or not adapting to the Bulgarian way. Its really important to get to know the people your working with and build up trust in both directions, takes time. I would say that building in Bulgaria is the way it should be!. A bit of understanding can give you a good experience. I know of projects were the land owner works with the developer and architect, this would be impossible in the uk!
I doubt the structure exists though to build say a 200 million euro hospital without foriegn management. The new terminal 2 turned out a financial nightmare and still many contractors wait payment!

Mike, I've sent you a PM.

Peter, it is hard to find an A3 scanner. I would either scan two A4 halves or take a photo with a digital camera. Usually using the macro mode gets you the best results.

Thanks for the contact details, I'll be in touch either tomorrow or Wednesday.

Regards,

Mike

Peter,

Take your A3 drawings to an office with a professional photocopier & you should be able to copy to A4 reduction. Then you will be scan & email to Ing.

Regards,

Mike

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Exchange rates
September 08 2010

Cost of building.

Weather

Exchange ratesSeptember 08 2010

Cost of building.

Exchange rates
September 08 2010