ABSTRACT
All projects develop and change as they progress through the office, with many of those involved requiring, recommending or making alterations and adjustments to both the brief and the outcomes as the work proceeds. The reference system should be based on a standard office model and where appropriate on industry standards, such as Construction Operations Building Information Exchange or Uniclass/the Common Arrangement of Work Sections. Ensure that a named senior person in the practice is responsible for each job that the office takes on. Job costs and disbursements should be charged at regular intervals along with fees. Some practices charge a percentage fee to cover the normal range of job costs while others itemise and charge at cost or with the addition of a handling fee. Invoicing should ideally be regular, and at least monthly, although some practices only charge at the completion of work stages or when other project milestones are attained.
