What is ECI and how it can help you build?

Here at Best Nest Building Co, we have Early Contractor Involvement in nearly all our projects, because we know it allows us to finish every build to the highest degree of quality, so you can feel confident that you’ve got the best work done for your budget.

What is Early Contractor Involvement?

Early Contractor Involvement, or ECI, is a more collaborative way to approach the contractor relationship that seeks to involve contractors in the design and build process at all key moments, not just when it’s their turn to contribute to the build.

Why get contractors involved early?

ECI is a great way to ensure the buildability and optimisation of designs – how feasible are your plans, what changes we must make or might suggest to you, and exactly what we can achieve with your budget.

ECI is most important for large, high-risk, or more complex projects when it’s critical to have all parties on the same page right from the start. All contractors can have an early understanding of the design and build requirements, which allows them to manage potential risks much more effectively and gives them the space to innovate. No contractors will be left to clean up the messes of other parties or work with less-than-ideal foundations. This means your design and build process can move along more efficiently at a greater degree of quality, ultimately maximising the value for you.

How early are contractors involved?

There are two key points of the process when we get contractors involved, first and second stage tender.

First stage pricing: These are the project documents shared with contractors that will allow them to submit a quote response. They need enough information about the project so that Sub-contractor can address all the necessary aspects, so they include the early design information (whether that’s the concept or preliminary designs), and an indication of your budget.

Second stage pricing: This involves the contractor working with our design team or your selected architect to develop the designs further in line with their feasibility and optimisation recommendations. They can then calculate the quote price more openly and in line with the budget, so we can maximise the design and build value of each project.

What are the benefits of getting the contractors involved early?

Time and cost savings. With the team integrated from as early as possible, it minimises delays, wasted time and possible onsite roadblocks and allows contractors to implement innovative solutions early on, which helps to keep build costs down.

Resource commitment. When contractors have a heads up of work needing to be done, they can allocate time to it and purchase necessary materials in advance of when they’re needed, so you’re not affected by short term lack of supply.

Innovation. When contractors are involved early, they’re not limited to what they can do based on work already done. They can guide the build in innovative ways by working in conjunction with us and your other contractors in the design phase to complete higher quality builds.

ECI is a highly effective model across all ranges of building projects, and here at Best Nest Building Co we follow this model for all of our builds. We are committed to always providing the highest level of quality work, and ECI is a key component in this. You can be confident that your build will be completed at the best price, with the best methods, because our team is integrated with our contractors from early on.