The Home Project Podcast

Do you know what actually changes the moment you get the keys?

Handover feels like the finish line, but for most homeowners it marks the start of a process they have never been prepared for.

We cover everything that happens at the point of practical completion: what the term legally means, why the contract administrator holds the only authority to issue it, and what changes hands the moment that certificate is signed.

We walk through the O&M manual, client training, snagging timelines, and the rectification period, including the critical distinction most homeowners get wrong between a defect the contractor must fix and maintenance you own.

We also cover final account settlement, when retention is released, and why rushing a contractor to finish before Christmas consistently produces worse outcomes, higher costs, and damaged relationships.

 

Get this stage wrong and you risk insurance gaps, contractor claims, and years of unresolved defects. Get it right and the contract closes cleanly on your terms.

 

“It's a legal change, not just getting the keys."  — Bart Kolosowski

 

You’ll hear about:

What practical completion legally means

Why clients can't issue it themselves

Insurance and liability at handover

O&M manuals: what's actually useful

Training clients to use their building

Snagging: who does it and when

The Christmas deadline trap

Rectification period vs. long-term defect liability

Why you can't refuse the contractor to fix defects

Traffic light system for defect response times

Final account settlement and retention release

Moving in early: the real financial risk

 

Connect with us:

Tima Patel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapatel/

Bart Kolosowski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartkolosowski/

 

 

Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com/

Is your build being managed, or just happening?

The build phase feels like the moment everything finally comes to life. But without the right management structure in place, it's also where home builds quietly unravel.

We cover who is responsible for what once work starts on site, why 80% of disputes trace back to decisions made at tender, and why the Contract Administrator works for the contract, not the client.

We also look at the client's own responsibilities during the build, including why slow decisions and late payments are more damaging than most homeowners realise.

Get this right and your project runs to time and budget. Get it wrong and the fallout is expensive and very hard to undo.

"Design is an evolution, even when you get to site." – Tina Patel

 

You’ll hear about:

 

Why management starts before site begins

The layered construction management structure

Who the Contract Administrator works for

Why only the CA can instruct changes

The real cost of late design decisions

Design resource gaps during the build phase

When to appoint a project or design manager

The client’s responsibilities during construction

Why paying contractors on time matters

How retention works on JCT contracts

Key JCT terms defined plainly

Connect with us:

 

Tima Patel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapatel/

Bart Kolosowski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartkolosowski/

 

Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com/

Is your contractor selection process setting your project up to fail?

The assumption is that once you've found a builder and agreed a price, the hard part is over.

Between us, we've spent 40 years on high-value residential projects, and contractor selection is consistently the decision clients underestimate most. In this episode, we break down why choosing on price and gut feeling is a costly mistake, and how a structured process, started months before tender, changes the outcome.

We cover procurement strategy, proper vetting (including financials and older completed projects), why a professional reference outweighs a client one, and what a bulletproof tender package looks like.

Get this right and you'll appoint a contractor suited to your project who's priced it properly. Get it wrong and you risk an unfinished site and a bill far larger than the one you started with.

"Contractors are custodians of your house for a period of time." – Tina Patel

 

You’ll hear about:

Why contractor selection is often rushed

Starting procurement before planning permission

Defining your procurement strategy early

What contractor's design portions mean

Building the right tender strategy document

Scoring tenders beyond price alone

How to vet contractors properly

Checking contractor financial health

Visiting older completed projects

Why professional references outweigh client ones

How long pricing takes

Keeping momentum after appointment

 

Connect with us:

 

Tima Patel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapatel/

Bart Kolosowski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartkolosowski/

 

Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com/

How do you protect yourself from costly disputes?

Signing a JCT contract guarantees protection and clarity throughout your build.

We break down the most common procurement routes and explain why choosing the right contract matters more than most homeowners realise.

Traditional lump sum contracts give you maximum control over specification and finishes but require complete design before tender and can extend your programme. Design and build transfers design risk to the contractor and speeds up delivery but only works if your contractor has the management capability to handle it.

Most residential projects use a hybrid approach with contractor design portions for specialist elements like M&E, joinery, and waterproofing.

The right contract protects everyone involved. The wrong one leaves you exposed when disputes arise.

"The contract is there to safeguard all parties." – Bart Kolosowski

You’ll hear about:

What procurement actually means in construction

Traditional lump sum contract pros and cons

Design and build risk allocation explained

Contractor design portions and hybrid contracts

When to hire an M&E designer

The four elements forming a contract

Contract administrator role and powers

JCT contract family structure explained

RIBA domestic contracts versus JCT contracts

FMB contracts in plain English

When to involve construction lawyers

Connect with us:

Tima Patel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapatel/

Bart Kolosowski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartkolosowski/

 

Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com/

How do you avoid costly delays on a build?

Planning permission approved is just the beginning, not the green light to start building.

We break down the eight RIBA stages that structure every successful residential project, from initial feasibility through to post-occupancy evaluation.

Through our combined experience as architect and quantity surveyor, we explain why spending time on technical design prevents six-figure cost overruns during construction. We share the critical tender stage that RIBA overlooks and why rushing to site after planning approval is one of the most expensive mistakes homeowners make.

This episode walks through what you should expect at each stage, which consultants to involve when, and how proper staging controls both risk and budget evolution.

Get this framework wrong and you'll lose money during construction. Get it right and your build becomes manageable, predictable, and even enjoyable.

“It’s about removal of stress through a build” – Tina Patel

 

You’ll hear about:

What RIBA stages mean

Feasibility versus concept design differences

When to involve planning consultants

Technical design and its critical importance

The missing tender stage

Construction phase mini stages

Strip out before main contract starts

Contractor familiarisation and procurement structure

Handover certification and legal requirements

Post-occupancy evaluation benefits

Cost planning through each stage

Connect with us:

 

Tima Patel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinapatel/

Bart Kolosowski - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartkolosowski/

 

 

Produced by Between Tracks - https://www.betweentracks.com/