Get It Right with Undercover Architect

What Makes a Cost-Plus Contract Work: Scoping, Selections and Teamwork, with Fionna and Ed

Dec 8, 2025
Fionna and Ed share insights from their new build journey, highlighting the importance of scoping before construction to minimize uncertainty. They discuss the value of detailed documentation and early decision-making for confidence in costs. Collaborative design workshops with their architect fostered effective selections and budget management. The couple emphasizes teamwork with trades for design improvements and the use of recycled materials, all while navigating the complexities of a cost-plus contract.
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ADVICE

Decide Finishes Before You Sign

  • Scope and decide finishes early to reduce uncertainty in a cost-plus build.
  • Use detailed plans and scheduled selections so quotes reflect actual costs and reduce change risk.
ANECDOTE

Long Workshops Produced Detailed Plans

  • Fionna and Ed ran five to six hour design workshops every three weeks for nearly a year.
  • They finished with pages of plans, detailed joinery drawings and a 38-page schedule.
INSIGHT

Simplicity Controls Design Cost

  • Limiting design ambition can control cost: simple shapes rather than complex forms reduce expense.
  • Clear cost-cap expectations guided the architect toward cost-effective design choices.
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