NICHE FEATURE: CLARKE & WATT
Building
a business When it comes to property surveying or project management, you need someone you can trust. Jordan Clarke and Sam Watt formed Clarke & Watt Building Consultancy to do just that WORDS BY TOM YOUNG
B
uying or developing a property is a huge investment. There are many risks involved, whether that be for maintenance or regulatory reasons, and failure to spot such issues can result in significant financial expenditure. You need an experienced hand to help identify potential problems. Enter Clarke & Watt. Jordan and Sam met at the University of Salford, in the first lecture of the first day – they were eventually the only two students on their building surveying course to complete their placements and finish with firsts. After several years of crafting their skills working at national firms, the pandemic hit, presenting a unique opportunity that both were keen to take advantage of, igniting the birth of Clarke & Watt Building Consultancy. “If you’re buying a property, it’s important to bring in a qualified surveyor,” says Jordan. “We want to give people peace of mind that the property is in sound condition. We can also
provide costs for any required repair work to ensure our clients can make informed decisions.” But that’s not their only service; they also represent both landlords and tenants in dilapidations for commercial and industrial property. When a tenant is preparing to move out, a dilapidation report assesses what it will take to restore the property to the condition described in the lease. “If the tenant has occupied the property for 20 years or more, it’s unlikely to be in the same condition as the day they moved in,” Sam explains. “Some are left an absolute mess! We go in and assess the extent of damage, calculate costs for each item, and issue a schedule on behalf of the landlord. We can negotiate a financial settlement or tender the works so the landlord can recover their loss.” “We work with both landlords and tenants,” adds Jordan, “but we’d love to get involved with block management companies too.
WE WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE PEACE OF MIND THAT THE PROPERTY IS IN SOUND CONDITION
We offer Planned Preventative Maintenance schedules, where we help the property managers forecast maintenance works over a five, 10, 15 year period, which to prioritise and budget for accordingly.” The other side of the business is project management. If you’re looking to do a refurbishment, Clarke & Watt write a specification of works and procure reputable contractors to carry these out at a competitive rate. They’ll then draft contracts and manage the works throughout the process. “We ensure the quality meets the client’s expected standards,” says Sam. “We’re the middle-man between client and contractor, ensuring everything is done fairly.” “On all our jobs, we have a key triangle of responsibility,” Jordan concludes. “We ensure the budget’s controlled, the programme’s adhered to, and the workmanship’s good and compliant with regulations.” Visit cwbc.co.uk for more information about what needs to be done when buying a house. NICHE | 67
