Hi all, I get quotes filled a lot. I have a methodology because some of the projects I run remotely. Others I'm there on site. The 3P's stay largely the same. If I haven't met the person - I send the plans, the brief and the scope with a little note of what I need priced up. It's just a pack of info which includes my site information etc. Price - have a price that is easily comparable. inclusive or exclusive of tax (let them tell you what it is). Note we don't make decisions purely on price. Professionalism - how professional is this person, do you like the format and style of the quote and the engagement before you sign? Some trades are giving you quotes on the back of an envelope, or worse still... verbally. Others go to the effort of recording you a quote video explaining what problems they'll solve for you and what it will cost. They are clear and may follow up with a written note also. You expect a level of professionalism consistent with how you operate and what you trust. The Third P is the hardest to quantify. It can come down to a gut feel. P is for Personality – Can you work with this person? Do you trust them? Do you feel heard? Could you have a difficult conversation with them if something goes wrong? If the relationship doesn't feel right from the outset, it rarely improves later.

Here's the thing with renovating to change the function of a building in Australia. We changed a residential house to a rooming house. Here's some of the insights taken at the time of the framing inspection. “So, great news. We had our inspection on the frame and that’s all passed. In fact, it was a bit of a non-event really. So, look, we just need to get that compliant. Given that we’re transferring from a class 1A to 1B building, all of the permits and approvals need to be above board. All of our trades need to be registered and obviously licensed for their particular trade. And we’re finding that dotting our i’s and crossing our t’s is actually making the project run more smoothly, which is unheard of.” Keeping a compliance eye on the details through the build helped us refer certificates and confirm compliance when it mattered to our consultants. Not exciting, sexy or fun but saved going back at the end of the day and delays in our approvals to open the doors.

Credit where it's due and stepping into partnership with your Trades:...... The tradies I know didn't get into the trade because they wanted to run a business. They got into it because they want to build or fix stuff with their hands. Thankfully, they are genuinely gifted in a way most of us aren't — spatially, mechanically, instinctively. Tradies can look at a wall and tell you what's behind it. They can see a problem before you've finished describing it. That's the gift. The business side — quoting, scheduling, invoicing, chasing payments, managing suppliers, doing their own bookkeeping — that came later, usually without training, without support, and without anyone showing them properly. Often the opposite of building or fixing stuff with their hands. When a tradie is slow to return your call or goes quiet on a timeline, nine times out of ten it's not about you or your job. It's someone doing five jobs at once with no back office, no receptionist, and no system catching what slips through the gaps. I know because I've watched it up close. That’s where I cut some slack, credit where it’s due and as a project manager I step in to fill the communication gap, get on the phone and keep following up. No apologies.

My book She knows her brief is into the third pillar. Confidence. That is. Keep on keeping on when the egg and mud is all over your face. Guts. Grit.. call it what you will. We can all use some Confidence and humility on site.

Somewhere out there I was advised to get three quotes... And after years of trying to wing it with one... I've now put the 3 P's into practice over the 3 quotes. You will match on price, personality and also professionalism on 1 out of 3 quotes you get. Price - well that's what most of us compare and accept. but beware the tradie who's personality is not a match for the job or for you. Then beware the tradie who's professionalism isn't a match for the seriousness of your job. That needs to match also. Bonus points go to the 4th p. Promptness. I give a bonus star to the tradie who arrives on time to quote. :-)