The biggest mistake I see repeatedly is companies rushing into fit-out projects without proper planning. They often underestimate the complexity of coordinating multiple trades, managing timelines, and ensuring all stakeholders are aligned from day one.
This is where having a single point of accountability becomes crucial. At Munro & Fox, we’ve seen projects fail because there’s no central command managing all the moving parts. When architects, contractors, and suppliers aren’t properly coordinated, small issues snowball into major delays and cost overruns.
The cost: Poor planning typically adds 20-30% to project budgets and can extend timelines by months.
I can’t stress this enough—the cheapest quote often becomes the most expensive mistake. We recently rescued a project at Dome Spitalfields where the original contractor had failed to complete essential finishing works, leaving the client scrambling with a critical two-week deadline.
Quality contractors with proper accreditations (Constructionline Gold, SMAS, ISO certifications) might cost more upfront, but they deliver on time and to specification. Financial stability and relevant experience should always trump low pricing.
The cost: Contractor failures can add 15-40% to budgets, plus the hidden costs of delays, stress, and reputation damage.
This is where fragmented project management really shows its weaknesses. When there’s no single person who knows every detail and can proactively communicate across all parties, miscommunication becomes inevitable.
Projects typically involve architects, main contractors, specialist subcontractors, suppliers, building management, and internal teams. Without proper orchestration, critical information gets lost, leading to rework, delays, and finger-pointing.
The cost: Communication failures account for roughly 25% of project overruns and are the leading cause of stakeholder frustration.
Many fit-out projects hit expensive roadblocks when compliance issues surface mid-project. Building regulations, fire safety requirements, accessibility standards, and lease restrictions should be addressed during planning, not discovered during construction.
This is particularly critical for office fit-outs, where building management approval processes can add weeks if not properly managed from the outset.
The cost: Compliance issues discovered late can add 10-20% to budgets and cause significant delays.
The final costly mistake is not considering how the fit-out impacts ongoing business operations. Noise, dust, access restrictions, and utility disruptions can severely impact productivity and employee satisfaction if not properly managed.
Smart project orchestration includes phasing work to minimise disruption, coordinating with building management for optimal scheduling, and maintaining clear communication with all affected parties.
The cost: Business disruption can cost more than the fit-out itself when you factor in lost productivity, temporary relocations, and employee dissatisfaction.
As your “Project Glue,” we act as the central nervous system that keeps all elements aligned and accountable. Our approach includes:
We guarantee measurable results within the first three months because we’ve seen what happens when projects lack proper orchestration—and we’ve built our entire approach around preventing these costly mistakes.
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