Common Construction Mistakes to Avoid

• Starting construction before drawings and approvals are finalised
• Skipping a proper BQ and budgeting from a rough per-m² guess instead
• Hiring a contractor without a written, itemised contract
• Paying ahead of verified progress on site
• Changing the design mid-construction without costing the impact first
• Not budgeting a contingency (10% is a common minimum) for the unexpected
• No independent supervision — relying entirely on the contractor to self-report progress
• Buying materials piecemeal instead of planning procurement in bulk where it's cheaper

The common thread

Almost every costly mistake traces back to the same root cause: moving to the next stage before the current one is properly documented and verified. A clear design, a real BQ, a written contract and independent supervision solve most of the list above.