Before You Approve a Contractor Quote or Fit-Out Budget, Get an Independent Commercial Review.
OMMC helps businesses identify hidden costs, risks, and inefficiencies in commercial fit-out proposals — before they commit serious capital.
This is the last point where cost, scope and risk can be challenged before they are fixed into contract.
The Problem
Most commercial fit-out projects go over budget not because contractors are dishonest — but because the system is designed to hide risk, complexity, and margin inside technical documents.
By the time issues appear, it's too late.
Contracts are signed. Budgets are locked. Variations start.
Our analysis of commercial fit-out costs in the UK shows how wide the gap between quoted and final project cost can be — and why independent review is the most effective way to close it.
The Independent Fit-Out Review exists to stop that from happening.
What the Independent Fit-Out Review Actually Is
It's not consultancy.
It's not project management.
It's not a contractor pitch.
It's a structured commercial review of your fit-out proposal, designed to give you clarity before you commit. The specific issues we look for are detailed in our guide to why fit-out projects go wrong before you sign the contract.
We analyse:
- Contractor pricing and margin signals
- Scope gaps and over-specification
- Provisional sums and risk allowances
- Programme assumptions and sequencing
- Benchmark costs vs market norms
- Commercial and contractual red flags
Where decisions are made
What You Get
Within 5–7 working days, you receive:
- A concise commercial findings report
- Identified savings opportunities
- Risk areas flagged for negotiation
- Scope clarifications and questions
- A 60-minute strategy call to interpret the findings
This gives you leverage before you negotiate or commit.
When This Is Most Valuable
The Independent Fit-Out Review is ideal if:
If you've already received a proposal and something doesn't look right, our breakdown of how to review a fit-out quote explains the key areas to challenge before committing.
- You've received one or more contractor proposals
- You're about to approve a fit-out budget
- Something in the numbers "doesn't feel right"
- You want a second opinion before signing contracts
- You lack internal construction expertise
What This Is NOT
This review is not:
- A full project consultancy engagement
- A tender management service
- A replacement for your contractor or design team
- A guarantee of savings on every line item
It's an independent commercial lens on your project.
If you are specifically reviewing cost before tender, see the independent fit-out cost review — a focused review of where cost risk is already sitting before you commit. For refurbishment projects specifically, see the commercial building refurbishment cost review.
Investment
Independent Pre-Contract Commercial Review
From £3,500
This fee reflects the level of commercial scrutiny required to protect six- and seven-figure decisions.
Final scope may vary depending on project size, complexity, and urgency.
Process
Simple 3 Steps
Share Your Documents
Quotes, drawings, scope, programme
We Review and Analyse
Using structured commercial frameworks and benchmarking
You Receive Clarity
And a strategic conversation about next steps
"Craig's review highlighted issues we hadn't spotted and saved us over £250k compared to the traditional route."
— Client, commercial fit-out project
When This Review Matters Most
There is a narrow window in every fit-out project where independent challenge is still possible. These are the moments that trigger the most value:
- You have received a contractor quote and are preparing to sign
- You are about to approve a fit-out budget at board or leadership level
- You have received multiple quotes and cannot reconcile the differences
- Your contractor is pushing for a fast decision and you have not had independent input
- Something in the numbers does not feel right but you cannot identify what
- You are taking on a new lease and committing to a landlord-approved fit-out
- You are refurbishing an occupied building and the scope keeps expanding
If your primary concern is cost specifically — not the full scope and contract — a focused independent fit-out cost review may be the faster starting point.
What Happens If You Don't Review Before Signing
The consequences of signing without independent review are not always immediate. They tend to surface during delivery, when your options are limited:
- Variations accumulate — scope gaps that were not caught pre-contract become chargeable extras once work begins
- Provisional sums inflate — allowances set at tender stage are replaced by higher actuals, with no mechanism to challenge them
- Programme slips — assumptions baked into the contract create delays that are difficult to recover without additional cost
- Negotiating leverage disappears — once the contract is signed, the commercial terms are fixed and disputes become expensive
- Budget overruns become managed, not prevented — the conversation shifts from control to damage limitation
Key Questions
How long does the review take?
Typically 5–7 working days from receipt of documents. Urgent reviews can be accommodated depending on availability.
What documents do you need?
Contractor quote or tender return, scope of works, drawings where available, and any programme information. We work with what you have.
Is this only for large projects?
No. The review is relevant for any project where the cost of getting it wrong exceeds the cost of the review. Most engagements start from £150k project value.
Will this delay my project?
No. The review runs in parallel with your decision process. It is designed to inform your commitment, not delay it.
What if I only need a cost check, not a full review?
If cost is the specific concern, an independent fit-out cost review is a more focused option. It covers cost position, benchmark comparison, and risk — without the full scope and contract analysis.
Thinking About Approving a Contractor Quote?
Get an independent commercial review before you commit.