Closing Out The Build, close out at the right number, not the one the contractor sent
The closing out the build is the contractor's last opportunity to recover what they think they are owed, and your last opportunity to challenge it. Costed prepares, scrutinises and negotiates final accounts using the original contract sum, the agreed variation register and the documented quantum, so that close-out reflects what was built and contracted, not what was claimed.
- Line-by-line reconciliation against the original quote sum.
- Variation register tested for contractual entitlement.
- Loss-and-expense claims pressure-tested with quantum evidence.
- Negotiation handled in writing, adjudication-ready if needed.
What an honest closing out the build looks like
An honest closing out the build ties back precisely to the contract sum, lists every variation with its instruction reference and agreed value, applies the rates that were quoteed, and contains no surprise loss-and-expense claim that was never notified during construction. If the document you have just received fails any of those tests, you are looking at a negotiation, not a close-out.
Frequently asked
How long does closing out the build negotiation usually take?
Typically 8–16 weeks from receipt of the contractor's submission, depending on size and dispute level. A clean project with disciplined post-contract reporting closes faster; a project with poor records and unagreed variations takes longer.
What if the contractor refuses to budge?
Most final accounts settle in negotiation because the underlying quantum is testable. Where they don't, the next step is adjudication under the Construction Act, and the file we have prepared is the file the adjudicator sees.
Know what your project should cost. Before you build it.
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