Costs, at cost
Every invoice from merchants and sub-contractors is passed straight to you, exactly as we pay it. No mark-up buried in the materials, no mystery line items.
Construction Project Management
Building, without the
guesswork.
Built Clear manages your project on an open book. You see every cost, pay a fixed management fee, and add a fair ten percent on top — nothing hidden, nothing padded.
Clarity in Simplicity
Government-backed standards
The government's new Approved Code scheme is about to require builders to prove transparency, milestone-linked payments and proper dispute resolution. Built Clear has worked that way since day one. Read what the changes mean for homeowners →
A different way to build
The fixed-price contract is broken. So we replaced it.
Fixed-price building contracts set client and builder against each other from day one. The price is padded for risk, every variation becomes a battle, and trust evaporates.
Built Clear works on an open book. We price your project from the plans so you know what to expect, then manage the build transparently — passing on every merchant and sub-contractor cost at cost, with a clear, fair margin. You always know exactly where your money is going.
The Open-Book Model
Three honest numbers. That's the whole deal.
A fixed management fee
One agreed, fixed fee to run the whole project — programmed, coordinated and delivered. You know it from the start, and it doesn't move.
A fair 10% on top
A simple ten percent on costs covers our overheads and profit. No 15% mark-ups, no padded contingencies. Fair to you, sustainable for us.
The result: typically around 11% less than a conventional padded estimate — and a build where you and your builder are finally on the same side.
How It Works
From plans to completion, managed clearly.
- 1
Guide price from your plans
We price the job from your drawings to give you an accurate cost guide before anything begins.
- 2
Agree the management fee
We set a fixed fee based on the programme, so the cost of running your project is clear and locked in.
- 3
We manage the build
We coordinate merchants and sub-contractors, run the programme and keep you updated through every stage.
- 4
You see every cost
Invoices pass through at cost plus a clear ten percent. The book stays open from start to finish.
Selected Work
The kind of projects we love.
Renovations, extensions and barn conversions across Chester, Cheshire and North Wales — including Hoole, Handbridge, Christleton, Tarporley, Tattenhall, Rossett and Wrexham.
Anonymised for client privacy. Full project references and site visits on request — just ask.
Insights
Straight talk about building.
What Did Your Builder Actually Train In?
An electrician isn't a builder. A plasterer isn't a builder. Yet plenty of trades set up as builders the moment work runs dry. Here's why training matters.
Read more →Is Your Builder Actually Knowledgeable? Here's How to Tell
Bricklaying, joinery, project management, building regs — a proper builder needs to understand all of it. Here's how to tell knowledge from bluffing.
Read more →How to Get Genuine References From Your Builder
Any builder can give you three glowing references from their mates. Here's how to spot the fake ones and get honest answers from the real clients.
Read more →How to Research Your Builder Before You Sign Anything
Companies House, insurance, previous projects, references and reviews — the ten checks every homeowner should do before handing over a deposit.
Read more →Why the Cheapest Builder Isn't Always the Best Option
The lowest quote almost always wins the job — and almost always ends in tears. Here's what the cheapest builder is actually cutting.
Read more →The Government Is Cracking Down on Cowboy Builders. Here's How to Make Sure Yours Isn't One.
A milestone-linked Trusted Payments app, a new Approved Code scheme, and £14.3bn in homeowner losses to cowboy builders. Here's what the government just announced, and what to actually check for right now.
Read more →Why Open-Book Works in Today's Market — When Every Penny Counts
Material costs have rocketed since 2020. Fixed-price builders pad quotes by 15–20% to protect themselves. Here's why open-book is the smarter choice.
Read more →Why we don't do fixed-price contracts — and why that's good news for you
Most builders pad the number to protect themselves. At Built Clear, you see every invoice, pay a fixed management fee, and nothing is hidden. Here's why open-book works.
Read more →About
Run by a builder who got tired of the games.
Built Clear was founded by Benjamin Parry after years in traditional fixed-price contracting — and the animosity that so often comes with it.
The open-book model is the antidote: honest pricing, transparent management, and a relationship built on trust rather than suspicion. It's a better way to build for everyone involved — and it's how every Built Clear project runs.
"You should never have to wonder where your money is going. With Built Clear, the book is always open."
— Benjamin Parry, Director
Get in touch
Tell us about your project.
A renovation, a new space, or a project that needs clear management. Prepare a few details below, then send them from your email app.
- Emailben@builtclear.co.uk
- AreaChester · North Wales · North West
A straightforward first step
- 01Prepare your enquiry.
Share the essentials below. We prepare an email for you to check and send.
- 02Send it to Benjamin.
Open your email app and press Send. If you use webmail, copy the prepared details instead.
- 03We discuss the next step.
Once your email reaches us, Benjamin can review the scope, location and support you need.