Choosing a PMC is one of the most consequential decisions a developer makes. The right PMC multiplies value at every stage, from design coordination through to handover. The wrong PMC creates delays, disputes and budget overruns that can undermine an entire project's returns. Here is the checklist we recommend.
1. Sector experience is not transferable
A PMC with a strong residential portfolio is not automatically qualified for a pharmaceutical fit-out. The regulatory environment, the technical requirements, the contractor relationships and the risk profile are entirely different. Always ask for sector-specific references, and call them.
2. Senior leadership engagement
Who is in the room for the pitch? Who will actually be on your project? These are often different people. The best PMCs put their senior professionals on the work, not just on the proposal. Ask who the project director will be and what percentage of their time will be allocated.
- Ask for the project director by name before signing
- Request a commitment to minimum site visit frequency in the contract
- Review the team structure, how many junior staff per senior?
- Check whether QS, EHS and design coordination are in-house or outsourced
3. Fee structure alignment
A PMC paid purely on a percentage of project cost has a structural incentive to let costs grow. Consider success-fee structures tied to schedule adherence and cost performance. Open-book fee arrangements remove any ambiguity about where the PMC's interest lies.
4. Systems and reporting
Ask to see a sample of the weekly and monthly reports from a live project. If the reporting is dense, unreadable, or requires interpretation, the PMC has a systems problem. Good reporting should be immediately legible to a non-technical client, with traffic-light statuses on schedule, cost, quality and safety.