Professional Selection Checklist

The Professional Selection Checklist is a practical worksheet designed to help you identify, compare and appoint the right professionals for your building project. It is Tool 6 in the From Land to Home companion toolkit and supports Chapter 8 of From Land to Home. The worksheet helps you check professional credentials, compare proposed fees, define responsibilities and put appointments in writing before work proceeds.

Building a house involves several professionals, and choosing people based only on price or personal recommendations can create problems later. This checklist gives you a structured way to record who you are considering, verify their professional standing and understand exactly what each person will provide.

Identify the Professionals Your Project Needs

The worksheet helps you record and assess the main professional roles that may be required for a residential building project.

These include:

• Architect
• Structural or civil engineer
• Quantity surveyor
• Licensed land surveyor
• Services engineer or specialist
• Project manager or supervisor

For each professional, you can record their name and firm, registration or membership body, the date their status was checked, previous work you have seen and past clients you have contacted.

This gives you a simple record of the evidence considered before making an appointment.

Verify Professional Credentials

The checklist encourages you to confirm registration directly with the relevant professional body rather than relying only on what a person says about their qualifications.

You can record:

• Professional or firm name
• Registration or membership body
• Date verification was completed
• Previous projects reviewed
• Past clients contacted

This makes the selection process more structured and gives you a written reference for your decision.

Compare Professional Fees Properly

Price matters, but the lowest fee may not represent the same scope of work as another proposal.

The Professional Selection Checklist includes a dedicated fee-comparison section where you can record:

• Professional being considered
• Proposed fee in GH₵
• What the fee includes
• What the fee does not include

This helps you compare proposals on a similar basis and identify services that may later attract additional fees.

Put Every Appointment in Writing

The worksheet also guides you through the key matters that should appear in a written professional appointment.

These include:

• What the professional will do
• What they will deliver
• When those deliverables are due
• How fees will be paid
• Linking staged payments to completed deliverables
• Who is responsible for each part of the work
• Who represents you on a day-to-day basis
• What happens if you change your mind
• Signatures and dates from both parties

A written appointment can make roles clearer and provide a useful reference throughout the project.

Prepare a Clear Professional Brief

Selecting the right professional is only part of the process. You also need to give that professional clear information about your project.

The checklist prompts you to confirm that you have communicated:

• Your real budget
• How your household lives
• What you like about your reference pictures
• Your timeline and important dates
• The site plan
• Survey information
• Concerns about slope, drainage and soil
• Your expectation that different options and reasons should be explained
• Your intention to confirm important decisions in writing
• Your completed Dream House Needs Assessment

It also reminds you to ask if a professional may benefit financially from any product or supplier they recommend.

What This Toolkit Helps You Do

The Professional Selection Checklist helps you:

• Identify the professional roles required for your project
• Verify professional registration
• Review previous work and references
• Compare professional fees
• Understand what is included and excluded from proposals
• Define responsibilities clearly
• Record deliverables and timelines
• Put appointments in writing
• Prepare a clearer professional brief
• Keep important selection information in one place

Who Is This For?

This worksheet is suitable for:

• First-time home builders
• Families preparing to appoint architects or engineers
• Ghanaians living abroad who are building at home
• Property owners appointing project managers or supervisors
• Individuals comparing quantity surveyors or other consultants
• Owners taking over a stalled or poorly managed building project
• Anyone who wants a more structured approach to appointing building professionals

How to Use It

Use the checklist before appointing each professional.

Enter the names of the people or firms you are considering, verify their registration directly with the appropriate body, review previous work and speak with past clients where possible.

Compare proposed fees together with the scope of services rather than looking at price alone. Once you make your selection, document the appointment, responsibilities, deliverables, fee arrangement and other agreed terms in writing.

Keep the completed checklist with your building records so you can refer to it throughout design and construction.

Product Details

Product: Professional Selection Checklist
Series: From Land to Home Companion Toolkit
Tool Number: Tool 6
Related Chapter: Chapter 8
Format: Digital PDF worksheet
Length: 2 pages
Author: Adams Bediako Asare
Website: asarebediakoadams.com