A phenomenological study of private homebuilders' perceptions on the employment of professional services

Abstract

Owner-built housing projects are the most common construction projects undertaken in Ghana. A notable feature of the projects is the limited engagement of professional services of construction professionals. Previous studies indicate a negative attitude of clients toward consultancy services on such projects, with the consequent impact on project performance. Even on the same project, clients and consultants view issues in different ways. Thus to get a fuller understanding of clients' attitudes, they have to be observed through their own eyes. This paper explores the phenomenon of low utilisation of otherwise extensively available highly trained professionals, from the client's viewpoint. Previous studies have identified certain negative preconceptions of clients, among a broad range of causes, for their unwillingness to engage professionals on private housing projects, but do not explore the bases for the perceptions of clients. This study develops an in-depth description of homebuilder clients' perceptions on the employment of professional services, and what feeds those perceptions. The study adopts a phenomenological approach, using in-depth interviews and constructivist abstraction to define clients' perceptions on professional services in homebuilding. The portraits of four clients' experiences are synthesised into a composite description of their perceptions and consequent effects on their relationship with consultants. The results revealed clients to perceive consultants' services as inaccessible, inconvenient, expensive and as a second resort. The factors that have led to these perceptions include client prejudice, social conditions, construction industry conditions, consultants' actions and clients' experience of living in the houses they build. Clients' perceptions lead them to mostly engage nonprofessionals. The findings should enable consultants to have a better understanding of homebuilder clients