Bad experience
Working with OLBC has been one of the worst experiences of my life. I have never met anyone as pompously arrogant about his own ability as Marc Stchedroff. This is combined with an inability to deliver on anything as planned. Marc has zero emotional intelligence and revels in creating a toxic environment where he as "builder" holds the whip hand. His specialist subject is quoting contract law to defend his actions, rather than focusing on the build. I know what "normal" building work looks like; working with OLBC is seriously abnormal.
1) Delays and Unfinished Work OLBC started in Q1 2023 for a basement conversion and refurbishment meant to finish in April 2024. I moved out in Jan 2023 and had to force my way back into an unfinished house in Nov 2024. Now, in Jan 2026, I still have an incomplete basement and a solar panel not properly connected. OLBC is not finishing my basement, but has indicated if anyone else does the work it will void the basement membrane guarantee. i am currently working through this.
2) Appalling Communication Marc repeatedly does not reply to messages for sometimes weeks. OLBC has a rule that the homeowner can only be on-site with a "trained" staff member. However, the only "trained" person appears to be Marc, so you can go weeks without being allowed to visit your own property until he acknowledges a message.
3) Failed "Turnkey" Service OLBC charges a significant margin for an "all-in" service where trades contract with them. It’s unclear what the benefit is. Nearly every sub-contractor was an "issue" and OLBC "had problems with them". OLBC is obsessed with the client not interacting with trades directly, leaving you unable to influence the car crash evolving in front of you. I would have been much better engaging an architect and builder directly.
4) Poor Project Management. It took 4 months to get a GANTT chart that was already wrong. Throughout 2024 the end dates kept slipping every month. Marc is unable to answer simple questions like “what is left to be done.” and "how long will it take".
5) Contract Terms & CVIs OLBC’s contract is essentially a “shell.” They work based on CVIs (Contract Variation Notices) for items essential to a build, not added “extras.” or changes to design. These come via email with little explanation; if you ask questions, you are deemed “difficult.” A decent chunk of these CVIs were incorrectly billed and needed to be revised which made their stubborn attitude to them doubly annoying. For any CVI, OLBC add 18% O&A&P (Overheads and Profit) plus Extension of Time (EOT) days based on a prelim rate of £307/day. there is no explantion as to how EOT is calculated
Example: For £3000 of tiling, OLBC may add a 10-day EOT. That tiling costs: £3000 + £540 (18%) + £3070 (EOT) = £6,610. It is galling that OLBC asks for more money for "oversight" when the project is heavily delyed and there is no .
6) Marc is incredibly petty. When I rejected his overblown £57,590 painting quote (including £7,380 O&A&P plus £9,210 EOT), he was deliberately disruptive when i brought in my own painters, with electricians drilling holes in painted walls. On another occasion he hid my bathroom suite, stating: “Well to help focus your mind in a positive manner I’ve had the bath sinks and other bits delivered somewhere safe where they can stay until you mend your ways.” What adult does that?
7) Management Friction. Design Director Rosie Caley and Marc are divorced and their relationship is clearly strained. You sign separate contracts with them. Rosie is easier to work with, but often says "speak to Marc about that." You end up where Rosie designs and orders something but if there is a delay, Marc suggests it is your fault. It is not joined up as it should be
Summary The work and design are fine, but you can get the same results for lower cost and without the mental stress Marc Stchedroff entails. If you are working with OLBC then hope it’s all going well. If you are considering OLBC, ask for recent references; I am happy to discuss my experience.
