Hire an Owner’s Representative
Hiring an owner’s representative is the best way to make sure that your project is completed in a timely, cost-effective manner. An owner’s representative is someone who has experience in construction, and who can provide you with advice on how to proceed with your project. He or she will also ensure that all of the necessary documents are filed correctly, which may prevent further delays down the road.
If you want to hire an owner’s representative but aren’t sure where to start looking, here are some tips:
- Hire someone in your province or state if possible – this will make it easier for them to understand local laws and regulations (and vice versa). In addition, they’ll have less travel time between meetings!
- Look for someone with experience working on similar projects as yours – this will help them understand what’s involved without having to ask too many questions first off-site visit
Appoint an Owner’s Representative
Appoint an Owner’s Representative as soon as possible. The owner will want to appoint a representative who has experience in construction, especially if they don’t have any background in this area. The owner’s representative is there to help manage the project, so it’s important that they have the right skillset for this role.
An owner’s representative will help you to manage your construction project and keep it on track.
Goals of an Owner’s Representative
A good owner’s representative will have the following goals:
- To protect the interests of the owner by ensuring that the project is completed on time and within budget, according to specifications and in a safe manner.
- To act as an intermediary between all parties involved so as to resolve disputes before they escalate into litigation.
Responsibilities of an Owner’s Representative
The role of an owner’s representative is to serve as a liaison between the client and the contractor. An owner’s representative will oversee the project, make sure that the owner’s interests are protected, and ensure that all work is completed on time and within budget. They also make sure any money spent by the client is done so wisely. Furthermore, an owner’s representative ensures that a building project meets all applicable local codes and regulations before it can become approved for occupancy by contractors or owners.
Cost Management
In project management, cost management is the process of monitoring and controlling the costs of a project. It is one of the most important roles for an owner’s representative in construction projects.
Cost management involves monitoring the costs of a project and taking corrective action when costs exceed budget.
The process typically includes cost control, cost accounting, and cost estimating:
- Cost control involves managing changes to scope and risks to ensure that they are within approved limits or otherwise accounted for
- Cost accounting refers to identifying where money comes from and how it is spent by departments within an organization
- Cost estimating helps define how much money will be required to complete certain phases or tasks within a project
Schedule Management
Schedule management is one of the most critical aspects of construction project management. A well-managed schedule will help you to determine how much time and resources are needed to complete the project. It will also help you to know when you can expect a specific task or stage of your construction project to be completed, as well as work out any potential issues that may arise during this process.
Schedule Management involves three main steps:
- Planning – You should plan for all elements of your construction project including budgeting, organising site logistics, organising resources and manpower etc. This is important because it allows you to ensure that everything runs smoothly throughout this process (and in future stages).
- Monitoring – Once planning has been done, monitoring should occur regularly so that progress can be checked against expectations at each step along the way; this helps identify any potential issues before they become major problems later on down the line!
Change Orders Management
Change orders are a symptom of the problem.
Change orders are a symptom of poor communication between the owner and contractor.
Change orders are a symptom of poor project management.
Change orders are a symptom of poor contract administration.
If you want to fix your construction project, then you need to fix all those things that lead up to change orders, not just cherry pick one or two things like it’s the only thing wrong with your project!
Document Control
Document control is an important part of any construction project. It enables the owner’s representative to effectively manage a project and ensure that all parties are kept informed of progress and key milestones. Document control allows you to:
- Prevent disputes between parties. If you have clear documentation, there will be no ambiguity about who said what or when they said it; this helps avoid confusion and makes it easier for everyone involved to understand their role in the project.
- Ensure proper completion of the project with no unnecessary costs or delays. Having accurate information about what has been completed ensures that nothing gets missed during construction, which saves time and money for everyone involved in the process (including yourself).
- Ensure timely completion within budget without compromising on quality standards—this includes tasks such as ensuring that subcontractors deliver on time while meeting agreed upon standards set by your architect or engineer (or both).
Conflict Resolution and Dispute Avoidance
Avoiding disputes is always better than resolving them. However, if a dispute arises and you decide to go through with the process of resolution, it’s important to know how to do so effectively.
- Avoiding Disputes – There are many ways that construction disputes can be avoided. One way is through proper design-build planning and management by your architect or contractor. Another way is through good communication between all parties involved in the project – owner, architect/designer, builder/contractor, etc. You should also be careful about what you write in correspondence with your builder/contractor since this may later be used against you as evidence during an arbitration hearing or lawsuit (i.e., emails).
- Resolving Disputes – If there is already a dispute regarding claims for payment or change orders between an owner and builder/contractor then we recommend discussing these issues with both parties before going too far down the path of litigation which can lead into very expensive legal fees and possibly even bankruptcy! A mediator can help both sides come up with an amicable solution while avoiding costly legal battles which could end up costing more than just paying those disputed bills would have done initially anyway!
Construction Contract Administration and Risk Mitigation or Elimination. Written contracts are binding and enforceable in court, so it is vital to ensure they are written properly and that there is sufficient documentation to prove the contractual agreement.
Contractual obligations must be met. There are different types of contracts used in construction projects, and each type has its own set of requirements. For example, some contracts require certain types of insurance while others do not. In addition to ensuring that these provisions are included in the contract, it is also important to make sure that you understand what they mean and whether or not they apply to your project. It is also beneficial for an owner’s representative to review all contractual obligations with the contractor prior to signing on any dotted line because sometimes what seems like a minor detail can actually have significant consequences down the road if it isn’t properly addressed at this stage in the process (e.g., a difference between “insured” and “indemnified”).
The owner’s representative should ensure that contractors are in compliance with all contractual obligations throughout their entire duration on site (this includes after completion). Unlike other professionals involved in construction projects such as architects or engineers who generally work more independently from one another, owners’ representatives serve as an intermediary between multiple parties involved with executing a project including general contractors (GCs), subcontractors (subs), suppliers/vendors and material men/women so they need this type of expertise in order keep everyone working together towards common goals while striving towards deadlines set forth within contracts signed by both parties before beginning any work whatsoever takes place on site which means knowing how each party interacts with others
Hire an owner’s representative as soon as possible to stop the bleeding.
Hiring an owner’s representative is your first step to getting back on track. An owner’s representative can help you get your project completed, and done under budget. The sooner you hire an owner’s representative, the more likely it is that your project can be completed without litigation.
Get An Analysis of Your Project Completed Today
Should you be contemplating a construction project or should you be in the midst of construction contact The GeoFocus Group today. Our experts can analyze your project to identify risk and pain points and prepare a plan to ensure the success of your development.
