Building Management Teams and Contractors Working Together, Better.
Whether it’s an office remodel or a large parking lot repair, there’s seems to be an art form to successfully completing building projects. In my experience, it typically starts with two competent parties, an ownership team and contractor, whereby both groups are seasoned and can anticipate issues now, before they rear its ugly head in mid-construction. These organizations also understand the engineering of the project, the materials and supply chain effects, and most importantly, the economics and the timing of completing the job on schedule.
But often times, both parties are not equally equipped with this knowledge and experience. Perhaps the property manager overseeing the project is new to the industry and isn’t quite versed in construction yet. Or the contractor is a bit weary because they decided to take on a new client they know little about. Or maybe the communication styles of each party are different and getting project requirements and updates is challenging. And we all know how important communication is. If you’ve been lucky enough to work in the construction industry and have not had many projects go sideways, then that’s great. But when a job does hit the skids, it’s important that both teams dig deep and work together to get the job done.
So how can both building management teams and contractors work more effectively?
Here are 3 suggestions to take note:
1-Never Make Assumptions! In commercial real estate, there are numerous players involved in every facet of a project. If you have any questions or something is concerning you, say something! Do not assume the other party can read your mind. When you identify a potential problem with the project, bring it to the table and work together to produce a solution. An example of this could be some sort of logistical calculation or perhaps even a budgetary problem. The whole idea though is to ensure everyone is on the same page before, during, and after construction.
2-When #%^* hits the fan, be a collaborator. It is my general belief that many construction projects tend to get completed without too much drama. But invariably, when significant issues around the project arise, it is important to work together and not cast blame. It may indeed be one sides fault but blaming will only create more stress and lengthen the delay of getting the project back on track. As I mentioned earlier, communicate is key. When a problem happens, let each party know and start working on a fix.
3-Commit to your past experiences and apply lessons learned. Whenever I am tasked with a new construction project, I go quickly back to past similar jobs and rely on those experiences. I like to take what I have learned and apply the successes to my project. There are many roads a construction project can go down, and since you’ve been around the block a time or two, utilize your experience and trust your instincts.
So, these are a few ideas of how to both building owner teams and contractors can work more effectively. It’s true that construction is an ever work in progress. But why not make it a more enjoyable experience and build better relationships.