Preconstruction is essential to every building project, but not everyone is aware of it. Construction predevelopment support services are responsible for ensuring the project is feasible, providing clear guidance on what jobs it requires and the associated costs. Hence, the owners set realistic expectations when construction begins.
Because of this, it’s common for general contractors in Tradition to have services, whether in-house or outsourced, to begin the job with. Be on the lookout if, for some reason, your potential contractor doesn’t offer to handle the preconstruction. In such cases, you would need to seek external service providers or full-service companies.
To learn what happens once you enter the pre-construction stage, please read on!
Pre-construction meetings: the core of all
The pre-development stage should always start with a series of meetings between you and the construction company. These meetings are beneficial for both parties to familiarize themselves and for the contractors to gain a better understanding of your project requirements before the architectural coordination services begin.
Through these meetings, pre-construction planning services will determine the project’s feasibility in constructability and financial sustainability, and define the goals and objectives that will later guide the planning and scheduling blueprints for the crew.
Gaining this understanding is crucial so the construction predevelopment support can pair you with the right architects, engineers, and designers to ensure the quality of your project. For example, if you plan to build a condo, you’ll be better off in the hands of architects and engineers with experience in residential development projects.
Although these professionals are equipped to work on all kinds of projects, those who specialize in different niches will be more familiar with the particular challenges and requirements for your project.
What else happens after pre-construction meetings?
Once the meetings conclude and both parties have agreed to collaborate, the pre-construction planning services commence their tasks.
They will visit and inspect the job site to collect crucial data about the topography and any natural surrounding areas that require specific regulations, permits, and considerations when constructing. This will enable them to provide digital schemas of the project’s design and layout. These site inspections are also crucial for the project feasibility analysis, as topographic conditions can sometimes limit the constructability of designs and layouts.
They will also perform numerous other tasks to create the final construction documents that will guide the work of contractors and subcontractors:
- Engineering assessments
- Existing utilities assessments
- Risk identification and mitigation
- Cost estimation
- Schedules and plans
- Hierarchy matrixes
Providing guidance and leadership: beyond the pre-construction stage.
Although the deliverables of pre-construction planning services conclude before the building phase begins, that doesn’t mean their work ends there. Your planning team should also offer guidance and provide timely updates on every step of the project.
Construction pre-development support services should evaluate all options for design, materials, and construction methods to provide the best solution for your project goals and budget, as well as determine alternatives should your first choice not be feasible.
Likewise, they should provide ongoing consultations throughout the project’s life to offer comfort and peace of mind to clients, ensuring the construction proceeds according to the initial plans and schedules, as well as addressing any deviations.
Pre-construction planning services: FAQs
How long does the pre-construction phase typically last?
The duration of the pre-construction stage typically ranges from 2 to 12 weeks. But it will depend mainly on the project’s scope and complexity. Naturally, in larger projects, such as those involving commercial tenants, the construction predevelopment support will take longer to prepare than in smaller projects, such as home remodels or additions.
Although 12 weeks (approximately 3 months) may seem like a long time to plan a construction project, remember that the pre-construction stages significantly reduce the risk of delays, budget overspends, and injuries on the jobsite, hence, it’s better to invest time planning thoroughly each step of the project, rather than investing it in resolving emergencies during construction.
How much do pre-construction planning services cost?
The total costs for pre-construction planning will depend on your project’s scope, location, and other factors. Although they usually cost between 1% and 3% of the project’s total costs (including construction labor fees, materials, equipment, taxes, permits, etc.).
Also, remember that construction pre-development support services are typically charged separately from the construction estimates, as they occur before the bids for the building project.
TRM Construction: architectural coordination services, planning, design, and building in the same place
With over three decades of working in the construction industry, TRM has assembled the most complete team of construction experts in Tradition, Port Saint Lucie. Thanks to the full-service approach, you no longer have to seek a company for project feasibility analysis and another for pre-construction planning; we’ll help you from start to finish.
Call us at 1-772-905-2727 and get all you need, from pre-construction planning services to building services.