August 1, 2022
5 Reasons Why Construction Services Save Your Project Money
Most developers understand the value of having a field inspector watching over their project. However, when faced with a tight budget, construction services can appear more expendable than other expenses.
In our over 25 years of experience, JBPro has seen time and time again how construction services can actually save an owner money in the long run. Read more to see how an investment upfront can positively affect your bottom line.
1. Bidding Assistance
Before even beginning breaking ground, construction services can have a significant impact on the outcome of your project. Once you start selecting contractors, every detail of a design has to be accounted for. It’s not uncommon for a site construction bid to overlook some facets of the plans or specifications, but unless someone catches this, it can lead to surprise costs after the contracts have been settled.
Having a construction services team behind you creates an extra line of quality assurance during the bidding process. A civil engineer can analyze bids alongside the construction plans to ensure the bid cost includes the entire project scope. Beyond that, a construction services team can verify quantity take-offs, determine if bids are consistent with market pricing, and confirm if the selected contractors are capable of performing the work.
2. RFI Management
With so many design factors and third parties involved in a construction project, it’s easy for questions to arise throughout construction. When a contractor requires clarity to move forward, a Request for Information (RFI) is issued.
These requests are typically issued in the early stages of construction but can be issued at any time. A survey completed by the Construction Management Association of America found an average of 9.9 RFIs were issued per $1 million in project value, and it took an average of 9.7 days for a response to be received. While a 9-day delay isn’t very long in the scope of a multi-year project, 10 RFIs could add 3 months onto a project timeline—that is, if they are handled at an average pace.
The same study found that the average RFI costs a contractor $1,080 to complete, and these costs could be passed on to the owner with a change order. Therefore, having a construction services consultant to act as a liaison between the different disciplines can help to mitigate the cost of RFIs and prevent future RFIs from being issued in the first place. In the event an RFI is needed, construction services teams can manage the request, communicate needs across the project team, and keep the project moving forward.
3. Design Intentions
A project owner doesn’t just want their project to get done, they want it done well. For that to happen, a field inspector from the construction services needs to be onsite, constantly communicating with contractors and verifying that work is completed in accordance with project specifications.
A field inspector needs to be a creative thinker, experienced in civil engineering systems, and communicative enough to handle issues that come up onsite. If as-built conditions differ from the plans, inspectors can evaluate if rework is necessary. If so, the construction services team can collaborate with the contractor to find the best way to address the issue. During this process, the construction services team acts as a bridge between the developer and contractor, ensuring that project needs are met and issues are resolved quickly and affordably.
4. Construction Field Issues
Sometimes, project issues can’t be avoided. Specifically, when actual site conditions deviate from upfront surveying data. Sometimes these deviations are minor and can be resolved in the field, but many times they require modifications to the design itself.
When field issues arise due to unforeseen conditions, construction service teams review the plans and specifications and come up with solutions to resolve the “conflict.” These solutions often require the construction services team to coordinate the redesign effort between the engineering consultant, owner, and contractor.
In these instances, it is convenient to have construction services performed by the consultant who designed the project. That way, field inspectors can communicate seamlessly with the office to understand design intent, revisions, and modifications. They can work hand in hand with the design engineer instead of dealing with a separate entity.
5. Change Order Negotiations
In addition to design intent and conflict resolution, every owner is sensitive to project budgets. One of the most important factors in keeping a project on budget is minimizing change orders. Construction services teams can help with that.
Having an effective construction services team handle change order negotiations ensures that contractors promptly receive the additional construction materials they need while minimizing the costs to the owner. When change order negotiations go smoothly, the entire project benefits.
Partner with JBPro for Your Crucial Construction Choices
No matter the scale, having effective representation ensures good decision-making and a project done right. Work with a team that combines experienced field personnel and award-winning civil engineers to bring your project to life on time and within budget. If you are looking for the right partner for your next project, speak with our team today!