Building Small by Jim Heid

Author:Jim Heid
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Urban Land Institute
Published: 2021-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

PAY FOR AS-BUILT DRAWINGS UPON COMPLETION. If the project is being built to be held for the long term, it is important to have accurate documentation of the construction—not just to secure permits. Accurate as-built documents provide essential information for repair, replacement, maintenance, and as part of the basic marketing materials for the eventual sale of the property. It is worth the investment to have your architect or draftsperson update the final drawings to actual installed conditions, especially if a number of field changes were made during construction. The as-built information compiled during construction should be submitted in clear and complete form by the contractor so the architect can produce the as-built set. Spend the few extra dollars to have the drawings done in CAD. Contracts with both architect and contractor should provide for this service as part of the final scope.

FIND OUT HOW MUCH WORK YOUR CONTRACTOR SELF-PERFORMS. Specialties like HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and sprinklers are normally bid out to subcontractors, but if you can find a contractor that does its own framing, concrete work, and demolition in house, you may save money on subcontactor markup. This is especially helpful in small projects, not only because it could save money, but also because it reduces the number of people that need to be coordinated, or who have their own overhead and profit to be covered by the project.

PAY DIRECT FOR MATERIALS. One way to save costs is to set up direct purchase accounts with all materials suppliers. Let the contractor order materials, but you pay directly, saving you the overhead and markup, in exchange for the contractor not having to manage billing you or making front-end payments. Be sure to ask for the “to the trade” discount, which can be significant. Be careful about ordering your own materials, however, because if something is wrong, it will be your problem, not the contractor’s.

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