| After working with your commercial real estate agent to select a location for a new build, warehouse relocation, or new retail space, you might assume the next step is straightforward: hire a contractor and begin construction or renovation. For most, this means reaching out to several different commercial construction companies for a project estimate and choosing the best offer. However, selecting a contractor based solely on the lowest bid can be a costly mistake, as the initial price often fails to account for the depth of the pre-construction review process.
Behind the scenes, while you wait for your estimate, each contractor will be reviewing materials, determining how many subcontractors they will need, equipment that will be required, and more. The attention to detail during this review process significantly impacts both your estimated project timeline and cost.
A good commercial contractor understands that time spent in meticulous review, or “sweat equity,” is an investment, not an expense. They pore over drawings and specifications for each phase of the project to solve potential delays and mistakes before they happen. For example, fabricating cabinets requires preliminary shop drawings, submittal data on the materials, field verification, and then installation. Meticulously reviewing each step for something as seemingly minor as cabinet fabrication demonstrates the level of detail that, when applied across every element of a project, profoundly influences the final, accurate estimate. This proactive approach identifies costly conflicts in the design phase, which in turn saves you days or weeks of rework and unplanned expenses down the line.
When making your decision, cost estimates should be one of the deciding factors, but not the only one. Asking contractors about the extent of their pre-construction review can help you fully grasp the work that went into their projected cost and how it mitigates future risks. Reach out to us today to start the conversation. |
