Imagine how wonderful life would be if you knew what lies ahead. You would then be able to work on a variety of commercial construction projects at the same time without a hitch. Well, anything is possible. It doesn’t matter if you can’t predict the future, you can always plan it!
Pre-construction services are critical elements of modern commercial construction projects. You need to plan and analyze your project for months before laying the first brick. Read on to learn why pre-construction services are essential and how they set up any project for success.
Understanding Pre-Construction Services
Pre-construction services, more commonly known as ‘pre-con’ services, are offered before the actual commercial construction project begins. It helps analyze, plan, design, and establish needs for the construction process. From strategic planning, designing, estimating budgets, allocating resources and labor, and everything in between, pre-construction services form the first step towards a smooth and efficient commercial construction process.
It helps resolve potential challenges a project might face, minimize commercial construction costs and risks, identify areas of improvement, and form a detailed layout to tackle all the upcoming construction project’s concerns.
The purpose of pre-construction services is to ensure that the project is clearly defined in every detail, and that it is executable in all aspects of the commercial construction process from all parties involved. It aims to make sure that everyone on the team has what is needed to make the commercial construction project successful – functional and financially viable.
What is the Pre-Construction Phase?
You can refer to it as the pre-construction planning stage. The pre-construction phase is where commercial construction contractors work closely with clients to craft a realistic budget carefully, timeline, and design a plan that forms the basis of the commercial construction process. Pre-construction phase involves:
- Guiding clients through the project
- Procuring permits
- Engaging in logistical planning
- Developing viable strategies geared towards creating a project that exceeds all expectations
The Need for Pre-Construction Services
‘Pre-construction services lead to post-construction success.’
It is no secret that commercial construction projects are complex and may affect the people working on them and the general public. Therefore, a detailed pre-construction planning and detailing goes into it before even a single stone is laid. As a result, you can achieve your intended results and avoid unnecessary commercial construction costs and mishaps.
An hour of pre-construction planning can save you hours of working! If your project is well-designed and meticulously planned, you save a lot of money by determining the best use of your resources. This ensures that your commercial construction process runs smoothly and without hiccups.
Pre-construction processes ensure your needs are met or exceeded and provide them with savings that can be redirected to increase the project scope. With its detailed cost analysis, schedule, and framework, you will clearly understand what your project will look like.
What Do Pre-Construction Services Offer?
While you can’t stop storming problems during your commercial construction project, you can find the right solutions to deal with them. That is exactly what pre-construction services offer! The pre-construction process includes a long list of services for almost every modern commercial construction project undertaking. Most commercial construction management companies and pre-construction contractors provide the following pre-construction services:
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An Overall Project Evaluation
In this phase, you work with the pre-construction contractors to bridge the gap between your vision and their implementation. At this stage of the pre-construction phase, you will define the needs and expectations of the project. A framework is developed to illustrate every party’s project by the end of this stage.
This helps general contractors define the overall project’s scope, determine the finishing requirements, find ways to maximize efficiency, identify possible issues and do whatever they may need to accomplish their objectives. Pre-construction contractors can also use the schematics to check on the project’s feasibility, saving you thousands.
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Engineering Assessment
Several projects involve renovating or adding to existing structures rather than building from the ground up. Such projects require pre-construction contractors and engineers to analyze and assess existing space conditions and determine the specifics of the commercial construction project.
Pre-construction services identify problems and help ensure pre-construction contractors do not face costly issues during commercial construction. As part of these projects, an assessment of the building’s structural integrity, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and extensive systems is undertaken to ascertain if these systems are adequate for the project or if any updates are required.
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Site Inspections
A careful inspection of the project site secures that the site is suitable for commercial construction and has the necessary infrastructure. Additionally, it ensures that the location chosen for the project is in line with the guidelines and needs.
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Design Development
The initial schematic design is created during this crucial phase to give you an idea of what your project will look like. Using advanced engineering processes and 3D rendering software programs allows you to build designs that reflect a project’s life cycle. Pre-Construction contractors can use this design to gain valuable client feedback before a finalized design is ready.
The unique ability to visualize your project from a constructability perspective is a valuable tool for landing a bid for a job or defining areas of difficulty and how you can overcome them. When you can visualize your project from a constructability perspective, you are better equipped to identify challenges and ways to resolve them.
Pre-construction services help architects and design professionals identify systems and infrastructures that require specific action and devise the best plan to deliver more at a lower price.
The objective is to weigh out all possible alternatives and make certain system modifications and value-added breakdowns that promote savings without compromising quality engineering. You can thus enhance the design and budget of an overall commercial construction project by identifying wasteful expenditures and redirecting those funds elsewhere in the project.
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Material Procurement
Pre-construction contractors need to develop a checklist of all the equipment and materials required before beginning the building process. However, procuring materials isn’t as simple as you may think. It is important to be aware of market prices to acquire the most cost-effective building materials.
Then, all the necessary materials need to be ordered, assembled, and staged to complete this pre-construction process. Considerations are also made for long-lead items that may cause potential delays in your commercial construction schedule.
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Preliminary Budget Determination
Developing a commercial construction project plan begins with establishing a reliable budget. The pre-construction process involves building a preliminary commercial construction budget based on the evaluations and assessments of the project to estimate the incurred commercial construction costs.
By preparing an accurate initial cost estimate in your pre-construction phase, you can discuss finances with potential investors and secure funding sources for your project. It will also enable you to identify alternative cost-saving measures.
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Construction Scheduling
When pre-construction contractors establish a realistic and achievable timeline from start to finish, they can create a helpful action plan and identify potential issues that could delay their projects. You can break down the commercial construction work into several milestones that should complete specific dates in the timeline.
Despite not being set in stone, you can use a schedule to determine lead times, establish goals, and decide the sequence of your construction process. Once commercial construction begins, it comes in handy in overcoming problems and monitoring progress.
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Permit Assistance
We all know how arduous it is to get approvals and permits for your commercial construction designs. You may approach several governmental authorities that might or might not approve your project after reviewing it.
Pre-construction services allow the general contractor to identify and submit paperwork ahead of time, preventing a build from being delayed while processing requests. You can acquire pre-construction services from a construction management company that takes over this cumbersome job for you.
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Risk Analysis and Safety Planning
There are many risks associated with commercial construction projects that require the implementation of safety measures, especially when construction may affect the public. Thus, the pre-construction phase ensures that Pre-Construction Risk Assessment (PCRA) regulations are followed and materials meet safety standards.
This step aims to reduce the cost of litigation and prevent unwanted accidents in the future. The pre-construction process involves creating safety plans that enforce safety protocols and procedures to minimize hazards and ensure a safe workplace.
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Development of Reports
Developing regular reports at different time intervals is crucial to keep yourself updated with the project and ensure that the entire team is on the same page. These reports record the project and may include cash flow projections, monthly project status reports, revision logs, meeting minutes, and variance reports.
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Bid Packaging
For the project to be successful, everyone involved must have expertise and knowledge. As part of the pre-construction services, a detailed project report is provided to the subcontractor, who secures the bid after interviewing an array of qualified candidates, using all the pre-construction planning data.
Cost of Pre-Construction Services
Pre-construction costs vary depending on the project’s size and scope, the number of services that are included, and the location, but it is usually not a significant expense. In most cases, these pre-construction costs will be between 1% to 3% of the commercial construction project’s total cost and must be paid before the construction process starts. Nevertheless, these minimal pre-construction costs will pay for themselves when the cost control process in pre-construction services allows you to save a large sum of money in the long run.
Benefits of Pre-Construction Services
Now that you are familiar with pre-construction services, let’s list their benefits.
- It helps you understand the project better before starting the commercial construction and helps you make thoughtful decisions.
- It allows you and your team to point out blind spots and nuances that might go unnoticed.
- It prevents field conflicts and ensures that the project is completed safely and on time.
- It helps streamline the process and forms a budgetary proposal.
- It ensures the most productive use of your time and financial resources.
- It provides you and the team with a broad view that helps envision your commercial construction project outcome.
- With comprehensive reports and schematics, pre-construction services give you the luxury to guide and educate yourself through the project, making you feel at ease about spending their money.
- Pre-construction services also ensure all relevant parties — such as engineers, contractors, architects, and owners — are on the same page, reducing the chances of delays during construction.
- Detailed project schedules help maintain an efficient, accurate, and cost-effective commercial construction venture.
- It encourages communication coordination by offering clarity in the form of a clear idea for everyone to follow.
The Bottom Line
Always plan! Pre-construction planning should always be part of your routine. It promises reliability and will help you feel confident about what is to come. Moreover, understanding that pre-construction services are at the crux of an ideal commercial construction project sets out the best construction companies apart from the rest.
When considering which general contractor to choose, ask about which pre-construction services they provide and which suits your needs and requirements. The best commercial construction company is the one that can offer the most value to your project during the pre-construction phase, guiding the design, budget, and schedule before anyone shows up at the site.
Want to make your dreams projects come true? Let’s plan it!
Here’s a list of Pre-Construction services we offer.
