Attention to Detail

Preconstruction ServicesEnsure Cost-Effective Success

Getting a great idea off the dinner napkinrequires some effort. It also demandstough questions, especially about feasibilityand cost. Every project has a life cycle.Experts in preconstruction services understandthat cycle.

Assessing the viability of each phase of a project before the project begins is the best way to strengthen each stage. The stronger the parts, the more outstanding the whole.

“Preconstruction services focus on the details before construction begins, which can often offset unforeseen delays and cost-overruns,” says Dave Karsky, Vice President at Parsons Electric LLC. “With the help of these services, a project can often beat the clock, finishing on time and under budget.”

Into Focus

Starting with determining the project’s scope and philosophy — such as whether the effort is cost or schedule driven — preconstruction services evaluate whether the fit between the concept and the goal is realistic.

In some circumstances, preconstruction services establish the initial project costs, identify soft costs over and above construction costs, and create a preliminary timeline to accompany the breakout of costs. In other cases, it encompasses coordination among engineers and architects.

In all instances, preconstruction assistance offers the surest way to value-engineer a project. By casting a critical eye on all the factors that contribute to the cost of a project — from the cost of labor and materials to the unpredictability of the weather — these services bring everything into focus.

“If a project has difficulties proceeding as initially envisioned, preconstruction services provide alternative ideas and solutions to allow construction to proceed,” says Karsky.

The Trim

Sales taxes, permits, trash removal, tipping fees, and staging area constraints are just a few of the costs attached to any building project. The list goes on and on, extending well beyond materials and labor.

Preconstruction services take a comprehensive look at all the cost centers of a project, producing an accounting thorough enough to satisfy the most inquisitive prospective creditors or contributors.

For many building projects, such as those tied to the arts, education, or health care, the cash does not flow from lenders or charitable funds until the project’s credibility is assured. Legitimate estimates provided by preconstruction services enable the project owner to get the needed dollars to proceed.

Putting It All Together

Indeed, the backers for any project also want to know about everything from the quality of the materials (their longevity and maintenance costs) to the timeline for completion. In fact, so do bidders on the work. Preconstruction assistance develops a contractor’s construction schedule and master project schedule to set a critical path for the entire project, including preconstruction activities.

The contractor will also provide updates to the master schedule each time the cost estimate is changed, noting schedule impacts on construction activities. This provides an overall organized balance to the timeline.

“At Parsons, we select the best team to analyze the design documents to ensure the project budget, schedule, and owner’s expectations are achieved,” says Karsky.

Preconstruction services get the entire project team off to a good start by focusing on the details and making them known to all interested parties. They fit into the ounce-of-prevention category, and they are well worth the cost. The team must be committed to these objectives in order to be successful.