Surround Yourself with the Right Professionals: June 2024

Surround Yourself with the Right Professionals: June 2024

In development and construction, success depends on a well‑coordinated team. Because this entire process is new to us, we quickly learned one lesson: surround yourself with the right professionals from the start. Price matters, but experience and reliability matter more—especially when a missed timeline can push schedules by 30 days or more.

Build Your “Avengers Team” Early

Choose based on proven experience, not just the lowest bid. Your core team should include:

• General contractor
• Civil engineer and structural engineer
• Surveyor
• Architect
• Attorney (land use/contracts)
• Web and social media developer (communications/marketing)

In addition, clarify roles and a single point of contact. Therefore, answers stay consistent and decisions move faster.

How We Selected  the Right Professionals

We reviewed references, walked past jobs, and asked for clear scopes. Then we compared timelines, communication style, and risk management—because the cheapest option often costs more later. Finally, we aligned on tools (shared calendars, file storage, and weekly cadences) to keep everyone in sync.

Why Schedules Slip—and How to Prevent It

In this industry, a “simple” reschedule rarely means one day. Most delays trigger 30‑day gaps due to availability, inspections, or sequencing. So we now confirm lead times, lock inspection windows, and build buffers. As a result, small hiccups don’t snowball into lost months.

Coordination Playbook (What Works for Us)

• Weekly stand‑ups with action items and owners
• One source of truth for drawings, permits, and revisions
• ROM pricing early; final bids before locking scope
• Look‑ahead schedules (2–4 weeks) to catch conflicts
• Pre‑submittal checks for code, utilities, and site constraints

Takeaway: Surround Yourself with the Right Professionals

Surround yourself with the right professionals, and the project moves with fewer surprises. The right team protects budget, compresses timelines, and reduces rework—because experience pays for itself when the stakes are high.